A.R Rahman is a musical genius who has been composing thousands of beat-filled songs. When A.R Rahman entered the music composition arena, he ushered in a new style of music composing with programmed music and modern musical instruments such as synthesizers. This Oscar and Grammy award winner has churned out both beautiful melodies and adrenaline thumping numbers as well. The young and old alike are attracted to his variety of songs. Many of his songs top all the musical charts. Let us look at Top 10 A.R Rahman best Tamil songs. Are you ready?.
Chinna Chinna Aasai
| Film: Roja |
| Year: 1992 |
| Singer: Minmini, A.R Rahman |
| Actors: Madhubala |
| Lyrics: Vairamuthu |
A.R Rahman stormed into the Tamil film industry with his musical debut for the film Roja. The song Chinna Chinna Aasai had all the ingredients of a simple village song. The Yelelo humming in the song by Rahman added to its rustic beauty. This Tamil song has a beautiful violin portion and subtle beats. I remember singing this song multiple times on stage when I was part of the college music troupe. Minmini went on to win the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for best female singer for the song. A.R Rahman bagged the National Award for best music director for the movie Roja. No wonder, Chinna Chinna Aasai is in the A.R Rahman best melodies in Tamil list.
Uyire Uyire
| Film: Bombay |
| Year: 1995 |
| Singer: Hariharan, KS Chithra |
| Actors: Arvind Swamy, Manisha Koirala |
| Lyrics: Vairamuthu |
This melodious song brought out the pathos situation where two lovers yearn for each other. The song has traces of Sufi music and it was filmed in Kerala at the Bekal Fort. The song has a lot of modulations and is sung beautifully by the talented singers. The song used the Dilruba instrument to simulate a human voice. A.R Rahman won the Filmfare award for Best Music Director for the film. It is surely one of the best A.R Rahman romantic songs in Tamil.
Mukkala Mukkabala
| Film: Kadhalan |
| Year: 1994 |
| Singer: Mano, Swarnalatha |
| Actors: Prabhu Deva, Nagma |
| Lyrics: Vaali |
This is a fun dance song with lilting beats. The song suits the horse riding, cowboy hat dance, and gunshots in the choreography. Mano would have sung in a thicker voice than usual to suit the mood of the song. Limca Book of Records recognized this song as one of the most copied tunes by other composers. It was Nagma’s debut movie in Tamil and the song surely showcased her superb dance skills.
After the song was released, every college cultural program had this song for the dance competition and singing competition. Swarnalatha won the Cinema Express Award for best female singer for the song. It is surely one of the best A.R Rahman Tamil songs of all time.
Vennilave Vennilave
| Film: Minsara Kanavu |
| Year: 1997 |
| Singer: Hariharan, Sadhana Sargam |
| Actors: Prabhu Deva, Kajol |
| Lyrics: Vairamuthu |
This song is one of the best of A.R Rahman Tamil melodies. The change of tune in the song for the ‘Ettatha Uyarathil’ portion in the second half is beautiful. This was the debut film of Kajol in Tamil and she showed multiple expressions on her face throughout the song. A.R Rahman won the National Award for Best Music Director for this film.
Konjam Nilavu, Konjam Neruppu
| Film: Thiruda Thiruda |
| Year: 1993 |
| Singer: Annupamma, A.R Rahman, Suresh Peters |
| Actors: Anu Agarwa |
| Lyrics: Vairamuthu |
This song enhances the dance performance of the actors in the movie. The ‘Chandralekha’ part of the song in high pitch was very catchy. The song instantly catapulted Annupamma to fame. The song widely used synthesizers and set a trend. The song is also filled with beats of different varieties. Konjam Nilavu will surely pop up as A.R Rahman best Tamil songs.
Nadhiye Nadhiye
| Film: Rhythm |
| Year: 2000 |
| Singer: Unni Menon |
| Actors: Arjun |
| Lyrics: Vairamuthu |
This beautiful song starts with the catchy ‘Dheem Tanana, Dheem Tanana’ humming. The melodious song blends with the misty waterfalls, flowing rivers, and greenery shown in the song. The song articulates the similarities between flowing water and a woman. Apart from the synthesizer, the song has the sound of handclaps. Vocal harmonies and dholak-like instruments are also used. This song is surely one of the A.R Rahman best Tamil film soundtracks.
Pachai Nirame, Pachai Nirame
| Film: Alaipayuthey |
| Year: 2000 |
| Singer: Hariharan, Clinton Cerejo |
| Actors: Madhavan, Shalini |
| Lyrics: Vairamuthu |
This song is a melodious number that describes the different colours in nature. The song starts with the ‘Sakiye, Snehithiye’ bit that repeats in the song. A train hooting sound accompanies this bit always brings a sense of nostalgia. This part is followed by a melodious flute tune that also repeats in the song. I still remember listening to this song keenly to note the different examples told for each colour. The song’s brilliant picturization of the different colours add more context and vibe to the song. Pachai Nirame is best of A.R Rahman Tamil melodies.
Kurukku Chiruthavale
| Film: Mudhalvan |
| Year: 1999 |
| Singer: Hariharan, Mahalakshmi |
| Actors: Arjun, Manisha Koirala |
| Lyrics: Vairamuthu |
Rahman’s song, Kurukku Chiruthavale is an upbeat song that matches the quick dance moves of the actors on the screen. The song has Arjun and Manisha twirling near waterfalls and mountains. The starting flute piece with accompanying beats is apt for the beginning of the song. Hariharan won the Filmfare award for Best Male Playback singer in Tamil for this song. This song is one of the best of A.R Rahman Tamil Songs of all time.
Narumugaiye Narumugaiye
| Film: Iruvar |
| Year: 1997 |
| Singer: Unni Krishnan, Bombay Jayashree |
| Actors: Mohanlal, Aishwarya Rai, Madhubala |
| Lyrics: Vairamuthu |
This melodious song is one of the best classical songs of A.R Rahman. The song was rendered beautifully by the two trained Carnatic singers Bombay Jayashree and Unni Krishnan. Mridangam and violin are the key instruments in this song.
The song features black and white scenes in which Madhubala makes classical dance moves and Mohanlal appears on a horse. The colour scenes feature romance between the couple Mohanlal and Aishwarya Rai. Narumugaiye is one of the best of A.R Rahman Tamil melodies.
Munbe Vaa En Anbe Vaa
| Film: Sillunu Oru Kaadhal |
| Year: 2006 |
| Singer: Naresh Iyer, Shreya Ghoshal |
| Actors: Suriya, Bhumika Chawla |
| Lyrics: Vaali |
This melodious song suits well the romance between two lovers, jubilant sports scenes, funny college encounters, and rainy seasons. Actors Suriya and Bhumika enacted all the scenes of the song well and brought out the jolly mood. Shreya Ghoshal won the Tamil Nadu State Award and a Filmfare award for best female playback singer for this song. A.R. Rahman won the best music director award from Filmfare for this movie. This song is a gem in the A.R Rahman best Tamil songs list.
FAQs
What are the best A.R Rahman Tamil songs?
The best A.R Rahman Tamil Songs are Chinna Chinna Aasai, Uyire Uyire, Mukkala Mukkabla, Vennilave Vennilave, Konjam Nilavu Konjam Neruppu, Nadhiye Nadhiye, Pachai Nirame, Kurukku Siruthavale, Narumugaiye Narumugaiye, and Vidai Kodu Engal Naade.
What are some famous Tamil Songs composed by A.R Rahman?
Some of the famous Tamil songs composed by A.R Rahman are Ponni Nadhi Paakanume, Nenjame Nenjame, Chinna Chinna Aasai, Hai Ra Hai Ra Hai Rabaa, Sanda Kozhi Kozhi, Pachai Nirame, Velli Malare Velli Malare, Narumugaiye Narumugaiye, Oru Deivam Thantha Poove, Malargal Keaten, and more.
How many Tamil songs has A.R Rahman composed?
A.R Rahman has composed music for hundreds of Tamil songs starting from the film Roja.
What awards has A.R Rahman won for Tamil songs?
A.R Rahman won the National Award for scoring music for the Tamil films Roja, Minsaara Kanavu, Kaatru Veliyidai and Kannathil Muthamitaal. He won the National Award for best background score for the Tamil Movie Ponniyin Selvan. He won the Tamilnadu State Music Award for best music direction for the movies Roja, Kadhalan, Gentleman, Minsaara Kanavu, Kaaviya Thalaivan, and Sangamam. He won the Filmfare Awards South for best music direction for the Tamil movies Ponniyin Selvan 1, Mersal, I, Acham Yenbadhu Madamaiyada, Vinnaithandi Varuvaya, Kadal, Sillunu Oru Kaadhal, Sivaji the Boss, Alaipayuthey, Jeans, Mudhalvan, Kadhal Desam, Minsaara Kanavu, Bombay, Gentleman, Kadhalan, and Roja.
What is the first Tamil song A.R Rahman composed?
The first Tamil movie song composed by A.R Rahman is Chinna Chinna Aasai from the movie Roja.
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