Life is like music on a keyboard. The white notes represent the happy moments in life and the black ones the sad moments. But remember, the black notes make music too!
Thou shall excuse me for being a bit early with this, but I don't see myself listening to songs anymore due to the pressures of the upcoming exams :-)
Lets do it in the reverse order this time :-)
10. Idhu Kadhalaa (
9. Kodai Kaala Kaatre (Paneer Pushpangal, 1987) - It should have come in last month's list itself actually. Listened to this song for the first time when Suchi played it on Radio Mirchi on my birthday, June 30th. There was this special Ilaiyaraaja hour from 8 to 9 in the morning. This song happens to be her favourite!
8. Yeh Aatha (Payanangal Mudivathillai, 1982) - Was just expanding my Mohan and Ilaiyaraaja collection when I realized that I did not have any song from this movie! Amazing bass guitaring in the song... too catchy lyircs and tune. (Its playing on my playlist now!)
7. Then
6. Ilamai Ennum Poonkaatru (Pagalil Nilavu, 1979) – Definitely would be in my list of top 20 all time favourites! Can’t believe that he has produced such a song, way back in 1979!
5. Pazhamuthir Cholai (Varusham 16, 1989) – I have listened to this song once on TV but managed to get hold of the mp3 version only quite recently. Maybe I’ve been using up my free internet quite well! I’ve downloaded approximately 3 G.B. of music and movies from the net this sem!
4. Sangathil Paadatha Kavithai (Auto Raja, 1982) - How could such a song go unnoticed for 20 years! That was Ilaiyaraaja's question too! An unheard of movie, Auto Raja, starring none other than Captain Vijayakanth himself, music by Shankar Ganesh. Ilaiyaraaja hummed this song during the recent concert and it was simply exciting. Me and Shankar decided to investigate about the song. Here’s what we found –
Ilaiyaraaja had composed this song for the Malayalam movie Olangal (1981) and Balu Mahendra was extremely impressed by the tune and wanted to use it for his movie Auto Raja, music by Shankar Ganesh. Ilaiyaraaja and Shankar Ganesh were really close friends and Ilaiyaraaja agreed to sing this song for the movie.
Ilaiyaraaja ‘dhum dhum’ed the whole song during the concert with an amazing backing of violins, tablas and saxophones. He was very casual and walked all the over the stage and sung it quite effortlessly.
3. Kaatril Varum Geetham (Oru Naal Oru Kanavu, 2005) – Shreya Ghoshal, Hariharan, Bhavatharini and Sadhana Sargam just MESSED it up during the Live concert. Listened to the original version quite recently. Nice piece in Kalyani (99% sure). There’s also this talk recorded between Vaali and Ilaiyaraaja where IR hums the tune and Vaali churns out lyrics. Guess it wasn’t recorded live but nevertheless very interesting. It has the whole song in Ilaiyaraaja’s voice which however doesn’t feature in the movie.
2. Puvaar Senni Mannan (Thiruvasagam, 2004) – Finally I got hold of the meanings of the verses of the song. Most of the meanings are actually my inferences from The Pope’s translation of Thiruvasagam. It’s 1000 times better listening to it with meanings. As Balamuralikrishna remarked, “Idhu dhaan yen dhyanam, yen vandanam”. Same applies for me too! The only relief from the end semester exam pressures – Thiruvasagam!
1. Tumbi Vaa (Olangal, 1981) – This happens to be the Malayalam version of the Sangathil song. The only reason it’s above the tamil version is because I have a bad version of that song and am not able to enjoy it as much as this one. This one’s sung by Janaki.
Till December,
Yours Musicfully,
Ajit
