India has a rich musical heritage that dates back thousands of years and one of the most significant aspects of Indian classical music is the concept of ragas. Ragas are melodic frameworks that evoke specific moods and emotions. Image source: Varun Verma / Unsplash
One of three of Mani Ratnam‘s classic, epic movies of the 1980s, and 1990s is the 1986 Mouna Ragam which means the Silent Symphony and stars Mohan, Revathi, Karthik & the very funny V. K. Ramasamy. It is a love story that has 2 parts –one is a current that tells of a forced marriage and another is a flashback tragic love story. Image source: Amazon.
Read More »Nostalgic Tamil Song 101: Mouna Ragam’s Hopeful Sad Mandram Vandha Song 1986
One of the highlights of this 1977 Tamil movie, Kavikkuyil which starred Sivakumar, Sridevi and Rajinikanth is Ilaiyaraaja‘s music. The movie was presented in black & white and all the songs in the movie were a great hit, especially the one sung by the late M. Balamuralikrishna (he passed away in 2016). Poster source: Bollywood Direct / Shri.Viren Desai @ The Huffington Post India
Read More »Nostalgic Tamil Song 101: Calling the Young Lovely Lord Kannan by Ilaiyaraaja 1977
Santhi is a 1965 Indian Tamil movie directed by the famous A. Bhim Singh and starred by Nadigar Thilagam Sivaji Ganesan. It is known for a particular song and the story behind it because the story was told by Maestro M. S. Viswanathan (MSV) himself. Image source: Youtube
Read More »Nostalgic Tamil Song 101: Sivaji’s Thoughtful Yaar Antha Nilavu by MS Viswanathan 1965
Kizhakke Pogum Rail (transl. Eastbound Train) is a 1978 Indian Tamil-language romantic drama film, directed by Bharathiraja, starring newcomers Sudhakar and Raadhika. The film had a musical score and songs by Ilaiyaraaja and was released on 10 August 1978. Image source: Amazon
Read More »Nostalgic Tamil Song 101: Mesmerising Kovil Mani Osai by Great Ilaiyaraaja 1978
16 Vayathinile (translated as At Age 16) is a 1977 Tamil movie written and directed by Bharathirajaa in his directorial debut.
The movie included a number of big and new stars namely Kamal Haasan as retarded Chappani, Sridevi as Mayil and Rajinikanth (his famous line – ithu eppendi irruku) who often with his man, the funny Goundamani. K. Bhagyaraj worked in this movie as an assistant director to Bharathirajaa. Image source: Twitter
Read More »Nostalgic Tamil Song 101: Mesmerising Aattu Kutti by Ilaiyaraaja 1977
Kadal Meengal was a 1981 Tamil movie starring Kamal Haasan, Sujatha, Nagesh and Swapna. Kamal Haasan in a dual role as father & son on opposite sides with the younger Kamal Haasan bent on taking revenge. Image source: IMDB.
Unfortunately, this movie was not the highlight of Kamal Haasan in his string of blockbusters but stands out for Ilaiyaraaja‘s classic songs.
Read More »Nostalgic Tamil Song 101: Mesmerising Thaalattudhe Vaanam by Ilaiyaraaja 1981
The 1979 movie starring Rajinikanth titled Aarilirunthu Arubathu Varai is still one of the best movies starring Rajinikanth and one great song from Ilaiyaraaja. Yes, life can be unfair, harsh and lopsided and there are plenty of examples in this movie. Poster source: Awesome Machi
Read More »Nostalgic Tamil Song 101: Revisiting Classic Kanmaniye Kadhal Enbathu by Ilaiyaraaja 1979
Let’s go back almost 60 years back to 1960 and this particular movie titled Mannathi Mannan which is a 1960 Tamil movie starring M. G. Ramachandran, Anjali Devi and Padmini in the lead roles and with music scored by Maestro MSV. The story for the movie was actually written by the famous poet Kannadasan. Image source: Amazon
Read More »Nostalgic Tamil Song 101: Romantic Kaniya Kaniya Mazhalai by MS Viswanathan 1960
Kamal Haasan was already a big star in the Tamil movie industry in the 1970s and have acted in a number of movies which has some of the best songs composed by Maestro Illayaraaja and Maestro MSV. Image source: Youtube
Read More »Nostalgic Tamil Song 101: Ennadi Meenakshi by Great Ilaiyaraaja 1978
Kazhugu is a Tamil movie that came out in 1981 starring Rajinikanth and was directed by S. P. Muthuraman with music scored by maestro Illayaraaja. It will be 40 years since this movie first came out and yet the songs from that era are still fresh and can still engage any generation of music lovers like it was yesterday. Image source: Rajinifans
Read More »Nostalgic Tamil Song 101: Ponnoviyam Kandenamma by Illaiyaraaja 1981
I thought it is best to start the year with a Tamil classic from the early 1980s which has some of the best soundtracks by Illayarajaa. Image source: Amazon
Read More »Nostalgic Tamil Song 101: Classic Kadhal Oviyam by Ilaiyaraaja 1981