My 10 favourite picks. Review on Ten Best Songs of Illayaraja

Its a hard task to limit your picks from such a master composer whose career spans 3 decades to a paltry 10 songs. I have been a music lover from childhood and during the last 5 years I started exploring songs I've never heard or overlooked. In this article I will talk about 10 such songs I collected and liked. Due credits goto to a lot of people from TFMPage without whose writeups I would'nt have known these songs.

1. Engengo Sellum(Pattakathi Bairavan)

This is an obscure movie from the late 70s(1978?). I guess Sivaji starred in the lead and the movie miserably failed BO. But this song is simply too good. The prelude sets the tempo, you can feel the music running from the left to right speakers. You can feel the energy in SPB's voice all through the song, aptly paired by Janaki. The violin interludes are very nice to hear too.

1. Pazhaya Sogangal(Eera Vizhi Kaviyangal)

The movie'Eera Vizhi Kaviyangal' might sound unheard of for most of you, but this is TFMPage's favourite. If you google around, am sure you'll find atleast a dozen or more writeups about this movie raving about IR's experimental work. Until 2001 I did'nt realize IR's work has lot of guitars. The album is a splendid example of one such. Out of the 5 songs, I've heard'Kanavil Midhakkum', 'En Gaanam', 'Kadhal Panbadu' and'Pazhaya Sogangal'. This is a small sad song, with just one lead guitar and Ilayaraja's vocal. But the combo has brought the sad feeling very well, especially you can feel the'paavam' in Raja's voice in this song.

1. Dhoorathil Naan(NizhalgaL)

This Janaki solo was not a part of the movie. The Telugu version of this song won Janaki the National award in 1984. The feel is similar to'Kanna Varuvaya'(Manadhil Urudhi Vendum) but the sadness is brought out even better in this song. The veena in the interludes are a treat to hear. The vocal and percussion combo is really good towards the end of each charanam.

1. Sangathil Padaadha(Auto Raja)

The instrumental version of this song plays in recent Saravana Stores ad. I remember there are multiple versions of this song, I've heard only this and Thumbi Vaa from OlangaL(Malayalam). The mallu version is a more musical and this one lyrical, beautifully sung by Ilayaraja and Janaki. The picturization however is totally pathetic, I had the misfortune of seeing it in SUN MUSIC recently, totally spoilt the beauty of the song.

1. Oh Vasantha Raja(Neengal Kettavai)

Its not a rare song. But I love the transformation from a classical treatment till the first charanam to the western from the 2nd interlude.

1. Kalyana Thenila(Mounam Sammadham)

Again not a rare one. One thing I noted is me and many others I know love these rhyming songs. Kalayana Thenila is'-la' series like'Vaan Nila Nila Alla'. Poo Kodiyin Punnagai(Iruvar), Siru Ponmani Asayum(KallukuL Eeram) are couple more examples. The preludes and interludes set the mood for this moonlit romance song, not to forget the fitting vocals of Yesudas and Chitra to this song. Apparently, this is Singer Chitra's favourite song too:-)(Source: her interview in Vijay TV's Sangamam)

1. Vaanam Thodatha Megam(Chinnapadas)

The song I searched around for about 4 years and finally got it a few months back:-). A totally musical(pianoish) song. The picturization being Radha playing the piano and singing this song. Chitra nariya edathula konji konji paaduvanga:-)(sorry people could'nt put it better in English).

1. Vizhiyile(Nooravadhu NaaL)

A lovable guitar-ish song sweetly sung by SPB and Janaki. Both of them would've sung this with full expressions. I love the piece where SPB sings'Kodi minnal odi vandhu paavai aanadhu' and sings the same thing with pauses. This is another of those'rhyming' songs(-um series):-)

1. Vaan Meedhile(Ragangal Maruvadhillai)

Totally obscure movie. An peppy song with fantastic prelude and interludes. I simply love playing the 2nd interlude.

1. Thendral Vandhu(Thendrale Ennai Thodu)

This is the most popular song from this Mike Mohan movie well known for songs. Someone said, this is based on some ragam that makes it likeable. I dont have that much classical gnanam, I love it for the soft ludes and the voices of Yesudas and Janaki.

Pardon for adding one more, but felt like adding this while writing this list.

1. Ilampani Thuli Vizhum Neram(Aradhanai)

Pure guitarish song, am sure everyone would love the prelude and interludes of this song. The singer is also totally new named Radhika(someone wrote that her name is Lathika, a mallu singer). Voice sounds very mallu-ish, but she fits the song pretty well. If any mallu reading this, have you heard of this singer?