Thanks for responding to my list of 20 songs. I am moving over to the next period from 1982-1985 of Illayaraja songs. This is the period which brought in computerization of music with high pitch instruments, bringing in lot of advances in Indian Cinema. Here we go.
21.Kane kalaimane- Munram pirai sung by K.J.Yesudas
I am just not able to get out of Illayaraja’s great year, this song is an ode to music, other beautiful song is Poongatru by KJY in the same movie.
22.Eeramana rojave- Illamai Kalangal sung by K.J.Yesudas
Beautiful solo from K.J.Yesudas, lot of melodious overture in a relatively low profile & budget movie
23.Mouna mela Noyi-Saagara Sangamam sung by S.Janaki,SPB
K.Vishwanath’s gem brought Illayaraja his national award, the song is very poetic and has beautiful lyrics, sung with such melody by Janaki
24.Takita Tathimi-Sagara Sangamam sung by SPB
Another SPB classic (couplet of Song 22), the pace and composition is unmatched which brought so much life into the scene with Kamal and Jayaprada excelling.
25.Raasathi Une Kanatha Nenjam-Vaidegi kathirinthal sung by Jayachandran
Jayachandran takes you to Himalayan heights with his pitch and rendition, such beautiful and refreshing voice,
26 Inraiki En intha Ananthame-Vaidegi Kathirinthal sung by Jayachandran
Couplet of 25: It brings so much joy to listen to songs in this movie, one of Illayaraja’s best. All the songs in this movie are good.
27. Padariyen Padipariyen-Sindhu Bhairavi sung by Chitra
Illayaraja took Carnatic music world by storm with 12 classical songs out of 13 which is only possible with association of great Directors like Balachandar and K.Viswanath who have cultural tastes. This song is one of the best in that Tamil Cinema can get. The way the song is conceptualized, the credit goes to KB and IR. Vairamuthu for lyrics, the way it is sung, for debutant Chitra, the way it was picturized, to the Cameraman, Shivakumar and Suhasini. You can write one full review on this song and a Magazine booklet on the movie. Result- National award for IR and Chitra.
28.Poomalai Vangi vanthen-Sindhu Bhairavi sung by K.J.Yesudas
It was impossible to pick a couplet from the movie, so many great songs, I decided a non classical song composed by Vairamuthu, probably Moham enrum also could go parallel.
29.Kodiyile Maligapoo- Kadalora kavithaigal sung by SPB,S.Janaki, Jayachandran
Floating music and beautifully sung, you can keep listening to the song any number of times.This movie was a musical hit, but I would rate only this song.
30.Thenral vandhu enai thodum-from same name movie sung by S.Janaki,K.J.Yesudas
The breeze will come and touch me, it will come and kiss me without making noise, it is pure music to ears, this is the kind of movie you can expect from Sridhar. All the songs are a treat in this movie
Gosh, I started in 1982 and am still here in 1985 at 30.You will not believe that I have filtered out 14 songs from the collection with great difficulty. I do not want to go increasing the numbers which I already did from 10 to 50 and honestly it will be a tough task freezing the next 20.
May be I can put some interesting stuff in Comments section. Looking forward to your comments and more reviews which will bring out other songs.
Coming up-31-40!!!!!!!
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Thanks Illayaraja rasikas, It is time to move on to the next list to a newer period which will be more interesting for young people. Very interestingly the pitch of Illayaraja songs moves from shear melody to more idiosyncrasies, flair, and village ballet and brings in native Tamil land to the fore with his fantastic repertoire of folk music and instruments. Maniratnam changed the track back to City bread music. The peculiar thing is that Illayaraja reserved his best for Maniratnam, Balachander, Balu Mahendra, Barathi Raja , Rajni & Kamal. He was astute enough to think that Their Movies would be a success at box office and his songs will have larger & longer captivity on audience.
31. Antha nilavathan Nan kayila pudichen-Muthal Mariyathai-sung by Chitra, IR & Janaki.
Illayaraja simply is the Nila man. There is a great History on how Lyricists and Music Directors in Tamil Cinema used the moon as their inspiration. You can simply get 10 best Nila songs as well from Illayaraja hits. ”Muthal Maryathai” has several great songs.
32. Kadhalin deebam Onru-Thambiku endha ooru-sung by SPB
I believe Kamal was envious of Rajni getting the best out of Illayaraja and in this particular song it is true. Illayaraja’s best contribution to Rajni, a beautiful solo song from SPB.
33. Manram vantha thenraluku-Mouna Raagam-sung by SPB
A Master piece from Maniratanam-Illayaraja combo which defined the way the pair could achieve. Scintillating movie and songs of which this is a Beautiful song in romantic setting. If you want to go for shear photography and melody, then you have to pick Nila ve va, an SPB classic. The other songs bring out lovely youthfulness of Revathy.
34. Ena Satham intha nerum-Punnagai Manan-sung by SPB
The movie was a musical revolution with computerization of music a 360◦ turn to Illayaraja music still capturing his old charm on BGM. This is the hardest movie to pick a great song.
If you want a jingle, you pickup “Singalathu chinakuyile”,
If you want Violin, you pickup “Kaalakaala maha”,
If you want a rain song, you pickup “Vaan Megham”
Punnagai Mannan– a real collector’s album.
35. Ninu kori varnam-Agni Natchatram-sung by Chitra
Maniratanam always reserves one beautiful song for his Female Lead and this is Chitra special out of many Specials from Illayaraja in this movie. Sometimes he gets obsessed with Raja songs. (Epavun Nee Raja than. Don’t worry)
36. Vaa vennila unai thane vanam-Mela thiranthathu Kathavu-sung by S.Janaki
A joint contribution with Melisai Mannar MSV a nice song with good modulations & synchrony.
37. Kothaga rekalu vachena-Swarna Kamalam(Telugu)-sung by SPB,Janaki
This movie is another masterpiece for telugu Cinema from Illayaraja. KV takes him to the celestial heights in a language where I don’t know how comfortable he is. but Telugu audience like Illayaraja more than any who has set foot into Telugu Cinema. He deserved a national award for this movie. This movie has several beautiful songs.
38. Punjai undu nanjai undu-Unnal Mudiyum Thambi-sung by SPB
This song starts in Country side with hitting of logs and picks up great momentum. It also gives you so much national fervour, extremely difficult song by SPB and beautifully etched by Balachandar. The movie has several good songs again.
39-40 in comments
