Alai Payuthe Kanna

Alai Payuthe Kanna

By

Oothukkadu Venkata Subba iyer

Translated by

P.R.Ramachander

Raga Kaanada
Thala Aadhi

Pallavi

Alai payudhe , kanna , en manam miga Alai Payudhe,
UN Ananda mohana venu ganamathil,

Anupallavi

Nilai peyandru Kanna , shilai polave nindra,
Neram avathu ariyamale miga
Vinodhamana Murali Dhara , en manam

Charanam

Telinda nilvu patta pagal pol eriyuthe , un dikkai nokki yen iru puruvam neriyuthe,
Kanintha un venu ganam kattil varugudhe , kangal sorugi oru vidhamay varugudhe
Kaditha manathil oruthi padathai enakku alithu magizhttava,
Oru thanitta vaanathil anaithu enakku unarchi koduthu mugizhttavam
Kalai kadal alayinil kadiravan oli ena inayiru kazhal enakku alithava,
Kadari manam uruga naan azhaikkavo ,
Idara maadarudan nee kalikkavo,
Idhu thagumo , Idhu murayo, Idhu dharmam thano,,
Kuzhal oodhidum pozhudu aadidum kuzhaigal polave,
Manadu vedanai migavodu,

English Translation

Pallavi

Waves are flowing, Krishna, my mind is flowing like waves,
Hearing the pretty joyful music of your flute
.
Anupallavi

Completely upset, I stood like a rock,
Not understanding the passage of time,
Oh very peculiar holder of flute, my mind

Charanam

The clear moon light is burning me like the morning sun,
My eye brows are crunching seeing the side, where you are,
The well ripened music of your flute is coming in the air,
My eye balls are going in and I am feeling peculiar,
Are you trying to make me happy by giving the picture of some one?
Are you trying to embrace me in a lonely forest and drown me by giving me sensation?
Are you giving me dancing anklets like the waves of the sea of art which appears like the light of Sun?
Shall I cry with melting mind and destroy?
Is it all right, is it proper, and is it Dharma?
Playing flute and dancing for some time like your ear drops
When you play flute with divine joy, my mind is paining.

Thaye Yasoda

Thaye Yasoda

By

Oothukkadu Venkata Subbaiyer

Translated by

P.R.Ramachander

Raga Todi
Thala aadi

Pallavi

Thaye Yasoda undan Ayar kulathu uditha mayan,
Gopalakrishnan cheyyum jalathai Keladi

Anupallavi
Thaye keladi undan payyanai pole inda,
Vayyagathil oru pillai naan kandathillai


Charanam

1.Kalil chilambhu konja, kai valai kulunga, muthu malaigal asaya , theru vasalil vandan,
Kal asayum kai asayum talamodu isaindu vara Neela vanna Kannan ivan narthanam aadinaan,
Balan endru taavi anaitha ennai maalayittavan pol vayil muthamittanadi,
Balan alladi un magan jalam miga cheyyum Krishnan nalu pergal ketka cholla nana miga agudhadi

2.Andru oru naal inda vazhi vanda virundivarum ayarnthu paduthu urangum podinile Kannan,
Tindarthu poga kaiyil irunda vennayai anda virundinar vayil niraithu marainthaan , anda
Nindai migu pazhi inge pavam ange enra padi chinthai miga nondhi davum seyya thagumo,
Nanda gopar kkinda vidham andha migu pillai pera nalla tavam seidaradi , enna seivomadi.

3.Vennai vennai taarum endran, Vennai thandhal thindru vittu pennai tharum endru kettu kannadikkindran,
Vana mayil nrithamadi manninai padathal etri kannile vittu kalavadinaan,
Pannishayum kuzhal oodinaan , kettu nindra panbile , arugil vandu vambugal cheydaan,
Penninattukendru vandal puniiyangal koto koti enni unakkagumaadi ,kannaimai yai pogudhadi.

4. Munda naal andhi nerathil sondamudan kitte vandu vindhaigal palavum cheydhu vilayadinaan,
Pandu ala vagilum vennai thandhal viduven endru mundu ukilai thottu ezhuthu poradinaan,
Anda Vasudevan ivan thaanadi Yasodhe maindan ena thottizhuthu madi mel vaithen, vaithaal,
Sundara mugattai kandu chinthai mayangu neram anthara Vaikundamodu ellam kattinaan.

5. Thotillile pillai killi vittathum avai alara,
Vitta kariyam agala vennai thindran,
Kattina kandrai avizhthu ettiyum olithu vittu,
Mattilla thumbai kazhuthil maati kondan,
Vittu vittu amme endran kanrinai ppola,
Athiyilladha madum amma enrathe,
Kittina kuvalayodum ettinan un sela magan,
Patiyil karavay idum palai ooturaan adi.

6.Chuthi chuthi ennai vanthu Athai veetu vazhi kettan,
Chitha thukku ettum varai cholli nindren,
Athudan vittano , parum , aathankarai vazhi kettan,
Athanayum solli vittu nindren,
Vitthagami ondru kettan- nanam aguthe,
Muthathakku vazhi kettu satham ittanadi,
Athanai idam koduthu mrthavum valarthu vittai,
Ithanai avanai cholla kutham illayedi.

7.*Vennai vennai taarum endran, Vennai thandhal thindru vittu pennai tharum endru kettu kannadikkindran,
Vana mayil nrithamadi manninai padathal etri kannile vittu kalavadinaan,
Pannishayum kuzhal oodinaan , kettu nindra panbile , arugil vandu vambugal cheydaan,
Penninattukendru vandal puniiyangal koto koti enni unakkagumaadi ,kannaimai yai pogudhadi.

8. Munda naal andhi nerathil sondamudan kitte vandu vindhaigal palavum cheydhu vilayadinaan,
Pandu ala vagilum vennai thandhal viduven endru mundu ukilai thottu ezhuthu poradinaan,
Anda Vasudevan ivan thaanadi Yasodhe maindan ena thottizhuthu madi mel vaithen, vaithaal,
Sundara mugattai kandu chinthai mayangu neram anthara Vaikundamodu ellam kattinaan.
*Note Charanam 3 and 4 are repeated again as 7 and 8 . This is taken from
http://www.karnatik.com/c1446.shtml

English Translation

Pallvi

Oh Mother Yasoda, please hear the mischief,
Being done by your son Gopalakrishnan ,
Who is the enchanter born in cow herd’s clan.

Anupallavi

Oh mother , please hear , I have not seen,
Any one like your son in this world.

Charanam

1.He came in the street gate with anklets lisping , with bangles shaking , with beaded chain moving ,
And that blue coloured Krishna danced moving his legs and his hands according to the beats,
And he kissed me on my mouth like my wedded husband when I hugged him thinking he is a baby,
And so your son is not a baby , he is the Krishna who does tricks that I am ashamed to tell in hearing of others.

2.One day , when a stranger who was a guest was sleeping deeply , Krishna,
Filled his mouth with the butter remaining in his hands after eating and disappeared,
And the very bad name came to us while the sin was with him which made us worried.
Is it proper to do this, what penance did Nandagopa do to get this mischievous kid, What shall we do?

3.He asked “Butter, butter” and when I gave it he ate it and asked for a girl with a wink,
He danced like a peacock and with his feet threw the mud in my eyes and behaved badly with me,
He sang in his flute pretty melodies and when we were hearing it, came near us and behaved badly,
Oh Yasoda, you would be doing billions of good deeds for all girls, if you watch over him well.

4.Day before yesterday , at sdusk , as a relation he came near me and showed me several tricks,
And asked me for atleast butter like a ball and when I gave him , he caught hold my front hairs and struggled,
Oh Yasodha , He is the same Vasudeva , whom I considered as son and pulled him and put on my lap,
He showed me his pretty face and when I was bewitched , he showed me all pleasures including Vaikundam.

5.He pinches the babies in the cradle and when we rush,
Leaving our jobs and go there to stop their crying
He stole the butter and ate it,
He released the calf from its rope, put the noose round himself,
And started shouting “Amme” and the cow thinking,
That it is his calf shouting for milk started saying Ambe,
And with the pot he got , your darling son went near the cow,
And started drinking milk from the cow like a calf.

6.He walked round and round me asked for way to aunt’s house,
And I explained well to the best of my knowledge,
Then e asked me way to the river bank,
I told him every thing and stood there,
Then he asked me something which makes me shy,
He asked me way for a kiss and made lot of noise,
You should not have spoiled him like this, Yasoda,
For now we cannot find fault with him.

7.He asked “Butter, butter” and when I gave it he ate it and asked for a girl with a wink,
He danced like a peacock and with his feet threw the mud in my eyes and behaved badly with me,
He sang in his flute pretty melodies and when we were hearing it, came near us and behaved badly,
Oh Yasoda, you would be doing billions of good deeds for all girls, if you watch over him well.

8.Day before yesterday , at sdusk , as a relation he came near me and showed me several tricks,
And asked me for atleast butter like a ball and when I gave him , he caught hold my front hairs and struggled,
Oh Yasodha , He is the same Vasudeva , whom I considered as son and pulled him and put on my lap,
He showed me his pretty face and when I was bewitched , he showed me all pleasures including Vaikundam.

Yeppadi thaan yennullam

Yeppadi thaan yennullam

By

Oothukaadu Venkata Subba iyer

Translated by

P.R.Ramachander

Raga Neelambari
Thala Aadhi

Pallavi

Yeppadi thaan yennullam pugundu yennai adimai kondeero,
Isai tarum kuzhal odu kundalam olira
Ivai tharum suvayodu vandhinam arula

Anupallavi

Oppuyar illada uthamane-oru,
Uraga nadamaadum vittagane,
Ulagirunda vaay tiranda padiyo,
Uralodu pinaindhiruppadhiyo

Charanam

Veliyil cholla manam thulludhe,
Cholla venum, venum yendra aasai kollude,
Kulir oli mugam kandu naani naani-un,
Koi malar paadathil vennai thallude,

Ini oru ulagam unnai thavira yenakkoru sukam illai Vennkadava,
Thani oru mudi mel ila mayilandi thogai aniya thandava,
Uriyeri kalavaadai thozhar oodu unakku yenakken tindhrava,
Oor ariym munbu annaiyidam sendru ondrum ariyaadu nindrava.

English translation

Pallavi

By what means did you enter my mind and enslaved me,
Along wit flute giving music and ear studs shining,
And with bees moving around due to the taste given by those.

Anupallavi

Oh incomparably great one,
Oh magician who danced on the snake,
Did you appear with the worlds in your mouth,
Or being tied to the mortar

Charanam

My mind is jumping to tell it outside,
I am having desire to tell and to tell,
Seeing your pleasant face, my shyness,
Is pushing me like a flower on to your feet.

From now , I do not have any world except you, Oh Venkadava,
Oh dancer who kept on your head the feather of peacock,
Oh God who along with friends who stole the butter,
From the rope stand and fought within yourselves,
And before any one knew it went and stood with your mother,
As if you do not know anything at all.

Aadathu asangathu vaa

Aadathu asangathu vaa

By

OOthu kdu Venkata Subba iyer

Translated by

P.R.Ramachander
Ragam Karaharapriya
Thala aadhi

Pallavi

Aadathu asangathu vaa kanna, un adalil,
Irezhu bhuvanavum asaindhu aduthe

Anupallavi

Adanai kana Thillai ambalthiraivam than aadalai vittu,
Inge gokulam vandaar, aadalinal chiru yadavane ,
Oru maa mayil iraginai Madhavane nee

Charanam

Chinna chiru padangal shilambolithidume,
Adai chevi madutha piravi manam ,
Kalaindhidume naan pinniya,
Chadai chatte vagahai kalaindhidume,
Mayil peeli ashaindu ashaindu ,
Nilai kalaindhidume , panniru kai iraiva
Eru mayil onru than pasum thogai virithu aadi,
Parishallittudume paadi varum Azhaga,
Unai kkana varumadiyar,
Yevarayinum kanaka mani asayum ,
Unadu thiru nadanam kan pattu ponal,
Manam pun pattu pogume.

English translation

Pallavi

Oh Krishna, please come without dancing and shaking,
For if you do that all the fourteen worlds would be moving and rolling.

Anupallavi

For seeing your dance The Lord Nataraja has left Chidambaram,
And has come to Gokula and Oh little Yadava, oh Madava,
Please leave out that one big feather of the peacock.

Charanam

With anklets making jingling sounds when your little feet move,
The mind that hears would be shaken by that,
The pig tail that I made would be fully disturbed,
With the peacocks feather shaking and shaking,
And would loose its Balance, Oh God with 12 hands,
The peacock that you ride opened its feathers to dance,
And to give you a present, Oh pretty one who comes singing,
Any of those devotees, who would come to see you,
Would be greatly upset if some evil eyes,
Affect the dance of yours with golden bells swinging,
And their mind would be deeply hurt.

Asaindhadum mayil ondru

Asaindhadum mayil ondru

By

Oothukkadu Venkata Subbaier

Translated by

P.R.Ramachander

Raga Simhendra Madhyamam
Thala Aadhi

Pallavi
Asaindhadum mayil ondru kandaal,
Nam azhagan vandhaan endru solvadhu pol thondrum

Anupaalavi
1.Isaipadum kuzhal kondu vandhan,
Intha erezhu piravikkum inba nilai thandhan,
Disai thorum niraivaga nindran,
Endrum thigattadha venu ganam radahiyidam eendhaan.

2.Engagilum enadhu iraiiva, iriva ena,
Mana nirai adiyavaridam thangu manathudayan,
Arul pongum mugathudayan,
Oru padam vaithu, maru padam thooki nindarada,
Mayilin iragada makara kuzhaiyada mathi vadanamada,
Mayakkum vizhiyaada malar anikal aada malar magalum pada,
Idhu kanavo nanavo ena mana nirai munivarum magizhndu kondada

Charanam
.1.Asai podum aavinangal kandu,
Andha adhisayithil silai pola nindru,
Nijamana sugam endru ondru –irundhal,
Eerulagil idhai andri veru edhuvum andru,
isai Padum gopalan endran indru irundu ezhundu
nadamada edhir nindru radhai pada.

2.Engagilum enadhu iraiiva, iriva ena,
Mana nirai adiyavaridam thangu manathudayan,
Arul pongum mugathudayan,
Oru padam vaithu, maru padam thooki nindarada,
Mayilin iragada makara kuzhaiyada mathi vadanamada,
Mayakkum vizhiyaada malar anikal aada malar magalum pada,
Idhu kanavo nanavo ena mana nirai munivarum magizhndu kondada
English Translation

Pallavi

When you see a peacock which is dancing with movement,
It appears as if, it is telling that the pretty one has come.

Anupallavi

1. He brought a flute that sings music,
He gave me state of sweetness to fourteen re births,
He stood in all directions, completely occupying it,
He gave the music of the flute to Radha,
That will never make a feeling of excess at any time.

2. Who has mind to stay with devotees with satisfied mind,
Staying some where and shouting, “My god, my God,”
Who has a face which shows ebbing grace,
Who keeps one leg on the floor and lifting up the other and dancing,
With feathers of peacock shaking , with ear rings shaking ,
With face moving here and there, with the bewitching eyes moving,
With ornaments of flower moving, with goddess Lakshmi singing,
With satisfied sages celebrating telling, “Is this true or a dream.”

Charanam
1.Who on seeing the cows eating their food,
Stood like a pillar on seeing that wonder,
And felt that if there is a thing called real pleasure,
In these two worlds, it is not anything but this,
Told Gopala in all the six directions
And started dancing sitting standing and walking.
With Radha standing opposite him was singing,

2.Who has mind to stay with devotees with satisfied mind,
Staying some where and shouting , “My god, my God,”,
Who has a face which shows ebbing grace,
Who keeps one leg on the floor and lifting up the other and dancing ,
With feathers of peacock shaking , with ear rings shaking ,
With face moving here and there, with the bewitching eyes moving,
With ornaments of flower moving, with goddess Lakshmi singing,
With satisfied sages celebrating telling, “Is this true or a dream.”

Kurai Ondrrum Illai

Kurai Ondrum Illai

By

Rajaji

Chakravarthi Rajagopalachari (10 December 1878 - 25 December 1972), informally called Rajaji or C.R., was an Indian lawyer, Indian independence activist, politician, writer, statesman and leader of the Indian National Congress who served as the last Governor-General of India. This great song written by him was popularized by the great M.S.Subbalakshmi.

Translated by

P.R.Ramachander

Raga Ragamalika
Tala Aadhi

Pallavi (Shiva Ranjani)

Kurai ondrumillai, marai moorthi kanna,
Kurai ondrum illai Kanna
Kurai ondrum illai Govinda

Anupallavi (Shiva Ranjini)

Kannukku theriyamal nirkindary Kanna,
Kannukku theriyamal nindaralum enakku,
Kurai ondrum illai marai morrthi Kanna

Charanam

1.Vendiyathai thanthida Venkatesan endrirukka, (Shiva Ranjini)
Vendiyathu veru illai marai moorthy Kanna,
Mani vanna, Malayappa , Govinda, Govinda


2.Thirayin pin nirkindary Kanna,Unnai (Kaapi)
Marai othum jnaniyar mattume kanpaar,
Enraalum kurai ondrum enakillai Kanna

3.Kundril mel kallagi nirkindra varada,(Kapi)
Kurai ondrum illai marai moothi kanna
Mani vanna , malayappa , Govinda, Govinda



4.Kali nalukku irangi, kallile irangi (Sindhu Bhairavi)
Nilayaga kovilil nirkindray Kesava

5.Yathum marukkadha malayappa, un marbil,(Sindhu Bhairavi)
Ethum tharnikkum karunal kadal annai,
Endrum irunthida ethu kurai enakku,
Onrum kurai illai marai moorthi kanna,
Manivanna, Malayappa , Govinda, Govinda


English translation

Pallavi

Oh Krishna , the lord of the Vedas, I do not have any problems,
Oh Krishna, I do not have any problems,
Oh Govinda, I do not have any problems

Anupallavi

Oh Krishna, You stand there as invisible,
Oh Krishna, even if you stand invisible,
Oh Krishna , lord of the Vedas, I do not have any problems

Charanam

1.When you are Lord Venkatesa to give all that I need,
I do not have any more needs, Oh Krishna, Oh Lord of the Vedas,
Oh Lord with attractive colour, Oh Lord of the mountain , Oh Govinda, Oh Govinda

2.Oh Krishna, You stand behind the curtains,
And you can be seen only by wise men who learn Vedas,
But still I do not have any problems. Oh Krishna

3.Oh giver of boons, who is standing as a stone on a hill,
Oh Krishna , the lord of the Vedas, I do not have any problems,
Oh Lord with attractive colour, Oh Lord of the mountain , Oh Govinda, Oh Govinda

4. Taking pity for the age of Kali, coming in to a stone,
You are standing in the temple as the moon light.

5.Oh Lord of mountain, who never says no,
When on your chest , the mother who is the sea of mercy,
Is living for ever , for the sake of this world,
What problem can be there for me?
I do not have any problem. Oh Krishna, Of Lord of the Vedas
Oh Lord with attractive colour, Oh Lord of the mountain , Oh Govinda, Oh Govinda

Introduction to Tamil Keerthanams

Most popular classical carnatic songs sung are either composed in Telugu or in Sanskrit. Possibly this started because of the musical trinity of Thivaiyaru and due to the excellence of their compositions. It is well known that there were many forerunners of great composers who wrote in Tamil These compositions are poetically excellent and there are very large number of great composers who wrote in Tamil. The Tamil Trinity (also known as the Tamil Moovar) commonly refers to the three Tamil composers of early Carnatic music. They were Muthu Thandavar (?1560 - ?1640 CE), Arunachala Kavi (1712–1779) and Marimutthu Pillai (1717–1787), and lived five decades before the Tiruvarur Trinity or Trinity of Carnatic Music. They introduced several innovations that led to the evolution of the Carnatic Kriti (song).Oothukadu Venkada Subbayyar, Gopakrishna Bharathi , Arunachala Kavi are examples.