Selecting the ten best songs of Ilayaraja is akin to finding a needle in a haystack. The list below is the ten best songs in my opinion! Comments welcome!
1. Poove Sempoove
Film: Solla Thudikkuthu Manasu
Singer: K J Yesudas
This is my all time favorite. One can listen to it anytime. Ilayaraja proves that he is the king of melody. The song starts with a very melodious flute intro .Yesudas, with his mellifluous voice takes this song to a higher level. Check out the guitaring in the background .I wonder how Ilayaraja was so much inspired to compose this “out of world “ tune. This song expresses the view point of a guy whose lover has left him. Instead of hating her, he wants her to be happy wherever she is .He blames the fate for their separation and stresses on the fact that his love for her will never change.
The love he is having towards her is unconditional and so, he doesn’t demand anything in return. Needless to say, the lyrics are amazing which adds to the mood of the song.
2 Enthan Nenjil
Film: Kalaignan(Hero: Kamal Hassan)
Singer: K J Yesudas, S.Janaki
Kamal Haasan always extracts the best from Ilayaraja.One of the reasons might be that they are very close friends and vibe very well with each other. This song is the highlight of this film .It is very easy to dismiss it as a yet another love song by Ilayaraja…But I think it is one of the best because the song seems to have a mystical nature.It is based on the raga Nalinakanthi.This song even has a good swara rendition by Ilayaraja in the second interlude.
3. Poongatru Puthithanathu
Film: Moondram Pirai
Singer: K J Yesudas
The lyrics for this song was written by the inimitable Kannadasan.Unfortunately, this turned out to be his last song .And it seems Ilayaraja composed this tune in minutes! This song tuned to the raga Sindhu Bhairavi, highlights the temporary nature of life. The hero(Kamal Haasan) loves the heroine who has forgotten her past and is mentally affected because of an accident and he knows very well that she is going to leave him once she recovers from her mental illness.
I particularly liked these lines.
“ Nadhi engu sellum Kadal Thannai Thedi! Ponvandodum Malar Thedi!
En Vazhvil Nee Vandhadhu Vidhiyanal Naan Undhan Uyirandro! “
It roughly means this : “The river goes in search of an ocean .A bee goes in search of a flower . If it is true that it is indeed our destiny that brought you to me, it is also true that you are my soul! “ What an imagination! The hero argues by giving examples of a bee in search of a flower and a river in search of a ocean that it is quite natural for her to be with him forever…He is hoping against hope that she will be him forever…
4.Ithu Oru Pon Maalai Pozhuthu
Film: Nizhalgal
Singer: S P Balasubramanian
When it comes to songs about nature, no one can beat Vairamuthu .His poems are lyrically beautiful because of its powerful diction and his efficient use of descriptive imagery to describe his thoughts, feelings and emotions. This song(which happens to be his first song in a film) is no exception … The hero of this film, who happens to be a bit eccentric too, is amazed by the beauty of nature and sings this song. The beauty he sees in nature gives him hope and inspiration to do well in the future. .Check out how the instruments blend well with the sounds of nature(like the chirping of the birds) in this song. It has amazing flute and violin interludes .I particularly like these lines:
“ Vaanam Enakkoru Bodhi Maram Naalum Enakkoru Seithi Tharum “
which roughly means this : “ The sky is like a Bodhi tree for me …Every day, it conveys a different message especially for me!“. The hero is confident that his bad days are over and he will get an answer to all his questions(both material and spiritual) very soon….
5.Kaathalin Theepam Onru
Film: Thambikku Entha Ooru
Singer; S P Balasubramaniam
In a recent interview, Kamal Haasan remarked that Ilayaraja is partial to Rajinikanth because he reserves all the best songs for Rajini.He gave the example of “ Kathalin Theepam Onru”, the song from a Rajini film…Tuned to the raga “Charukesi”, this song is a classic because of its simple tune and amazing https://lyrics. The lyrics for this love song is very simple, yet profound….The hero(played by Rajni) sings this song when he realizes that he is in love with a girl, whom he hated till now .
I particularly liked these lines “Ennai Naan Thedi Thedi Unnidam Kandu Konden “ which means this: “ I searched and searched for myself everywhere and finally, I found my self in you!“. Check out the violins in the background …It blends very well with the flute interludes.
6. Nilaave Vaa Vaa
Film: Mouna Raagam
Singer: S P Balasubramanian
All the songs from this film by Manirathnam are amazing …Nilave Vaa Vaa, tuned to Shankarabaranam has a very simple tune with not many instruments in the background. In this film, Mohan gets married to Revathi very much against her wishes .He tries his best to impress her. But Revathi is still stuck up because of her past and hurts him unintentionally. This song(Nilaave Vaa Vaa) conveys his feelings towards her . He knows very well that they are going to separate soon, but he doesn’t want that to happen….
7. Kanmani Anboda
Film: Gunaa
Singer: Kamal Haasan, S Janaki
“Gunaa” turned out to be a big flop because it was very much ahead of its time. The audience probably didn’t understand the film as such …This film has 2 or 3 songs. One of them is “ Kanmani Anboda “ tuned to Shankarabaranam. The lyrics for this song was written by Vaali and sung by KamalHaasan and S Janaki . The hero, Guna is mentally retarded .He asks the heroine to write a letter for him addressed to her! Guna expresses his feelings to her and the heroine, Roshini puts it in words…I particularly loved these lines:
“ .Enthan Kaadhal ennavendru Sollamal Enga Enga Azhugai Vandhadhu
Enthan Sogam Unnai Thaakum Enrennum Pothu Vantha Azhugai Ninrathu”
Which mean this : “ Tears rolled down my eyes when I am not able to express my love in words to you…But I stopped crying when I realized that it would affect you too “