This is a hard topic to write on because Illayaraja has composed countless melodies, most with excellent music. Speaking of which, his 'Rakkamma Kaiya thattu'
from Thalapathy has been ranked as one of the world's best ten songs in a poll conducted by BBC.
As an aside, other Indian songs in the top ten list include Vande Mataram by AR Rahman(in second place) and Chaiyya Chaiyya in eight place.
Since it is so difficult to highlight just 10 songs of the Maestro's I decided to mention 20.Here is a list of my personal favourites among his compositions. The numbers are just there for easy navigation and do not represent any rankings.(Again it would be too difficult to rank any song better than the others!:-)
- Enna Saththam Intha Neram - Punnagai Mannan
Do I love this song! I could hear it all day and not get tired of it. Awesome tune, awesome music and awesome rendition. Sung by SP Balasubramanian. Picturised on Kamal and Rekha who want to commit suicide because there is too much opposition to their love. They want to get married first so that's one of the things happening during the song. The picturisation is very good too and it sends the message clearly. Immediately after the song ends they jump off a cliff into a waterfall. The lyrics mean'What sound is it at this time? Is it the sound of life? Is it the sound of the river?' The lyrics are very good too.
- Theme Music- Punnagai Mannan
Kamal Hassan and Revathi dance for this tune. Revathi is Kamal's dance student and Kamal falls in love with her. She is in love with him too. It's in the same movie as the above song. When Kamal and Rekha jump off the cliff, Rekha dies but Kamal is miraculously saved. And he feels guilty about it because of that. He doesn't mean to fall in love with anyone else but it happens and this dance is full of emotion. He's angry with Revathi and himself for falling in lvoe with her. Good dance, excellent music!
- Poove Sem Poove - Solla Thudikkithu Manasu
Sung by Jesudas. Beautiful melody. There were discussions that IR was inspired by a classical guitarist's piece when composing for this song. But the piece sounds totally different from this anyways. I love the flute and guitar bits that play before the singer enters.
- Mandram Vantha Thendralukku - Mouna Ragam
What can I say about this song! The lyrics are brilliant and I love the interlude music. Just 6 days after getting married, Revathi wants a divorce and Mohan and she apply for it. But Mohan would like ot live with her. When they return from the lawyer's office, this song plays. Sung by SPB. Awesome lyrics!
My favourite lines are:
'Medaiyai pole vaazhkkai alla, nadagam aanathum vilagi chella. Vinnodu thaan ulaavum Velli Vanna Nilaavum, Ennodu nee vanthaal enna? Sol!'
'Life is not like a stage to separate and leave once the drama is over.The silver moon lingers only with the sky, why don't you come with me? Tell me!'
- Shenbagame- Enga Ooru Paattukkaaran
This song is rendered twice in the movie. One male version and one female version. I've not watched this movie and don't know exactly what happens but from what I gathered watching the song video many times is that Ramarajan is a milkman and sings this song to this cow. I assume the cow's name is Shenbagam. But the lyrics of the song seem to have two meanings and this female thinks Ramarajan is singing it to her.? And she also falls in love with him. If I'm wrong please let me know. But anyways beautiful song. The female version is sung by Asha Bhosle and her pronunciation is perfect.
- Ooru Sanam Thoongidichchu - Mella Thiranthathu Kathavu
Sung by S.Janaki who as usual sings it with great modulation. Picturised on Radha and Mohan. It means'All the village folks have slept.and the night breeze has blown.but this sinner's heart isn't asleep.why is that, I don't know.' I love the tune though I don't know the lyrics very well.
- Nila Athu Vanathu Mele - Nayagan
This is a different kind of song. Fisherman type of song. Sung by some people going on a boat smuggling goods. Pictured on Janakaraj and Kuili, neither of whom is a main character in the movie. It starts'The moon is on the sky'. Sung by the Maestro himself. His voice suits Janakaraaj very well.
- Chinna Chinna Vanna Kuyil - Mouna Ragam
This was another mega hit song from Mouna Ragam. In fact all the songs in the movie are fantastic. Picturised on Revathi in a desert. It's a very happy song.
- Asaiya Kathula Thoothu Vittu - Jhonny
I would say this is one of SP Shailaja's best songs. She has done full justice to the song. The fading away of some lines with the music is very nice. The music is something very different. Very enjoyable song.
- Rasathi Unna Kaanatha - Vaidehi Kathirundhal
Sung by Jayachandran. Means'Darling, without seeing you my heart is dancing like a kite. Dawn is here. The lamps are lit. It's searching for you! A colourful cookoo for the eye, a songbird for the ear, a vanjikkodi for my heart.all that is you!' The beautiful lyrics are written by Kavingnar Vaali.
- Raja Raja Cholan - Rettai Vaal Kuruvi
Very soothing song sung by Jesudas. Moo Mehta composed the good https://lyrics. The cast in the movie are Mohan, Radhika and Archana. A 1987 movie.
- Oh Butterfly - Meera
Released in 1992, cast are Vikram and Aishwarya. Very well picturised song, with butterflies and graphics. Great music too. A duet sung beautifully by Asha Bhosle and SP Balasubramanian.
- Andhi Mazhai - Raja Parvai
Sung by SPB, Picturised on Kamal. Movie of 1981.
- Roja Poonthottam - Kannukkul Nilavu
Sung by Unni Krishnan. He said in an interview that this was a very difficult song for him to sing as Illayaraja wanted it to sound exactly as he wanted it and kept asking him to rehearse. It has eventually come out very well and is one of my favourite songs.
- Aagaaya Vennilaave - Arangetra Velai
Picturised on Revathi and Prabhu. Jesudas and Uma Ramanan do full justice to the beautiful melody. The song has a very wide pitch range and it must have been pretty difficult for the singers to perfect it.
- Kalyana Maalai - Puthu Puthu Arthangal
Sung by SPB. I love the https://lyrics. This song is played in the movie when Rahman's wife is torturing him with her possessiveness and dominance. It's a song that reflects what makes a marriage successful.
'Youth will run away and old age will come, and yet affection will not change.
This bond of marriage is so strong that the word'separation' will never arise.'
and then
'If you shut a cooing cookoo into a cage and ask it to sing it won't sing.
If you jail-lock a peacock and ask it to dance, it won't dance.'
- Ilamai Yennum Poongaattru - Pagalil Oru Iravu
Sung by SPB.'A breeze called youth.sings a song.each day a different desire.there is so much pleasure in that.'
- Janani Janani - Thai Moogaambikai
Sung by the Maestro himself, this is a very soothing early morning song. It has a semi-classical tune.
- Puththam Puthu Olai Varum - Vetham Puthithu
A simple melody sung by Chitra.
- Ennai Thalatta - Kathalukku Mariyaathai
Another mega hit song. Picturised on Vijay. Sung by Illayaraja himself. Lyrics are by Palani Bharathi. The lyrics are very good and a few different instruments are used in the song. There is another female version sung by Raja's daughter Bhavatharini. But I prefer this male version.
