Pallavi
Anu
Pallavi
Being
Mani
Ratnam's
first
movie,
he
was
introduced
to
Ilaiyaraaja
by
Balu
Mahendra(cameraman
of
this
Kannada
flick).
It
is
reported
that
Mani
Ratnam
approached
Ilaiyaraaja
by
saying
he
would
like
him
to
compose
music
for
this
small
budget
movie.
Mani
also
confessed
that
he
can't
afford
to
pay
Ilaiyaraaja
his
actual
market
price.
Ilaiyaraaja
agreed
and
composed
for
the
film
taking
only
one-fifth
of
his
actual
remuneration
at
that
time.
Unaru
Unaru
happens
to
be
Mani
Ratnam's
second
film
and
is
a
Malayalam
flick.
His
association
with
Ilaiyaraaja
continued
as
the
acclaimed
musician
composed
music
for
this
Mohanlal
starrer.
Well
known
songs
in
this
movie
includes
'Deepame'
and
'Theeram
thedi
olam
padi',
both
sung
by
S
Janaki.
Pagal
Nilavu
This
film
marked
Mani
Ratnam's
entry
into
Tamil
cinema.
Having
worked
with
Ilaiyaraaja
in
two
movies
before,
the
then
new
and
talented
director
was
in
no
mood
to
let
go
of
his
most
trusted
musician.
Famous
songs
from
this
flick
are
'Poo
Maalayae'
sung
by
Ilaiyaraaja,
Janaki
and
'Vaidhegi
Raman'
sung
by
Janaki.
Idaya
Kovil
Idaya
Kovil
was
a
musical-fest
as
the
story
itself
revolves
around
a
singer.
The
film
was
Mani
Ratnam's
first
major
hit
in
Tamil.
Songs
like
'Idhayam
Oru
Kovil',
'Kootathilae
Kovil
Pura',
'Naan
Paadum
Mouna
Raagam'
and
'Yaar
Veetu
Roja'
went
on
to
become
massive
hits,
eventually
contributing
in
the
film's
overall
success.
Mouna
Ragam
Considered
as
a
cult
classic,
the
magical
combination
of
Ilaiyaraaja
and
Mani
Ratnam
was
being
noted
at
the
time
of
this
movie's
release.
Mouna
Ragam
went
on
to
win
the
National
Film
Award
for
Best
Film
and
the
songs
are
hummed
by
many
even
today.
Some
of
the
celebrated
songs
include,
'Nilaave
Vaa' and
'Mandram
Vandha'
both
sung
by
S.
P.
Balasubrahmanyam.
Nayagan
When
everyone
were
still
thinking
about
Mouna
Ragam,
Mani
Ratnam
and
Ilaiyaraaja
came
up
with
Nayagan
the
following
year.
Declared
as
one
of
India's
best
movies
ever
made,
Nayagan
was
also
praised
for
its
soulful
music.
Popular
songs
in
this
film
includes,
'Nee
Oru
Kadhal
Sangeetham',
'Nila
Adhu
Vanathumele'
and
'Thenpandi
Cheemayile'.
Agni
Natchathiram
Yet
again
considered
as
a
classic,
Agni
Natchathiram
completed
a
200
day
run
at
the
box
office.
All
the
songs
from
this
movie
went
on
to
become
chart
busters
making
people
realize
that
music
can
never
go
wrong
in
a
Mani
Ratnam-Ilaiyaraaja
flick.
Some
of
the
tracks
from
this
film
includes,
'Ninnukori
Varanam',
'Raaja
Raajathi',
'Thoongatha
Vizhigal'
and
'Vaa
Vaa
Anbe
Anbe'.
Geethanjali(Idhayathai
Thirudathe)
After
three
blockbuster
hits
in
Tamil,
Mani
Ratnam
ventured
into
Telugu
cinema
through
Geethanjali,
but
he
retained
his
music
director.
Both
the
film
and
its
album
were
successful
commercially
and
received
critical
acclaim
as
well.
Popular
numbers
from
this
film
are,
'Oh
Priya
Priya',
'Oh
Papa
Laali'
and
'Kaviyam
Padava
Thendrale',
all
sung
by
Mano.
Anjali
Being
Ilaiyaraaja's
500th
film,
Anjali
was
India's
official
entry
to
the
Oscars
in
1991.
Great
story
backed
by
great
music,
the
film
was
nothing
short
of
a
magical
experience.
Hit
numbers
from
this
movie
includes,
'Vegam
Vegam',
'Anjali
Anjali'
and
'Something
Something'.
Thalapathi
Unfortunately,
Thalapathi
marks
the
end
of
an
era
as
Mani
Ratnam
and
Ilaiyaraaja
never
once
in
their
life
worked
together
after
Thalapathi
and
the
trend
continues
even
today.
But,
what
a
sign
off
it
was?
The
song,
'Rakkamma
Kaiya
Thattu'
was
amongst
the
songs
listed
in
a
BBC
World
Top
Ten
music
poll.
Other
soul-stirring
songs
includes,
'Chinna
Thaai
Aval'
and
'Sundari'
which
has
some
of
the
most
complex
notes.