Home   Forum   Wiki   Notes   Register   FAQ   Sitemap   About Us   Contact Us  

What's the greatest song that Ilayaraja has composed?

Topic started by Vijay (@ 195.102.166.130) on Fri Jan 26 07:41:12 EST 2001.
All times in EST +10:30 for IST.

What's the greatest song that Ilayaraja has composed? I think it is "Kanmani, anbodu..." from "Guna". The thing I like about this song is that Ilayaraja has cleverly used a "happy" tune for a sad situation in the film. What do you guys think?

---

Responses:

• Old responses
  
• From: V (@ 160.83.32.14) on: Tue Apr 1 07:14:38 EST 2003
  
  Thanks for that mythila. I see u mention some good songs as well. Thing is you cant pick the greatest song, cuz they are of different category.
  For ex. my recent favo is poonthalir aada, very good song. It has some kind of elegant laziness in the charanam. He doesnt stick with one kind of music does he? He is versatile.
  
  One more song which I like for its kind of elegant laziness is perai sollava athu nyayam aguma .... wonderful song.
  
  V
  
  
• From: Solo (@ 210.210.33.88) on: Mon Apr 7 12:07:38 EDT 2003
  
  V
  
  Ur collections are great.
  
  I hope u could try to hear these too. U will luv it. Not many would've got a chance, as it does'nt come in TV or Radio.
  
  Folk
  1. Kadaloram Kadaloram - Aananda Raagam
  2. Thendral Vandhu Theendum bothu - Avatharam
  3. Marutha Mani Kozhundhu Vaasam
  Western Style
  1. Kadhal Ooviyam - Alaigal Oivadillai
  2. Megham Kottattum - Enakkul Oruvan
  3. Puttukkal Podatha - Chatriyan
  Symphony Style
  1. Oru Naal Antha thirunal - Devadai
  2. Nettru Vantha Kattru
  3. Indirarum Sundararum - Avatharam
  Beautiful Interludes
  1. Povama Urkolam - Chinna Thambi
  2. Ennai Thalatta Varuvala - Kadalukku Mariyadhai
  3. Ulagame Un - Ivan
  Classical
  1. Ennai Enna - Ivan
  2. Vizhiyil Kathai Ezhuthum - UMT
  3. Guruve Saranam - Ragavendra
  Duets
  1. Rojavai Thalattum Thendral
  2. Poomalaye thol Seravaa
  3. Adi Athadi - Kadalora Kavithaigal
  Melody
  1. En Vanile Ila Nenje vaa
  2. Konji Konji Alaigal Ada
  3. Kanne Kalaimane
  Southern Beats
  1. Chinna Rasave
  2. Aasai athgum vachhi - Marupadiyum
  3. Meenkodi theril Manmatha Rajan
  Typical 1980 Rajaish
  1. Ore Naal Unnai Nan
  2. Ei paadal Ondru
  3. Oru Kili Uruguthu
  4. Adipenne ponnunjal
  5. Solai Kuyilee
  6. Malai yoram Veesum Kattru
  & so many.
  
  Solo
  
  
• From: mythila (@ 137.237.13.20) on: Mon Apr 7 17:33:23 EDT 2003
  
  I would like to add the following near extinct songs too as great music.
  Malargalil adum ilamai from Kalyanaraman
  vaazhga raani vaazhga raajaangam , kaaviriye kavikuyile from Adutha vaarisu
  nalla neram neram - from anda or nimidam
  thendralai kandu from nilave mugam kaatu
  andhi varum neram, vilakku vaccha nerathile from Mundaanai mudichhu
  maanin vizhi from maapillai
  paatuthalaivan paadinaal- from idayakoil
  thodaatha thaalam from anand
  
  
• From: bb (@ 206.154.118.2) on: Mon Apr 7 18:41:40 EDT 2003
  
  Guys, instead of listing songs, please tell us why you like them. May be you want to write in detail on one song and why you think it is the best.
  
  
• From: vijay (@ 68.51.215.28) on: Tue Apr 8 01:48:10 EDT 2003
  
  Mythila and others, I second bb's request. Otherwise, it becomes another meaningless list making exercise.
  
  Picking one song or an album is very difficult to say the least.
  Here are a few songs randomly recalled from my favourite IR songs list, along with reasons as to why I like them:
  
  1. Endrendum Aanandhame - an overlooked gem of a song from Kadal Meengal. The opening violin interlude is terrific and has a great visual feel about it. Notice how the violin starts off with lazy elegance and then picks up tempo and finishes with a bang(when I see one of those slow motion Michael Jordan dribble,drive and dunk replays on TV my mind plays this prelude. The end of the piece coinciding with the thunderous dunk :-) )
  A wonderful pop/dance song which was as usual was picturized awfully. This song was overshadowed by the equally captivating "thaalatudhe vanam" from the same album.
  
  Interestingly, Sarasaangi has been chosen for this kind of situation and as such there is a feeling that this song could have easily been converted into a "pathos" if it was played on a violin at a slower tempo. MV has sung it with the required emotion. A very unique one, this. Check out the flute laid beautifully over the string lines in the second interlude.
  Roopakam seems to have been the choice in IR's mind as far as the rhythm cycle for this song goes. Aand its not often that he has used this.
  
  2. Kaadhal Oviyam Kanden Kanavo - An absolute delight. To me, its probably the best Sujatha has got to sing in TFM. She was probably 13 when she sang this but you forget that fact since you get captivated by the effortless singing that does full justice to the tune with all its jumps and twists. An absolute singer's melody.
  
  3. Vaanam Keezhe vandhaal enna - Composed for a typical 80s Kamal Masala film where the situation (If I remember it exactly)is that Kamal is drugged by the villians and as a result he slowly slips into a state of euphoria as the drug mixes into his bloodstream and does its thing. He dances with several extras in fantasyland. As usual, IR comes up trumps. If I say the prelude effectively conveys this change in state of mind of Kamal, I would be making the understatement of the year. Incredibly elevating prelude. SJ's humming enlivens the piece further. The usual IR surprise lies in the second interlude with a solo violin-drums combo piece that leaves me breathless every time I listen to it. Just dont miss this ladies and gentlemen!! SPB, as always in songs like these, hits a home run :-)
  
  Prasanna has commented thus in the Rajaangahm site:
  "Everything. To me this song is a mini magnum opus in its arrangement. It is quite stunning."
  
  4. Ival Yaaro (Raajavin Paarvayile) - A light, melodious duet sung by Arunmozhi, SJ. The song starts with bell-sounds(?), followed by the rhythm cycle played on the ghatam which is wonderful to hear. Other than this song, "Potri Paadadi Ponne" is one another which I remember instantly, where such usage of Ghatam was noticed.
  The tune starts off in Mohanam and then the chords in the first interlude helps in gradually moving the tune to Brindhavan Sarang-sounding notes at the start of the first charanam. Towards the end of the Charanam Raja once again shifts the scale and brings it back to Mohanam and once again the transitions everywhere are so smooth. My only complaint or criticism is choice of singers. Arunmozhi delivers, while SJ does'nt exactly sound pleasant.
  There are more such numbers from IR post-1992 that have been largely ignored.
  
  There are a lot of subtle things, I am sure, present in the above songs if one were to do a detailed analysis of these numbers. For someone exposed long enough to IRs music it should be easy to sense on first hearing when certain songs are special and when they are usual run-of-the-mill stuff from IR. The above ones are certainly not.
  More later..
  
  
• From: pranav (@ 202.142.68.94) on: Tue Apr 8 02:29:38 EDT 2003
  
  nice list
  
  
• From: bb (@ 12.234.176.52) on: Tue Apr 8 02:56:29 EDT 2003
  
  Vijay, I've always felt that the current Sujatha cannot do justice to the song "kaadhal Oviyam", she might have crooned over it a bit too much. Her original voice was fresh, rustic and fitted the song to the T.
  
  
• From: Muralidhar (@ 210.210.79.66) on: Tue Apr 8 03:02:55 EDT 2003
  
  Dear Friends,
  
  Did Everybody forget "Annakkili"???
  
  Muralidhar
  
  
• From: mythila (@ 137.237.13.20) on: Wed Apr 9 08:12:56 EDT 2003
  
  bb,Iam no music expert to add interesting remark except to admit that the songs I have listed and the songs on Suresh's list create a very sweet sensation to my aural nerves and enliven my spirit.Yet, lemme give my comments.
  Malargalil adum ilamai from Kalyanaraman - This song with its rich interludes takes me closer to nature . During my lazy stroll, whenever I see flowers in bloom, I sing this song.
  vaazhga raani vaazhga raajaangam , kaaviriye kavikuyile from Adutha vaarisu - Reminds me of my fav actress Sridevi's beauty. Who else but IR's music , bring back nostalgic memory of Sri's bewitching beauty?
  nalla neram neram - from anda or nimidam - Amazing composition in my fav Hamsanandi/Vasantha raagam and IMO, it is even better than Andhimazhai
  thendralai kandu from nilave mugam kaatu - a soothing melody set to GowriManohari. Towards the song end, the overlapping of IR's sanskrit sloka with female chorus in Tamil makes it very interesting.
  andhi varum neram (a nice MMGowla song with western music in the interludes), vilakku vaccha nerathile from Mundaanai mudichhu - a sensual rural melody, rendered beautifully by SJ.
  maanin vizhi from maapillai -very catchy,rythmic, fast paced dance number.
  paatuthalaivan paadinaal- from idayakoil - fantastic interludes. Gives me a feeling of zipping past the highlanes of a city in a fast car during twilight with all the glowing city lights
  thodaatha thaalam from anand-Gives me a feeling of a pleasant evening along a beach side(oru mayakkum maalai pozhudu)
  
  
• From: Vel (@ 202.88.152.159) on: Wed Apr 9 10:14:20 EDT 2003
  
  
  Good write up Mythila...i liked your association of the songs to specific feelings (flowers blooming, car zipping fast, evening beach walk) :-)...sure u r imaginative.
  
  
  bb, nice point there...making lists will take this thread nowhere...
  
  I think my choice for the greatest song by IR would be a non filmy one...it is "Vinnor thozhum thiruvannamalai" from the album "raajavin ramanamalai"...
  
  Many would say "Janani Janani" gives a trance like feeling..fine, but listen to "Vinnor thozhum thiruvannamalai.."...
  
  I would say the song comes straight from his heart..the impact is stunning, and you feel dissolved in the ocean of sprituality...
  
  No, even better, you could say in tamil," Aanmeegam vandhu kannathil araindhu, (pura vaazhkaiyin) thookathil irundhu nammai ulukkiyi ezhuppiyadhu pol oru unarvu.."
  
  In the second stanza, IR sings,"Panjatcharam nigar mandhiram illai, rudhratchiram nigar anigalan illai.." as this line ends, the music freeze to a brief silence, and chorus start "om nama shivaya"...it zaps ur mind...just try this song, if you havent already.
  
  
• From: V (@ 160.83.32.14) on: Wed Apr 9 15:14:40 EDT 2003
  
  I like IR when he is at his innovative best. One song which is certainly not a run of the mill stuff and totally different is
  
  Manitha Manitha ini un vizhigal -- good lyrics, makes you feel the situation of the song and KJY used in a perfect way.
  
  V
  
  
• From: sriram (@ 139.95.250.2) on: Wed Apr 9 16:51:30 EDT 2003
  
  excellent list vijay, mythila & vel.
  any idea if these songs are available online? especially the Kaadhal Meengal song. haven't listened to it for a long time.
  
  

---

List all pages of this thread

Post comments