A place for everything that is close to my heart....from ramblings of an idle mind to something inspirational to fun and humor.....self-written and sourced....

Friday, June 1, 2007

Kurai Ondrum Illai

My all-time favourite Tamil song: Kurai Ondrum Illai Kanna

The great lyrics:

KURAI ONRUM ILLAI MARAI MOORTTHI KANNAA KURAI ONRUM ILLAI KANNAA KURAI ONRUM ILLAI GOVINDAA

KANNUKKU THERIYAAMAL NIRKINRAAY KANNAA KANNUKKU THERIYAAMAL NINRAALUM ENAKKU KURAI ONRUM ILLAI MARAI MOORTTHI KANNAA

VENDIYATHAI THANNTHIDA VENKATESAN ENRIRUKKA VENDIYATHU VERILLAI MARAI MOORTTHI KANNAA MANIVANNAA MALAYAPPA GOVINDAA GOVINDAA

THIRAIYIN PIN NIRKINRAAY KANNAA, KANNA THIRAIYIN PIN NIRKINRAAY KANNAA, UNNAI MARAI ODUM NYAANIYAR MATTUME KAANPAAR THIRAIYIN PIN NIRKINRAAY KANNAA, UNNAI MARAI ODUM NYAANIYAR MATTUME KAANPAAR ENRAALUM KURAI ONRUM ENAKKILLAI KANNAA ENRAALUM KURAI ONRUM ENAKKILLAI KANNAA

KUNRIN MEL KALLAAKI NIRKINRA VARADAA KUNRIN MEL KALLAAKI NIRKINRA VARADAA KURAI ONRUM ILLAI MARAI MOORTTHI KANNAA KURAI ONRUM ILLAI MARAI MOORTTHI KANNAA MANIVANNAA MALAIAPPAA GOVINDAA GOVINDAA

KALI NAALUKKIRANGI KALLILE IRANGI NILAIYAAGA KOVILIL NIRKINRAAY KESAVAA KALI NAALUKKIRANGI KALLILE IRANGI NILAIYAAGA KOVILIL NIRKINRAAY KESAVAA KURAI ONRUM ILLAI MARAI MOORTTHI KANNAA

YAATHUM MARUKKAATHA MALAIYAPPAA - UN MAARBIL EDUM THARA NIRKUM KARUNAI KADAL ANNAI ENRUM IRUNTHIDA EDU KURAI ENAKKU ENRUM IRUNTHIDA EDU KURAI ENAKKU ONRUM KURAI ILLAI MARAI MOORTTHI KANNAA MANIVANNAA MALAIAPPAA GOVINDAA GOVINDAA GOVINDAA GOVINDAA

The meaning behind the divine lyrics:

I have no problem Oh, Lord, Kanna! I do not have anything to say, Kanna! I have no complaint, Oh, Govindaa! You are invisible, Oh, kanna! Yet, I have no problem, Oh, Kanna! When Lord Venkateswara is ready to give us what we want, why do we desire anything, Oh, Kanna! Manivanna, malaiappa, Govindaa! You are standing behind a screen, Oh Lord! Only those scholars who are well-versed in the Vedas can “see” you. Yet, I have no problem; No problem even if I do not see You.Oh Lord, You are standing on a hill. I do not have any problem still.You have incarnated yourself into a stone-form recognising the necessity during Kali Yuga. You are permanently here in this Temple. You do not refuse the request from any of your devotees. You also have the merciful Goddess Lakshmi residing in Your chest. So, what deficiency can I have? I have no complaint, Kanna, manivanna, malaiappa, Govindaa, Govindaa!Govindaa, Govindaa! Govindaa, Govindaa! Govindaa, Govindaa!









7 comments:

Nithya said...

You failed to write a small small kutti ode to Rajaji, the lyricist of this song who weaved beautiful words into one ammmmmmmmazing chant cum prayer cum song :D....
Kurai ondrum Illai is a wonderful song....Every time I listen to this song, my eyes brim with tears...This song HAS to be sung with sooo much feeling and emotion...Apdi paadatti thats it..Full song kolai only :P

Ryan said...

yea i listen to very little carnatic and i luv this song tho....my mom has this old cassette of MS bak when cassettes were popular u kno :P...she listne sto that and i jump in when i hear this song or some others which i like

Priya Iyer said...

nithya and sharan,

i know, it is a very very very beautiful song...divine! and ms has made it all the more divine with her soulful voice! i dont listen to carnatic all that much...sometimes i do, just on and off...so i don't have much info about it...i didnt know who wrote this song:-( now i do!:-)

Sathej said...

Hello,
This song was tuned by Shri Kadayanallur Venkatraman, who was a close associate of Shri Semmangudi.Of course,MS Amma made it immortal.And just a mention of the Ragams.Pallavi and Anupallavi are sung in Shivaranjani while Charanam is rendered in Shivaranjani,Kapi and Sindubhairavi.
Was just curious on seeing the title of the post.
Sathej

Priya Iyer said...

sathej,

wow! u seem to have all the information! :-)

i didnt know all that...i just listen to good songs, dont bother much with the details:-) now, i think i should have complete knowledge:-)

Anonymous said...

Hi,

First of all, thank you for providing us english translation of this immortal song. This is a song to reduce the tremendous weight of karma from our day-to-day life. We all get bogged down with tremendous pressure to balance between good and bad karmas and consious too. This song can also discipline our mind to feel happy for whatever God has provided us and not yearn for more.Plus it also gives us a sense that Lord is guiding us and we should feel comfortable and secure under his merciful guidance.

Rajagopalan B said...

That was a very very good attempt to translate those immortal words in English. Kudos!

If you wish to hear this evergreen song with modern BGM here it is.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTogSGilv-I

SRIRAMAJAYAM