Kurai Onrum Illai - Revision history

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2025-10-01T18:50:13Z

Minor edits and structural improvements

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			{{Short description\|Tamil devotional song}}
	{{Use dmy dates\|date=July 2020}}		{{Use dmy dates\|date=July 2020}}
	{{Use Indian English\|date=July 2020}}		{{Use Indian English\|date=July 2020}}
	{{Rajaji}}		{{Rajaji}}{{For\|the film\|Kurai Ondrum Illai}}
	'''Kurai Onrum Illai''' ({{~~lang-~~ta\|குறை ஒன்றும் இல்லை}}, meaning ''No grievances have I'') is a Tamil devotional song written by [[C. Rajagopalachari]].<ref name="collaborators_thehindu">{{cite news\|title=Rajaji's unknown collaborator\|url=http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/mag/2002/12/22/stories/2002122200220100.htm\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017130432/http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/mag/2002/12/22/stories/2002122200220100.htm\|url-status=dead\|archive-date=17 October 2015\|work=[[The Hindu]]\|date=22 December 2002}}</ref> The song set in [[Carnatic music]] was written in gratitude to Hindu God ([[Venkateswara]] and [[Krishna]] visualised as one) and compassionate mother.		'''"Kurai Onrum Illai"''' ({{langx\|ta\|குறை ஒன்றும் இல்லை}}, meaning ''No grievances have I'') is a Tamil devotional song written by [[C. Rajagopalachari]].<ref name="collaborators_thehindu">{{cite news\|title=Rajaji's unknown collaborator\|url=http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/mag/2002/12/22/stories/2002122200220100.htm\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017130432/http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/mag/2002/12/22/stories/2002122200220100.htm\|url-status=dead\|archive-date=17 October 2015\|work=[[The Hindu]]\|date=22 December 2002}}</ref> The song set in [[Carnatic music]] was written in gratitude to Hindu God ([[Venkateswara]] and [[Krishna]] visualised as one) and compassionate mother.

	Kurai Onrum Illai is one of the few songs written by Indian politician, freedom-fighter and [[Governor-General of India]], [[Chakravarti Rajagopalachari]]. According to [[Gopalkrishna Gandhi]] the song is a euphemism for the [[bhakti]] of untouchables (also known as Adi Dravidars or [[Harijans]] or Panchama).<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20151017130432/http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/mag/2002/12/22/stories/2002122200220100.htm ]</ref>		Kurai Onrum Illai is one of the few songs written by Indian politician, freedom-fighter and [[Governor-General of India]], [[Chakravarti Rajagopalachari]].

	The song was sung by [[M. S. Subbulakshmi]] in the Sri Venkateswara (Balaji) Pancharatna Mala LP-2 (Long Play Record) (1979/80). This song is unique because it does not assume the tone of devoted prayer ~~as most Hindu devotional songs~~ but one of thankfulness to God. The song comprises 3 stanzas each set in three different ''[[ragas]]''.		The song was sung by [[M. S. Subbulakshmi]] in the Sri Venkateswara (Balaji) Pancharatna Mala LP-2 (Long Play Record) (1979/80). This song is unique because it does not assume the tone of devoted grants of prayer but one of thankfulness to God. The song comprises 3 stanzas each set in three different ''[[ragas]]'' of [[Shivaranjani]], [[Kapi (raga)\|Kapi]] and [[Sindhu Bhairavi (raga)\|Sindhu Bhairavi]].<ref>{{Cite web \|date=2016 \|title=Kurai Ondrum Illai \|url=https://www.samskriti.com/uploads/6/5/4/6/6546389/kurai_ondrum_illai.pdf \|website=Samskriti Foundation}}</ref>

	Kurai Onrum Illai is a very popular song in [[South India]] and is a regular in ~~most~~ Carnatic concerts. It became very famous after it was sung by M. S. Subbulakshmi.		Kurai Onrum Illai is a very popular song{{From whom?\|date=February 2025}} in [[South India]] and is a regular in many Carnatic concerts. It became very famous after it was sung by M. S. Subbulakshmi.

	== History ==		== History ==
	Rajagopalachari, or Rajaji as he was popularly known, was a religious Hindu and a devout Vaishnavite.<ref name="collaborators_thehindu" /><ref name="chennaionline">{{cite news\|url=http://archives.chennaionline.com/musicnew/thamizhsongs/2004/song17.asp\|title=Rajagopalachari\|date=31 March 2004\|publisher=Chennai Online\|url-status=dead\|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100125063554/http://archives.chennaionline.com/musicnew/thamizhsongs/2004/song17.asp\|archivedate=25 January 2010}}</ref> Apart from his illustrious political career, he is also known to have authored books on history, religion, politics and Hindu mythology.<ref name="chennaionline" /><ref name="rajaji_bio">{{cite book\|title=Unfolding Rajaji\|pages=49\|first=C. R.\|last=Kesavan\|publisher=East West Books (Madras)\|year=2003\|id=~~{{ISBN\|~~8188661104~~}}, {{ISBN~~\|~~978-81-88661-10-7}}~~}}</ref> His translations of the [[Ramayana]] and [[Mahabharata]] are considered classics<ref name="rajaji_bio" /> and are used by American universities as a part of their syllabus on "Oriental Studies".<ref name="chennaionline" />		Rajagopalachari, or Rajaji as he was popularly known, was a religious Hindu and a devout Vaishnavite.<ref name="collaborators_thehindu" /><ref name="chennaionline">{{cite news\|url=http://archives.chennaionline.com/musicnew/thamizhsongs/2004/song17.asp\|title=Rajagopalachari\|date=31 March 2004\|publisher=Chennai Online\|url-status=dead\|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100125063554/http://archives.chennaionline.com/musicnew/thamizhsongs/2004/song17.asp\|archivedate=25 January 2010}}</ref> Apart from his illustrious political career, he is also known to have authored books on history, religion, politics and Hindu mythology.<ref name="chennaionline" /><ref name="rajaji_bio">{{cite book\|title=Unfolding Rajaji\|pages=49\|first=C. R.\|last=Kesavan\|publisher=East West Books (Madras)\|year=2003\|isbn=8188661104\|id=}}</ref> His translations of the [[Ramayana]] and [[Mahabharata]] are considered classics<ref name="rajaji_bio" /> and are used by American universities as a part of their syllabus on "Oriental Studies".<ref name="chennaionline" />

	However, Rajaji is not a popular composer of Carnatic music and "Kurai Onrum Illai" is his sole Carnatic composition (with some help from Tamil scholar M.P.Somasundaram ( மீ.ப.சோமு) ) that has gained widespread recognition.<ref name="chennaionline" /><ref name="rajaji_bio" /> The song depicts his intense devotion to God.		However, Rajaji is not a popular composer of Carnatic music and "Kurai Onrum Illai" is his sole Carnatic composition (with some help from Tamil scholar M.P.Somasundaram ( மீ.ப.சோமு) ) that has gained widespread recognition.<ref name="chennaionline" /><ref name="rajaji_bio" /> The song depicts his intense devotion to God.
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	This composition by Rajaji is one of its kind, in the sense that the author does not elicit any favour from God but only maintains that he has no regrets or dissatisfaction about anything in life.<ref name="chennaionline" /> In this song, he regards both [[Lord Vishnu]] or Venkateswara of [[Tirupati (city)\|Tirupathi]] and his incarnation [[Lord Krishna]] to be one and the same and uses the names interchangeably.<ref name="chennaionline" />		This composition by Rajaji is one of its kind, in the sense that the author does not elicit any favour from God but only maintains that he has no regrets or dissatisfaction about anything in life.<ref name="chennaionline" /> In this song, he regards both [[Lord Vishnu]] or Venkateswara of [[Tirupati (city)\|Tirupathi]] and his incarnation [[Lord Krishna]] to be one and the same and uses the names interchangeably.<ref name="chennaionline" />

	Rajaji's grandson Gopal Gandhi believes that there were multiple factors that led to the composition.<ref name="collaborators_thehindu" /> He also suspects the presence of hidden meanings in the song.<ref name="collaborators_thehindu" /> He believes that the song had been inspired by an incident which took place in the shrine of Tiruchanoor in 1925, when Rajaji had defended the right of an untouchable to enter the shrine of Tiruchanoor.<ref name="collaborators_thehindu" /> Gopal Gandhi believes that Rajaji compares the untouchable's inability to have a glimpse of his favorite God to his own inability to have a glimpse of the invisible creator.<ref name="collaborators_thehindu" />

	==Popular culture==		==Popular culture==
	The same song was reused with slightly modified lyrics and instrumentation by Vidyasagar for the film ''[[Arai En 305-il Kadavul]]'' (2008).<ref>http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-music-reviews/review-1/arai-music-review.html</ref>		The same song was reused with slightly modified lyrics and instrumentation by Vidyasagar for the film ''[[Arai En 305-il Kadavul]]'' (2008).<ref>{{Cite web\|url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-music-reviews/review-1/arai-music-review.html\|title=ARAI EN 305IL KADAVUL MUSIC REVIEW MUSIC DIRECTOR VIDYASAGAR CAST SANTHANAM PRAKASH RAJ GANJA KARUPPU MADHUMITHA JYOTHIRMAYEE DIRECTOR SIMBUDEVAN PRODUCER S PICTURES SHANKAR stills picture image gallery}}</ref>

	The song was used with telling effect in Mudal Mudal Mudal Varai (M3V) ~~an International Award Winning Tamil film by Krishnan Seshadri Gomatam. Music was composed by Aslam Mustafa~~ and the song sung by Ms. Jaya.		The song was used with telling effect in ''[[Mudhal Mudhal Mudhal Varai\|Mudal Mudal Mudal Varai (M3V)]]'' and the song sung by Ms. Jaya.

	== Notes ==		== Notes ==
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	* [http://www.keylessonline.com/song/devotional/karn/KuraiOndrumIllai.html Keyboard Notes based on M. S. Subbulakshmi's rendition of the song]		* [http://www.keylessonline.com/song/devotional/karn/KuraiOndrumIllai.html Keyboard Notes based on M. S. Subbulakshmi's rendition of the song]

	[[Category:Tamil~~-language songs~~]]		[[Category:Songs in Tamil]]
	[[Category:Carnatic compositions]]		[[Category:Carnatic compositions]]

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{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2020}}
{{Rajaji}}
'''Kurai Onrum Illai''' ({{lang-ta|குறை ஒன்றும் இல்லை}}, meaning ''No grievances have I'') is a Tamil devotional song written by [[C. Rajagopalachari]].<ref name="collaborators_thehindu">{{cite news|title=Rajaji's unknown collaborator|url=http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/mag/2002/12/22/stories/2002122200220100.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017130432/http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/mag/2002/12/22/stories/2002122200220100.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=17 October 2015|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=22 December 2002}}</ref> The song set in [[Carnatic music]] was written in gratitude to Hindu God ([[Venkateswara]] and [[Krishna]] visualised as one) and compassionate mother.

Kurai Onrum Illai is one of the few songs written by Indian politician, freedom-fighter and [[Governor-General of India]], [[Chakravarti Rajagopalachari]]. According to [[Gopalkrishna Gandhi]] the song is a euphemism for the [[bhakti]] of untouchables (also known as Adi Dravidars or [[Harijans]] or Panchama).<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20151017130432/http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/mag/2002/12/22/stories/2002122200220100.htm ]</ref>

The song was sung by [[M. S. Subbulakshmi]] in the Sri Venkateswara (Balaji) Pancharatna Mala LP-2 (Long Play Record) (1979/80). This song is unique because it does not assume the tone of devoted prayer as most Hindu devotional songs but one of thankfulness to God. The song comprises 3 stanzas each set in three different ''[[ragas]]''.

Kurai Onrum Illai is a very popular song in [[South India]] and is a regular in most Carnatic concerts. It became very famous after it was sung by M. S. Subbulakshmi.

== History ==
Rajagopalachari, or Rajaji as he was popularly known, was a religious Hindu and a devout Vaishnavite.<ref name="collaborators_thehindu" /><ref name="chennaionline">{{cite news|url=http://archives.chennaionline.com/musicnew/thamizhsongs/2004/song17.asp|title=Rajagopalachari|date=31 March 2004|publisher=Chennai Online|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100125063554/http://archives.chennaionline.com/musicnew/thamizhsongs/2004/song17.asp|archivedate=25 January 2010}}</ref> Apart from his illustrious political career, he is also known to have authored books on history, religion, politics and Hindu mythology.<ref name="chennaionline" /><ref name="rajaji_bio">{{cite book|title=Unfolding Rajaji|pages=49|first=C. R.|last=Kesavan|publisher=East West Books (Madras)|year=2003|id={{ISBN|8188661104}}, {{ISBN|978-81-88661-10-7}}}}</ref> His translations of the [[Ramayana]] and [[Mahabharata]] are considered classics<ref name="rajaji_bio" /> and are used by American universities as a part of their syllabus on "Oriental Studies".<ref name="chennaionline" />

However, Rajaji is not a popular composer of Carnatic music and "Kurai Onrum Illai" is his sole Carnatic composition (with some help from Tamil scholar M.P.Somasundaram ( மீ.ப.சோமு) ) that has gained widespread recognition.<ref name="chennaionline" /><ref name="rajaji_bio" /> The song depicts his intense devotion to God.

The composition was published in the Tamil magazine [[Kalki]] in 1967. The song became popular after it was sung as one of the pieces in the Long Play Record set, known as Sri Venkateswara (Balaji) Pancharatnamala by M. S. Subbulakshmi in 1979/80. Since then, the song has been widely appreciated and sung in most Carnatic concerts.<ref name="chennaionline" /><ref name="thehindu_songnight">{{cite news|title=Song night|url=http://www.thehindu.com/yw/2004/08/21/stories/2004082100270300.htm|archive-url=https://archive.today/20150313064449/http://www.thehindu.com/yw/2004/08/21/stories/2004082100270300.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=13 March 2015|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=21 August 2004|first=K.|last=Jeshi}}</ref><ref name="frontline">{{cite journal | author=K. JAYANTHI, ASHA KRISHNAKUMAR | title=ENDURING MUSIC :M. S. Subbulakshmi 1916 - 2004| journal=Frontline| year=2004| volume=21| issue=26| url=http://www.frontline.in/static/html/fl2126/stories/20041231004900400.htm}}</ref>

==Explanation and interpretation==

This composition by Rajaji is one of its kind, in the sense that the author does not elicit any favour from God but only maintains that he has no regrets or dissatisfaction about anything in life.<ref name="chennaionline" /> In this song, he regards both [[Lord Vishnu]] or Venkateswara of [[Tirupati (city)|Tirupathi]] and his incarnation [[Lord Krishna]] to be one and the same and uses the names interchangeably.<ref name="chennaionline" />

Rajaji's grandson Gopal Gandhi believes that there were multiple factors that led to the composition.<ref name="collaborators_thehindu" /> He also suspects the presence of hidden meanings in the song.<ref name="collaborators_thehindu" /> He believes that the song had been inspired by an incident which took place in the shrine of Tiruchanoor in 1925, when Rajaji had defended the right of an untouchable to enter the shrine of Tiruchanoor.<ref name="collaborators_thehindu" /> Gopal Gandhi believes that Rajaji compares the untouchable's inability to have a glimpse of his favorite God to his own inability to have a glimpse of the invisible creator.<ref name="collaborators_thehindu" />

==Popular culture==
The same song was reused with slightly modified lyrics and instrumentation by Vidyasagar for the film ''[[Arai En 305-il Kadavul]]'' (2008).<ref>http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-music-reviews/review-1/arai-music-review.html</ref>

The song was used with telling effect in Mudal Mudal Mudal Varai (M3V) an International Award Winning Tamil film by Krishnan Seshadri Gomatam. Music was composed by Aslam Mustafa and the song sung by Ms. Jaya.

== Notes ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* [http://www.karnatik.com/c1296.shtml Transliteration of the song from Carnatic song lyrics website karnatik.com]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4eN1nrohkE YouTube video of M. S. Subbulakshmi's rendition of the song]
* [http://www.keylessonline.com/song/devotional/karn/KuraiOndrumIllai.html Keyboard Notes based on M. S. Subbulakshmi's rendition of the song]

[[Category:Tamil-language songs]]
[[Category:Carnatic compositions]]