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

18. 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. (Manjari is 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………!