K’town ‘hits’ your playlist this Margazhi

The Carnatic music season kickstarts.
KtownA
KtownA

The Carnatic music season kickstarts in Chennai while my car stereo blares Sid Sriram’s refrain Yedharkaaga kitta vandhaalo which leads into the chorus of the most defining song in Anirudh’s music, Ennai maatrum kaadhaley from Naanum Rowdythaan (2015). Anirudh’s command as a composer of melody and rhythm shines in Vignesh Sivan’s super-hit film apart from a host of films like VIP (2014) or Remo.

It is indeed difficult to switch stations when some defining songs of music composers play on radio! One such Ilayaraja number which was on-air recently on Rainbow FM was the veena and electric guitar mix of O Vasantha Raaja from Neengal Kaettavai (1984) which sounds like it was composed for a film starring Ajith and Nayanthara today.

Ilayaraja probably saved his best for certain filmmakers like Mahendran (Adi Penney Ponnoonjal Aadum Ilamai from Mullum Malarum — 1978), Balu Mahendra (the eternally romantic Yenn Iniya Ponn Nilaavey from Moodupani (1980) and Mani Ratnam (all songs from all their films). He also shares a great chemistry with Kamal Haasan resulting in Andhimazhai Pozhigiradhu from Raajapaarvai (1981), Valaiyosai from Satya (1988) and Neepaartha paarvaikkoru from Hey Ram (2000)  Circa 1992 — Mani Ratnam’s Roja and AR Rahman changed the Tamil movie soundscape forever!

All their albums stand the test of time right up to Kadal (2013) and Ok Kanmani (2015) but the songs dear to my heart from the Mani-ARR combination are Pudhu Vellai Mazhai (Roja 1992), all songs including the intimidating background score in Iruvar (1997), the foot-tapping number for any generation Yaakkai Thiri and the ‘caught-you-unawares’ Nenjemellaam Kadhal from Aayutha Ezhuthu (2004). Rahman’s Azhagiya Thamizhmagan (2007) has the least-played-on-radio song Kelaamal Kaiyyiley, which is a composition marvel. He also reserves his melodious bests for Gautham Menon with the soulful Mannipaaya from Vinnaithaandi Varuvaaya (2010) and the song of 2016 — Thallipogaathey from Achcham Yenbadhu Madamaiyada tops their collaboration.

Harris Jeyaraj too, reserves his best for Gautham — songs from Vaaranam Aayiram (2008), Kaakha Kaakha (2003) and Minnale (2002) made it to all the top slots when they released!
Yuvan Shankar Raja shares a similar track-record with Lingusamy (Dhavanipotta Deepaavali from Sandakozhi 2005), Selvaraghavan (all songs and BGM of 7G Rainbow Colony (2004) and Pudhupettai (2006), Ram (2005) (Aanadhayazhai from Thangameengal 2011), Ameer (Ayyayo from Paruthiveeran 2007) and Priya V (Panithuli from Kanda Naal Mudhal 2005), the BGM for Thyagarajan Kumararaja’s Aaranyakaadam (2011) before he struck pure gold with Venkat Prabhu from Chennai 28 (2007).

GV Prakash has his loyal directors Vetrimaran and AL Vijay while Santosh Narayanan’s unpredictable soundtrack for Pa Ranjith, Nalan and Karthik Subburaj stand out. I just wished Maayanadhi (Kabali 2016) was sung by SPB! Flat-tone voices do sound different but I hark back to when ARR started out — he used SPB, Chitra and Hariharan extensively for those magical numbers.

Those songs which don’t play often but which should be on your personal playlist like July Maadham Vandhaal from Pudhiya Mugam (1993), Uyire from Bombay (1995) or Thazhuvudhu from SJ Suryah’s Anbe Aaruyire (2005).

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