Ilaiyaraaja series - Part 5
# Ilaiyaraaja - Lyricists
#
# Credits: kanniks@uceng.uc.EDU (k kannikeswaran)
# Author: K Kannikeswaran
# (posted in soc.culture.tamil)
#
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Ilaiyaraaja - part 5 - Lyricists, Conclusion
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This article is much shorter than the others in this series.
Panju Arunachalam:
had a major share of the lyrics to Illayaraajas songs early in his career. Most, if not all of his movies
were scored by Ilaiyaraaja. Kalyanaraman, Ellam inba mayam, Ananda raagam etc. etc. had songs written by
panju arunachalam. There is a fairly long list here..
Kannadasan:
This partnership lasted until 1981 till the end of the poets life. Sentaazhampoovil, Radha Radha nee engey,
Azhagiya kanne, Poonkatru, Kanne kalaimane are some examples that come to my mind.
Gangai Amaran:
Ilaiyaraaja"s brother. This was excellent team work and is going strong even today. This lyricist diversi-
fied into siningin, music composing, directing, producing and even acting.
Muthulingam:
Maanjolaikkilidano, Raga deepam etrum neram etc. are the songs that come to my mind.
Vairamuttu:
introduced in 1982 with his Ponmalaippozhudu is probably the most successful lyricist of today. There was a
strong partnership between him and Ilaiyaraaja for several years. Illaya nila, Panivizhum malarvanam, Andi
mazhai, Manida Manida, Kasturi maane, Naanoru sindu etc., the list is very long.
Vaali:
is another lyricist that has a whole list of Ilaiyaraaja songs. Of late, he seems to have wrtitten
a lot. Apoorva sahodarargal, etc. are some examples.
Paavalar Varadaraasan:
Ilaiyaraajavin moota sagodarar. "mannil inda kaadal inri" is probably his greatest hit.
Mu Mehta:
Ten aruviyil nanaindidum malaro from Aagaya gangai.
This list again is an incomplete list.
It takes a lot to produce a popular song. Lyrics that have meaning, lyrics that are beautiful/attractive and above all catchy. A tune that gives life to the lyrics, appropriate orchestration to give life to the tune, and voices with expression to bring all of this to full life, and finally the idam porul aeval in the film (context) that leaves an everlasting expression or atleast an expression that creates pleasure during every single recollection. To get all these factors working for you, and to last for a long while doing this, at the same time coming up with innovations - (not random experiments) but innovations that please millions of the listeners, to create expectations among the audience, to fulfil those expectations only to create more, to become a household name, to earn the love and respect of millions using music as a medium is just something great.. All that i can conclude that we are very fortunate to have had Ilaiyaraaja score music for tamil films..