Nattakurinji

Nattakurinji is a raga (musical scale) in Carnatic music. It is an audava janya raga of 28th Melakarta raga Harikambhoji. This raga is good to sing in evenings.^[1] It is used rarely in Hindustani, but is very popular in Carnatic music.^[1][2][3] The raaga Kurinji belongs to the Melakarta family Shankarabharanam but is sung relatively rarely. ^[4]

Nattakurinji

Arohanam	S R₂ G₃ M₁ N₂ D₂ N₂ P D₂ N₂ Ṡ
Avarohanam	Ṡ N₂ D₂ M₁ G₃ M₁ P G₃ R₂ S

Structure and Lakshana

Nattakurinji is an asymmetric rāgam. It is said to have three types of ascending (arohana) and descending scales (avarohana).^[2] In practice all 3 types of arohana and avarohana, as well as other usages (prayogas) are found. Its ārohaṇa-avarohaṇa structure (one ascending and descending scale) is as follows:^[1]

• ārohaṇa : S R₂ G₃ M₁ N₂ D₂ N₂ P D₂ N₂ Ṡ^[a]
• avarohaṇa : Ṡ N₂ D₂ M₁ G₃ R₂ S^[b]

The notes used in this scale are shadjam, chathusruthi rishabham, antara gandhara, chathusruthi dhaivatham and kaisiki nishadham in ascending scale, with rishabham excluded in descending scale. For the details of the notations and terms, see swaras in Carnatic music. It is also classified as a "rakti" raga (a raga of high melodic content).

Popular compositions

There are many compositions set to Nattakurinji Raga. Some of the popular compositions are:

• Alli Nodalu Rama, Manava Nillisuvudu and Prananatha Paliso Nee Enna by Purandara Dasa
• Manasu Vishaya and Kuvalaya Dalanayana composed by Tyagaraja
• Chalamela Jesevayya, a Padavarnam composed by Mulaivittu Rangasami Nattuvanar
• Gajadhishadanyam, Budhamashrayami, Balambikayai Namaste, Shivakami Pathim and Parvati Kumaram by Muthuswami Dikshitar
• Ketum Bhajamyaham by Chidambaram Swarnavenkatesha Dikshitar
• Mayamma Nannu Brovavamma by Shyama Shastri
• Pahi Janani Santatam (Navarathri 8th day krithi), Jagadeesha Sada Mamava, Mamava Sada Varade by Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma
• Pal vadiyum mugam by Oothukkadu Venkatasubramanya Iyer
• Ekkalathilum by Ramaswamy Shivan
• Edaunnado by Bhadrachala Ramadasu
• Swami Naan Undhan Adimai, A Padavarnam by Papanasam Sivan
• Vazhi Maraithirukudhe by Gopalakrishna Bharati
• Samini Vegame Rammanave, an Ata tala Varnam by Patnam Subramania Iyer
• Needu Murthini by Pallavi Gopala Iyer

Film songs

Song	Language	Film	Composer	Singer
Kavalaiyai Theerpathu Naattiya Kalaiye	Tamil	Sivakavi	Papanasam Sivan	M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar
Anbe Amudhey		Uthama Puthiran	G. Ramanathan	T. M. Soundararajan,P. Susheela
Kaniya Kaniya Mazhalai Pesum		Mannathi Mannan	Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy
Maaman Kurai		Siraichalai	Ilaiyaraaja	K. S. Chithra,Gangai Amaran
Kannamoochi yenada (Sahana touches also)		Kandukondain Kandukondain	A. R. Rahman	K. S. Chithra,K. J. Yesudas
Poongatru Veesum		Mr. Madras	Vidyasagar	S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Theme		Thavamai Thavamirundhu	Sabesh–Murali	Sharreth,Madhu Balakrishnan,Sudha Ragunathan
Udayam Vaalkkannezhuthi	Malayalam	Njangal Santhushtaranu
Thiranurayum		Anandabhadram
Vaikasi thingalo

The song Kannamoochi yenada in the movie Kandukondain Kandukondain is not wholly composed in this ragam. Only the initial portion of the song is composed in Nattakurinji while the latter half is composed in Sahana.^[5]

Notes

1. Alternate notations:

   • Hindustani: S R G M Ṉ D Ṉ P D Ṉ Ṡ
   • Western: C D E F B♭ A B♭ G A B♭ C
2. Alternate notations:

   • Hindustani: Ṡ Ṉ D M G R S
   • Western: C B♭ A F E D C