Maestro Ilayaraja has composed thousands of songs. His strength is the speed at which he can compose new songs, churning out splendid tunes for a dozen film songs a day. People who remember listening to movie songs on the radio will surely remember the melodious and mesmerizing numbers of Raja of yesteryears. His songs are a companion for a long drive amid trees. His songs are a lullaby for those trying to sleep at night. Apart from his film songs, his instrumental albums such as How to Name It (Violin based) and Nothing But Wind (flute based) were amazing. Now, the King of Tamil music, has performed a symphony, Valiant, at London.
Choosing the best cine songs of Ilayaraja is a challenge to any writer. It is like choosing among pearls, diamonds and rubies. Anyway, we have tried to curate 20 of his best songs. Hope you enjoy this musical ride of Ilayaraja songs in Tamil.
Thendral Vanthu Theendum Pothu
| Movie: Avatharam |
| Year: 1995 |
| Singers: Ilayaraja, S. Janaki |
| Actors: Nassar, Revathi |
| Lyrics: Vaali |
This song about colours is a soothing melody. But, when Ilayaraja first composed this song’s melody, the actor-director of the movie Avatharam, Nassar, wanted to increase the tempo. But, when Nassar again listened to the song the next day, with the starting chorus of Thanadhantha Thanadhantha, he cried tears of joy.
The song picturization starts with streaks of paint that form the face of a woman. Children dressed in colourful suits (kurtas) and turbans dip their hands in paint and dance. Many music lovers say that Thendral Vanthu is one of the best Ilayaraja Tamil songs with outstanding humming and chorus portions.
Ilaya Nila Pozhigirathe
| Movie: Payanangal Mudivathillai |
| Year: 1982 |
| Singers: S.P. Balasubrahmanyam |
| Actors: Mohan, Poornima Jeyaram |
| Lyrics: Vairamuthu |
This song depicts Actor Mohan (Protagonist) who aspires to become a singer. The voice of S.P.B accentuates the lovely lyrics of Vairamuthu such as, the moon wiped its face with a cloud and walked till dawn.
This song has wonderful guitar and flute portions. The beautiful flute portion by singer-flutist Arunmozhi was highlighted by S.P.B during one of the live shows. Ilaya Nila is one of the best of Ilayaraja Tamil hits.
Kanmani Anbodu
| Movie: Guna |
| Year: 1991 |
| Singers: Kamal Haasan, S. Janaki |
| Actors: Kamal Haasan, Roshini |
| Lyrics: Vaali |
This song is a combination of dialogues and singing. The hero Kamal Haasan asks the heroine to write a letter as he dictates. The heroine then sings the contents of the letter. While discussing the music, Kamal remembers telling the Maestro that he wants a violin piece in the song similar to the one composed by S. D. Burman for the Hindi song Rula Ke Gaya Sapna Mera.
The Kanmani Anbodu song was shot in a cave in Kodaikanal. The song recently shot to popularity again after the tunes were used in the movie Manjummel Boys in 2024. Kanmani Anbodu is one of the best Ilayaraja Tamil songs of all time.
Adi Rakkamma Kaiya Thattu
| Movie: Thalapathi |
| Year: 1991 |
| Singers: S.P. Balasubrahmanyam, Swarnalatha |
| Actors: Rajinikanth, Sonu Walia |
| Lyrics: Vaali |
This song appears as part of a celebratory mode of the Hero Rajini with his folks. The different beats, fast violin rhythms and awesome chorus are the plus points of the song. The song is long and has a duration of more than 7 mins.
The song was shot in Karnataka at two beautiful structures – Chennakeshava temple, Somanathapura and Raya gopuram Melukote. This song was ranked among the Top 10 songs in the world in a BBC poll in 2002. Adi Rakamma is surely one of the best of Ilayaraja Tamil hits.
Raja Raja Cholan Naan
| Movie: Rettai Vaal Kuruvi |
| Year: 1987 |
| Singers: K.J. Yesudas |
| Actors: Mohan, Radhika, Archana |
| Lyrics: Mu. Mehta |
The song focuses on how a man oscillates between the love for two women. Few months back, actors Rick Segall and Korbin Miles discussed this song on their YouTube channel, Our Stupid Reactions. Rick called Raja Sir a musical genius and found it amazing that the rhythm pattern in the song changes from 4/4 time signature to a 6/8 time signature and back to 4/4 time signature so smoothly.
The song has a combination of guitar chords and flute. The song has beautiful lyrics by Mehta such as, a bow and two arrows kill me, but the woman lies that they are her eyes. This song surely features in the Ilayaraja Tamil hits list.
Valai Osai
| Movie: Sathya |
| Year: 1988 |
| Singers: S.P.Balasubrahmanyam, Lata Mangeshkar |
| Actors: Kamal Haasan, Amala |
| Lyrics: Vaali |
The famous starting flute piece of the song was played by singer-flutist Arunmozhi alias Napolean. The starting lines or Pallavi of the song got its tune from a melody that did not make it to the final ‘Nothing But Wind’ flute-based album.
When Raja decided that Lata Mangeshkar would sing the song, he asked Vaali to write easy Tamil lyrics that Lata ji could sing. The song picturization has a beautiful bus sequence and portions in a garden. This song made it to the best of Ilayaraja 80s Tamil songs.
llamai Ennum Poongatru
| Movie: Pagalil Oru Iravu |
| Year: 1979 |
| Singers: S.P. Balasubrahmanyam |
| Actors: Sri Devi, RaviKumar |
| Lyrics: Kannadasan |
This song is best known for its many female chorus portions, violin, and acoustic guitar pieces. Of course, vocals and pronunciation for this song by S.P.B is outstanding. The lyrics of Kannadasan adds a deeper impact to the song. This song is a regular for music competitions in colleges. This song is one of the best Ilayaraja melody songs.
Andhi Mazhai Pozhigirathu
| Movie: Raajapaarvai |
| Year: 1981 |
| Singers: S.P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki, T.V. Gopalakrishnan |
| Actors: KamalHaasan, Madhavi |
| Lyrics: Vairamuthu |
The song kick starts with the beautiful humming that sets the mood. The distinct voice of T.V. Gopalakrishnan is well suited for the interludes and accompanying humming during the stanzas.
This song is very action-oriented and features the blind Kamal and Madhavi on cycles, rickshaws, and a swimming pool. Violins and mridangam play a major role in the song. This song is surely a gem in Ilayaraja 80s Tamil songs.
En Iniya Pon Nilave
| Movie: Moodu Pani |
| Year: 1980 |
| Singers: K. J. Yesudas |
| Actors: Prathap Pothen, Shoba |
| Lyrics: Gangai Amaran |
The voice of Yesudas well suits the melody and beauty of the song. The song features an enchanting chorus portion along with violin and flute during which Pothen and Shoba run along a beach shore. The stanzas are also accompanied by a mellifluous female chorus. En Iniya Pon Nilave stands out in the list of Ilayaraja melody songs.
Poongathave Thazh Thiravaai
| Movie: Nizhalgal |
| Year: 1980 |
| Singers: Deepan Chakravarthy, Uma Ramanan |
| Actors: Nizhalgal Ravi, Rohini, Rajasekar |
| Lyrics: Gangai Amaran |
The catchy and quick tune of the song is accentuated by the humming that occurs in different varieties throughout the song in both male and female voices. The rare voices of Deepan Chakravarthy and Uma Ramanan suit aptly for the song. The swaras in this song are based on the Raaga Maaya Maalava Gowla. Ilayaraja won the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for best music director for the movie Nizhalgal. Poongathave is one of the best Ilayaraja songs of all time.
Idhu Oru Nila Kaalam
| Movie: Tik Tik Tik |
| Year: 1981 |
| Singers: S. Janaki, T.V. Gopalakrishnan |
| Actors: Radha, Madhavi, Swapna |
| Lyrics: Vairamuthu |
This song is about three dazzling models Radha, Madhavi and Swapna. This background song shows everyday activities of a model during that era. The singing prowess of S. Janaki is brought to the fore with her expressions and sensational renditions. The song has a wonderful female chorus and a masterpiece Naadridaana bol by T.V. Gopalakrishnan. In fact, T.V. Gopalakrishnan is the Carnatic music tutor of Ilayaraja. This song is one of the most popular Ilayaraja Tamil Hits.
Sundari Kannal Oru Sethi
| Movie: Thalapathi |
| Year: 1991 |
| Singers: S.P. Balasubrahmanyam. S. Janaki |
| Actors: Rajinikanth, Shobana |
| Lyrics: Vaali |
The song depicts a love story and has a duration of 7:20 minutes. The song combines both Kalyani (happy raaga) and Kosalam (serious raaga) to show the alternating romance, separation, war and reunion pictured in the song. This song is a masterpiece in orchestration.
This song was recorded in Bombay at R.D. Burman studios. The musicians gave a standing ovation to Raja after playing the song composed by him for Sundari Kannal. This song will remain among the Top 30 most acclaimed Ilayaraja songs of all time.
Nilaa Athu Vanathu Mele
| Movie: Nayakan |
| Year: 1987 |
| Singers: Ilayaraja |
| Actors: Kamal, Kuyili, Janagaraj |
| Lyrics: Ilayaraja |
In this song, Kuyili dances on a boat and Janagaraj sings along. Kamal steers the boat. This beat-filled song with the female humming portions and guitar chords is apt for the scene. Ilayaraja has performed a hat trick as he has composed the music, written lyrics, and sang the song also. Nilaa Athu is unique among Ilayaraja 80s Tamil songs.
Senthoora Poove
| Movie: 16 Vayathinile |
| Year: 1977 |
| Singers: S. Janaki |
| Actors: Sri Devi |
| Lyrics: Gangai Amaran |
This song picturised the beautiful and young Sri Devi in a white saree with a white bindi on her forehead. She dances around the bright orange senthoora flowers trees and twirls in a swing. The heroine is asking the flower and breeze to tell her where her lover is. S. Janaki won the National Film Music Award for best female playback singer for this song. It is no wonder that S. Janaki has sung the most number of songs in a female voice for Raja. Senthoora Poove is among the best of Ilayaraja melody songs.
Vaanile Thenila
| Movie: Kaaki Sattai |
| Year: 1985 |
| Singers: S.P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki |
| Actors: Kamal Haasan, Ambika, Sathyaraj |
| Lyrics: Na. Kamarasan |
This fast-paced song has amazing dance moves by both Kamal and Ambika on a boat and in flower-filled gardens. The song also features Sathyaraj (antagonist) discussing with his comrades. The song has awesome guitar portions played by Raja’s brother-in-law Sasidharan Muniyandi. Vaanile Thenile stands out among Ilayaraja Tamil Hits.
Vellai Pura Ondru
| Movie: Puthukavithai |
| Year: 1982 |
| Singers: K.J.Yesudas, S. Janaki |
| Actors: Rajinikanth, Jyothi |
| Lyrics: Vairamuthu |
This song is very popular among Ilayaraja music lovers. The song starts with a beautiful humming by S. Janaki. The song is filmed near misty mountains and gushing rivers. The song has funny flag-waving scenes between the lovers. The song also has a sad version sung by K.J. Yesudas as a solo. Vellai Pura Ondru is a classic among Ilayaraja 80s Tamil songs.
Kaadhal Oviyam
| Movie: Alaigal Oivathillai |
| Year: 1981 |
| Singers: Ilayaraja, Jency |
| Actors: Karthik, Radha |
| Lyrics: Vairamuthu |
The song’s verses in the beginning highlight the different religions the lovers belong to. The song has beautiful female humming portions that ebbs and flows like waves. Raja has told in one of his live shows that each line in the stanza/charanam of the song is in a different Raaga. Amazing, isn’t it? This is one of the few songs that Jency has sung a duet for Ilayaraja. This song surely is at the top of Ilayaraja melody songs.
Thenpandi Cheemaiyile
| Movie: Nayakan |
| Year: 1987 |
| Singers: Ilayaraja, Kamal Haasan |
| Actors: Kamal Haasan |
| Lyrics: Pulamaipithan |
This song is the Title song of the movie Nayakan and features the voices of both Maestro and Kamal. This song is again repeated 3 times in the movie during different situations – one being the death of Kamal towards the end of the movie. All the 3 instances feature the voice of Kamal.
The heart-melting tune and the touching and soulful voices of Raja and Kamal along with the classic lyrics bring out the pathos situations very well. Thenpandi cheemaiyile is an outstanding Ilayaraja Hit song in Tamil.
Sangeetha Megam
| Movie: Udhayageetham |
| Year: 1985 |
| Singers: S.P. Balasubrahmanyam |
| Actors: Mohan, Revathi |
| Lyrics: Muthulingam |
This song shows Mohan as a stage singer and people collecting autographs from him. It also shows love sequences between Mohan and Revathi. Sangeetha Megam is surely one of the Top 10 solo songs of S.P.B. This song was also a popular college music competition song.
Udhayageetham movie ran for 148 days in theatres and the songs were surely one of the contributing factors for this enormous success. This song is a true example of Ilayaraja’s collaboration with legendary Tamil singers like S.P.B.
Inji Idupazhagi
| Movie: Devar Magan |
| Year: 1992 |
| Singers: Kamal Haasan, S.Janaki |
| Actors: Kamal Haasan, Revathi |
| Lyrics: Vaali |
This song has all the ingredients of a rustic song, be it the tune, voice, or the lyrics. A.R.Rahman rates the Inji Indhupazzhagi song as one of his most favourites among Ilayaraja compositions. S. Janaki won the National Award for best female singer for this song for her wonderful rendition of the song with many expressions. This song is one of the best Ilayaraja Tamil songs with a folk tint.
Do you have any other favourite song of Ilayaraja in mind? Please share in the comments along with the interesting stories you know about the song.
FAQs
How many songs did Ilaiyaraja composed in Tamil?
Ilayaraja has composed close to 5000 songs in Tamil.
Which Ilaiyaraja song is considered a masterpiece?
Sundari Kannal Oru Seithi is considered as a masterpiece of Ilayaraja compositions.
What instruments does Ilaiyaraja play?
Ilayaraja plays the classical guitar, harmonium, and piano.
Who has sung the most songs for Ilaiyaraja?
The male singer who has sung the most number of songs for Ilayaraja is S. P. Balasubrahmanyam. The female singer who has sung the most number of songs for Ilayaraja is S. Janaki.
Which director collaborated most with Ilaiyaraja?
Director Bharathiraaja collaborated the most with Ilayaraja with 14 films together.
What awards has Ilayaraja won for Tamil songs?
Ilayaraja won the National Award for best music director for the film Sindhu Bhairavi. He also won the National Award for background score for the movie Tharai Thapattai.
He won the Tamilnadu State Film Award for the movies 16 Vayathinile, Ajantha, Nizhalgal, Varusham Pathinaaru, Alaigal Oivathillai, Karagaatakaaran, and Agni Natchathiram.
He won the Filmfare award for his music composition for the film Thalapathi.
Who are Ilayaraja's top playback singers?
Ilayaraja’s top playback singers are S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki, K.S. Chithra, and K. J. Yesudas.
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