Nattakurinji

Nattakurinji is a raga in Carnatic music. It is a audava janya raga of the 28th Melakarta raga Harikambhoji. This raga is considered auspicious to sing in the evenings. Though rarely used in Hindustani music, it is very popular in Carnatic music. The raaga Kurinji belongs to the Melakarta family Shankarabharanam but is relatively rare.

Structure and Lakshana

Nattakurinji is an asymmetric rāgam. It is described as having three types of ascending and descending scales. In practice, all 3 types of arohana and avarohana, as well as other usages, are found. Its structure is as follows:

[Arohana|] :
[Avarohana|] :

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

Popular compositions

Many compositions are set to Nattakurinji Raga. Some popular compositions include:
Varnams:

Chalamela Jesevayya, a Padavarnam composed by Mulaivittu Rangasami Nattuvanar
Swami Naan Undhan Adimai, a Padavarnam by Papanasam Sivan
Samini Vegame Rammanave, an Ata tala Varnam by Patnam Subramania Iyer
Sarasakshi, a Misra Chapu tala Varnam by Ponniah Pillai of the Tanjore Quartet

Krithis:

Alli Nodalu Rama, Manava Nillisuvudu and Prananatha Paliso Nee Enna by Purandara Dasa
Manasu Vishaya and Kuvalaya Dalanayana composed by TyagarajaGajadhishadanyam, 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 , Jagadeesha Sada Mamava, Mamava Sada Varade by Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma
Pal Vadiyum Mugam, Vanamali Swagatham and Koduthu Vaitha Punniyavan by Oothukkadu Venkatasubramanya Iyer
Ekkalathilum by Ramaswamy Shivan
Parakela Saraswathi by Thirupathi Narayanaswamy
Edaunnado, Sriman Narayanathe and Vande Shantham Hanumantham by Bhadrachala Ramadasu
Vazhi Maraithirukudhe by Gopalakrishna Bharati
Needu Murthini by Pallavi Gopala Iyer
Muruga Muruga by Subramania Bharati
Kandan Seyalanro by Dr. Lalgudi Jayaraman
En Intha Thaamadham by Neelakanta Sivan
Nakabhaya Varamosagi by G. N. Balasubramaniam
Na Cheyi Vidavakura by Mysore Vasudevachar

Javalis and Padams:

Tharu Maru Ladeveme and Chalamelara by Pattabhiramayya
Sukhamo Devi from the Lavanasuravadham by Amritha Shastrigal

Film songs

The song Kannamoochi yenada in the movie Kandukondain Kandukondain is not entirely composed in this ragam; only the initial portion of the song is composed in Nattakurinj, while the latter half is composed in Sahana.