There are people who are born with the silver spoon. But the genius i'm talking about is born to create Music and is living his life dedicated to Music. What a personality he is. I cannot realize nor feel the power of God but when i see Illayaraja's eyes and his sattire looks, makes me feel that he has got some divine in him. Looks are deceiving. Yes, who would have ever guessed seeing his village looks that he is going to be the musical encyclopedia.
Illayaraja in many ways have inspired me with his nerve catching songs. Tunes are the life to any song and his tunes are nothing but everlasting one's. We are all simply gifted to have him score so many movies and songs that can never get out of our blood. Background score - He says the story in it. I think he was the first and foremost who gave a very big importance to background score in a movie and ever since, every music director tried to follow his path and is till trying to make a mark. No one can even dream about coming close to Raja .
I've seen him once talking in an interview where he said , Music is nothing but a medium to reach people, to say the feelings of people. It is full of life and it needs simplicity. I think he has definitely spoken what his music has done to the world. Music has to stay in the heart and Illayaraja would be the only Music director who takes the credit to have people hear the songs of 80's and 90's, still. With the fast paced world and full of technology, music creation has become easy but it has seriously become like passing clouds. We hardly hear the song after a month of the first hearing. That is the quality of music these days. But Illayaraja's music is nothing but a miracle. His songs are like sculpture and the stamping is pretty hard to be taken out.
There are so many of his creation that i love but let me atleast list down the best and my all time favorites of them :
Starting from the latest :
1. Illangaathu veesudae - Pithamagan
2. Chandiyera Chandiyear & Onnavida - Virumandi
3. Oliyilae therivadu - Azhagi
4. Maalayil Vethanai - Sethu
5. Thendral vandu theendum bodhu - Avathaaram
6. Sri Ranganathanin - Mahanadhi
7. Oru Naalum unai maravaada - Ejaman
8. Oh Butterfly - Meera
9. Rajathi Raja Un thandirangal - Mannan
10. Poatri paadadi pennae - Devar Magan
11. Muthu mani & koondukullae Ennai - Chinna Kounder
12. Saami kittae & Adukkumalli - Aavarampoo
13. Oh party Nalla Party daan - Idhayam
14. Raakamma,Sundari - Thalapathi
15. Azhagiya Kannae - Udhiri pookal
16. Raja Raja & Kannan vandu - Rettai vaal kuruvi
17. Vaa Vennila & Thaedum kann - Mella thirandadu kadavu
18. Vandaal Mahalakshmiyae & Engae Enn - Uyarndha Ullam
19. Unnaithaanae - Nallavanukku Nallavan
20. Mounamaana Naeram & naadha vinodhangal - Salangai Oli
21. Andhi varum Naeram & Chinnanjiru kilyae - Munthaanai mudichu
22. Anthi mazhai & Azhagae Azhagu - Raaja Paarvai
23. Kodai kaala Kaatrae & Poothalir aada & Aanndha Raagam - Panneer pushpangal
24. Chinnan Chiru vayathil & Hey oraayiram - Meendum kokila
25. Thaalatudae Vaanam - Kadal meengal
26. Aayiram Thaamarai & Kadhal Oviyam - Alaigal oivadillai
27. Germanyin - Ullasa Paravaigal
28. Idu pru ponn maalai & Poongathavae & Madai Thirandhu - Nizhalgal
29. Paruvamae pudiya paadal - Nenjathai Killaadhae
30. Annanukku Jai & Yentha poovilum vaasam - Murattu Kaalai
31. En iniya ponn nilaavae - Moodupani
32. kaatril endhan & Senorita & En vaanilae - Jhony
33. Perai Chollava - Guru
34. My name is billa - Billa
35. Uchi vangundeduthu - Rosappo ravikaikari
36. vaan Maegangalae - Puthiya vaarpugal
37. Illamai Enum - Pagalil oru iravu
38. Poomalayae tholsaeravaa - Pagal Nilavu
39. Muthal Muthalaaga - Niram maaradha pookal
40. Kaadal deepam - kalyanaraman
41. Aagaya Gangai & Oru thanga radathil - Dharma yutham
42. Ninaivo oru paravai & Indha minminikkul - Sigappu rojaakal
43. Senthaazam poovil & Raman aandaalum - Mullum Malarum
44. En kanmani en kaadali - Chittukuruvi
45. Aatu kutti & Senthoora poovae - 16 vayathinilae
46. Vizhiylae Malarndadhu & Raja Enbaar - Bhuvana Oru Kaelvi kuri
47. Kanmaniyae Kaadhal enbadhu - 6 to 60 varai
48. Povannam - Azhiyaadha Kolangal
49. Aagaaya vennilaavae - Arangaetra velai
and last but not the least
50. Annakili unna thaeduthae - Annakili
I'm very happy to have written a little about Illayaraja and i only wish that he long lives and keeps giving us those gem of tunes. I'm finally thankful to myself as i always wanted to burn some best songs of the Maestro.
3 comments
Kittu,
Ilaiyaraja fans do not need introduction. I am a great fan of Ilaiyaraja and of late have been getting to know many more like me. Nice to know that his music has influenced you very much. I went through your list and though I know it is not the final, but a list, I doubt whether 'My name is Billa' was by Ilaiyaraja. Was it not MSV? Also, I think you have missed songs from Priya, Moondram Pirai. One of the toughest job is to list 50 best songs of Ilaiyaraja.
Posted on 8:24 AM
Balaji
i can easily sense that your a gr8 fan of raja. Ofcourse, ive missed many many of his songs. I basically wanted to list 50 but i realized that i've to add another 50 to console myself. I'm going to add them soon.
You might be right on billa. I myself doubt that. Thanks for mentioning it.
Posted on 11:02 PM
Poo vannam is by shalil choudary.
What about songs from pudhu pudhu arthanghal - Kalyana maalai.
Posted on 8:46 PM