# Ilaiyaraaja - Playback Singers
#
# Credits: kanniks@uceng.uc.EDU (k kannikeswaran)
# Author: K Kannikeswaran
# (posted in soc.culture.tamil)
#

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Ilaiyaraaja - Playback Singers
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Here is a list of playback singers who have worked with Illaiyaraaja.

TMS:

TM Soundararaajan who was one of the leading playback singers when Ilaiyaraaja made his debut, did initially sing a lot of songs with Ilaiyaraaja. Starting with the sad version of Annakkili Onna Tedude, his hits include "Nallavarkellam", "Neramidu", Aimbadilum Aasai varum, Endan Pon vanname, Sindu nadikkarai oram, Ten mallippoove, Amma - Nee sumanda pillai, etc. Looks like the last he sang for him was in Naan Vaazha vaippen. There was a break of nearly a decade after which, he sang a song in the Sivaji Padmini starrer (a tune along the lines of Unnai Onru ketpen, with nostalgic lyrics).

S. Janaki:

Her dominance was established firmly by Ilaiyaraaja. Starting with Annakkili, it may not be a wrong guess to say that she is the play back singer with whom Ilaiyaraaja has worked the most. A versatile singer, she has covered a range of songs from "Amma Nee Enge" (as a 3 year old kid), "Poda Poda" (Udirippookkal - as an old woman), Pon Meni Urugude , Sangeetame (Koil Pura), Nila Kaayudu, Doorattilnaan kanda, Kaatril, Toodu Selvadaaradi (Singaravelan). Of late we seem to be hearing more of her again. One of her best songs ever, is Tumbi Vaa (a song in Malayalam) in the film Olangal. Very well orchestrated, beautifully, powerfully, effortlessly sung. This song was originally "Sangattil Paadada kavidai" sung by Ilaiyaraaja and Janaki in the tamil film "Auto Raaja". I remember hearing it on Ilangaioliparappukkoottuttabanattin tamizhchevai irandu.

She has sung a number of duets with Ilaiyaraaja such as kannmalargalin azhaippidazh (taippongal), Sorgame vandaalum (oor vittu oor vandu), Metti oli (metti) etc. There is much more to write about Janaki, but I shall stop here.

P. Susheela:

Many a golden melody has been produced by the Ilaiyaraaja Susheela combination. Maane mani mangala chippi from Kadal meengal, Raaja chinna raaja, Sugamo Aayiram, Kannan enna sonnan, Kannan oru kaikkuzhandai, raaghavane ramana, ninaittu ninaittu varainda oviyam, En kanmani en kaadali (with SPB), Kannukkulle yaaro with Shailaja, Tennankeetrum with Malaysia, Neer kodukka pirandadamma (Bala Nagamma), Kaalaittenral (uyarnda ullam), Gangai aatril (1000 nilave vaa), Per solla vanda pillai (magane magane). She has been a lead singer for decades.

All of the above singers were featured in Annakkili.

SPB:

Was his first song with Ilaiyaraaja "Naan pesa vanden"? Probably one of the most used male playback singers. "Poo pole" from kavarimaan - what a song..; his first song for a Bharatiraja movie was "Mudan mudalaaga kaadal duet paada vandene" ! A versatile singer with a whole range of songs from "Ilamai enum poongattru" to "Illamai ido ido" - covering such melodies as Pani vizhum malarvanam,Raaga deepam, Togai Illamayil, Paadum vaanambadi, Nada vinodangal, takita tatimi, raakkamma kaiya tattu, Onna nenachen etc. and a host of "koottu" songs such as Ei aatta! Yesudoss:

Kannan oru kaikkuzhandai, Poovizhi vaasalil yaaradi vandadu were his early hits. This went on with Sentaazhampoovil, Uravugal todarkadai, Engum Nirainda iyarkaiyil, azhage azhagu, kanne kalaimane, Poonkaatru, Vellaippura, Poomalai, Marimarininne, Manadil urudi vendum, Kanna varuvaya, Pottu vaitta oru vatta nila, neepadi naanpadi kanne, etc. etc. only to name a few. A wonderful singer. The above mentioned songs are soft songs; some of his koottu hits include "Vachha paarvai", and "Tanni totti", "Nadu rodu" etc. and his semi classical hits include "Sridevi en vaazhvil", "Vedam nee", Alai paayude kanna. An all time favourite is "Manida manida" from Kann sivandaal mann sivakkum.

Sirkazhi Govindarajan:

As far as I can recall, he has sung two sungs under Ilaiyaraajas music direction; the first is a song from Bhadrakaliwhile the second is from Taai Mookambikai (Tiripura Sundari nee).

Balamurali Krishna:

Chinnakkannan Azhaikkiraan from Kavikkuyil was a very popular song. He sang again in Taai Mookaambikai.

SP Shailaja:

Sister of SPB was introduced in Ponnu Oorukku Pudusu Solaikkuyile was a nice song. She had a number of hits to her credit. Aasaya kaatula toodu vittu, Malargalil aadum illamai pudumaiye, Raasave unna naan ennittan, Naada vinodangal, Vaan pole vannam kondai, Kannukkulle yaaro, Mottu vitta mullaikkodi.

Jency:

Jency was also an early intruduction. A number of hits such as Iru paravaigal, Idayam Pogude, Aayiram malargale, Nyan nyan paadanum, Ennuyir neetano (priya). There was a long break and then she sang the song "Aattoram kaatada" in 1982.

Poorani, Indra, Vasanta:

Have sung songs such as Devan tiruchhabai malargale. Vasanta sang Tamtananam with Jency.

Malaysia Vasudevan:

got his break with Aatukkutti muttaiyittu etc. Again a versatile singer with songs such as Aahaan vandirichu, Oru Tanga radattil, Aagaya gangai, Kattavandi kattavandi, Devanin koyilile (Vellai roja), Koyil Maniosai, Inda minminikku, Kodaikkala kaatre etc.

Kamalahasan:

Ninaivo oru paravai in sigappu rojakkal, Panneer pushpangale in aval appadittan, Vikram, Pottu vaitta kadal tittam, Inji iduppazhagi, Sonnapadi kelu, vizhiorattu kavidai, raaja kaiya vachha etc. and more.

BS Sashirekha:

Sang several songs in the late seventies and in the very early eighties. "Vizhiyil vizhundu" from Alaigal oivatillai,"Tottiram padiye" again from Alaigal oivatillai were good hits. Remember "Vaazhve maayama" from whats the name of that movie Gayatri ? (a Sridevi starrer).

Sujata:

Oru iniya uravu isaiyai anaittu sellum from Johny. Also "Kaadal oviyam kanden" - from Kavikkuyil I guess.

PB Srinivas:

"Kangale Pesu" from the film Kadavul Amaitta medai. beautiful song.

Jikki:

I believe she sang a couple of songs for Ilaiyaraaja in the late 70s and i am not sure what the songs are. There is a song sung by her in 1989 "Raattiri poottadu kaattu roja".

Vani Jayaram:

Roaring hits in Azhage unnai aaradikkiren, Illamai Oonjaladugiradu (Nee kettal naan matten, Orey naal), Rosappoo ravikkaikkari (Ennullil engo) and a number of others. There was a long long gap where Ilaiyaraaja and she didnt work together, and later on the comeback was in Balanagamma (Sangeetam en deivam anro), and later on again in "Vaa vaa Pakkam vaa" in tanga magan.

Uma Ramanan:

A singer with a sweet voice and expression, with such hits as "Aananda raagam", "Manjal veiyil" from Nandu, "Poonkadave", "Aarumadu aazham illa" etc.

Bhrammanandam:

A singer introduced in Metti (Sandakkavigal paadum).

Radhika:

A singer introduced in Aaradanai (Illam pani tuli vizhum).

Krishnachandran:

Edo Mogam in Kozhi koovudu, with SJanaki, and a few other songs during the three year period 82-84.

Deepan Chakravarti:

Poonkadave was a super hit. There were a number of other songs that he sang including some in Kaadal Oviyam.

TL Maharajan:

songs such as Meri pyari dil ki rani from Inru poi Naalai vaa.

Gangai Amaran:

Lyricist and a brother if Ilaiyaraaja he has sung songs such as "Solai Pushpangale" and "Tekku teru machane" with PSushila.

Jayachandran:

A number of hits in the early years such as "Geeta Sangeeta", Raaja Ponnu, Vellinilavinile, Tavikkudu tay angudu, maanjolaikkili taano, Taalattude (Kadal meengal) etc. A long pause and then a comeback with songs such as "Raasaatti onna" from Vaidehi kaattirundaal and then the song "Undadu vizhi vazhi mele" from solla tudikkudu manasu.

Chitra:

Poove poochooda vaa and Geetanjali made waves while Sindubairaviwon awards. She soon became an established singer. One of my favourites is "Madura marikkozhundu vaasam" from Enga oor pattukkaran. Other hits include Ededo, Singalattu chinnakkuyil, and several several more.

Mano:

made his debut in the song "Ten mozhi", soon became an established singer again, with hits such as Singaara penn orutti, Madura marikkozhundand many more.

Swarnalata:

again a recent introduction in the last few years. Maalaiyil yaaro from sattiriyan was a hit.

Arunmozhi:

The singer that sang "naan enbadu", "Aararo pattu paada" etc. is also a recent introduction.

Lata Rajinikant:

Introduced in "netru inda neram" Tick Tick tick, also sang "kadavul ullame" in anbulla rajnikant.

Asha Bhonsle:

Introduced to tamil in Shenbagame Shenbagame (Enga oor pattukkaran), she has had hits such as Mazhai megam, Adi kaalai unnai, O Butterfly etc.

Lata Mangeshkar:

Introduced to Ilaiyaraaja with "Aararo Aararo" has hit such as "Engirundo azhaikkum", "Valaiosai kala kala kalavena".

Bhupender:

A hindi singer, sang a duet "Kaise kahoon" with S. janaki in the film Nandu.

MS Viswanathan:

sang a song for Ilaiyaraaja in the film Tai mookambikai

Finally

Ilaiyaraaja:

has sung a number of songs himself. Of late each film scored by him seems to have one song sung by him. He sang all songs in the film Geetanjali (tamil - not the telugu one). Starting with Solam vedakkayile, he proceded with "Anbu mugam" in Rusi kanda poonai, "Kann malargalin" in Taippongal and then a whole host of other songs - Saamakkozhi, Onakkenattane and other songs in Ponnu oorukkpudusu, Kaadal oviyam in alaigal oivatillai, Metti Oli in Metti, Amman koyil kezhakkala, Kanniyila sikkadayya (Pudumaippenn), Oomai megame (kairaasikkaran), Aattadi paavada, Aarumadu aazhamilla, Adi aattadi (with janaki and multi track recording), Kalyana maalai and finally songs such as Ten Paandi seemaiyile, and "Pattale buddi sonnar".

This list is probably incomplete. I just recalled and wrote this up in one sitting. Omission of names is not at all intentional. I would like to discuss more about each of these singers, but it would go on for ever.