His hits in Malayalam. Review on Ten Best Songs of Illayaraja

Many things inspired me to write about Ilayaraja’s best Malayalam songs. Recently, I saw the comment written by our Sujai(iamsujaij) for the review of “Oru Naal Oru Kanavu” album by our Suresh(sureshmechnit). In the comment, Sujai mentioned the popularity of Ilayaraja in Kerala. Another reason is that one song from Ilayaraja’s latest album in Malayalam(Twinkle twinkle little star) “maanathe thaamara” sounds very similar to an old Tamil track which was really haunting. I remember the rhythm and the video of the song. I sought help from Suresh and Rajesh(rajeshkrv1) to spot the Tamil song .Suresh replied me immediately and I got an M2M from Rajesh too. The song was “Aasaiya Katraley Dootu Vittu” from Johny tuned by Ilayaraja himself. The Malayalam track is now playing well in Kerala. All these prompted me to write on the best songs by Ilayaraja. At one time, Johnson, Raveendran, Ouseppachan, Shyam and Ilayaraja were the most sought after musicians in Malayalam. And   Ilayaraja is still going strong here!

The songs given here are not in any order.

1. Poonkaattinodum

Film: Poomukhappadiyil Ninneyum Kaatth

Singer: KJ Yesudas

This is still one of the most requested songs in the Malayalam television channels. It is a soothing melody of never ending charm.

2. Deva sangeetam

Film: Guru

Singers: KJ Yesudas &Chitra

This is one of the all time great songs from Malayalam cinema. The film was sent to the Oscar. The music was very popular. Ilayaraja used instruments from Hungary and Austria to compose the song and hence others were helpless in recreating the same and hence it is still not heard in the ‘Gaanamelas’ or other stage shows!

3. Unarumee Gaanam

Film: Moonnaam Pakkam

Singer: G. Venugopal

Venugopal, the gifted singer got the Kerala State Award for best singer for this song. It is an emotional song through which the director Padmarajan conveys the intimacy between the grandfather and the grandson in the classic film.

4. Ghanasyama vrindaaranyam

A semi classical number.

Film: Kochu Kochu Santoshangal.

Singer: Gayatri

5. Tumbi vaa

Film: Olangal

Singer: Janaki

The film was directed by Balu Mahendra and the hero was Amol Palekar. It is a playful number.

6. Aattirambile  

Film:* Kalapani

Singers: MG Sreekumar, Chitra

The film was dubbed in Tamil as Siraichalai and in Hindi as Saza-e-Kalapani . It is a sweet romantic number and was a chartbuster.

<8. Entu Paranjaalum

Film: Achuvinte Amma

Singer: Chitra

The super hit song of this year(2005), still on top of the chart. Actually it  is a rehash of Ilayaraja’s own hit Tamil song “Pachaimalar poov” from the Kartik-Revati starrer ‘Kizhakku Vaasal’. The lyricist Girish Puttenchery was so fond of the tune and he wanted to write words for it. Hence he compelled Ilayaraja to recreate it!

9. Marakkudayaal

Film: Manassinakkare

Singers: MG Sreekumar

The super hit song of 2003. It is of the folk genre.

10. Siva Kara Damru

Film:* Kochu Kochu Santoshangal

Singer: Chitra

This is another semi classical song which is used in a classical dance sequence in the movie.

A few more….  

11.Olattumbattirunnu

Film: Pappayude Swantam Appoos

Singer: Janaki

This is one all time super hit song. Although being nothing special, it became an anthem for a while in Kerala, may be due to the simplicity and that video of a mother(Shobhana) playing with her child.

12. Taazhvaaram

Film:* Jackpot  

Singers: KJ Yesudas & Chitra.

This is a hot melody! A sweet honeymoon song.

13. Taamarakkili paadunnu

Film: Moonnaam Pakkam

Singers: MG Sreekumar & Chitra

14. Poovaai Virinju

Film:* Atharvam

Singer: MG Sreekumar

The philosophical song from the fantasy classic is one of my favourite songs.You can really notice the'layam' with which MGS sings this song. It is his trademark.

15. Melleyonnu paadi

Film: Manassinakkare

Singer: KJ Yesudas.

16. Vezhaambal kezhum venal kudeeram

Film: *Olangal

singer: KJ Yesudas

17. Maanathe Taamara

Film: *Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

Singer: MG Sreekumar & Jyotsna

1. Pandathe Naattinpuram

Film:* Ponmudi ppuzhayoratt

Singer: Ilayaraja

The last two songs are very similar and actually rehashed from the Tamil song “Aasaiya Kaatraley Dootu Vittu” from Johny. But to be frank, I like the original Tamil song than the above two!

19. Oru chiri kandaal…

Film:* Ponmudi ppuzhayoratt.

Singer: Manjari & Vijay Yesudas

Listen to the song . this combination(Manjari and Ilayaraja) can work wonders in the future.(Manjariis my current favourite singer. She will definitely go places.)

How is the list? Enough?  Oh no…I forgot………… Songs from films Oomakkuyil,   My Dear Kuttichathan(Who can forget “aalippazham perukkaan….”) and Yatra.

Listen to live them………!