Echoes of the Maestro – Song 71 – Chinna Thaayaval

Chinna Thaayaval is one of the iconic and most popular Amma Song in Tamil Cinema and it is set in Charukesi raga which is predominantly used for devotion. Whoever listened to this song might feel devotional, sad, or a mix of both. It’s such a haunting song that evokes a lot of emotion.

Echoes of the Maestro – Song 70 – Amma Endrazhaikaadha

If most of Tamil Cinema and people like me who grew up listening to this song put our Mother on a pedestal this song singlehandedly did that thing. The most popular Mother Sentiment song ever made in the History of Cinema is this and despite all these years this song is still popular and widely celebrated and no one can claim it otherwise.

Echoes of the Maestro – Song 69 – Amma Amma

Amma Amma is the third song being featured in this series from Uzhaipaali this song appears at a very interesting point in the film and there are two versions of this song one by SPB and the female version by Sunanda. Such a haunting song in the way it was sung.

Echoes of the Maestro – Song 68 – Putham pudhu Poo poothadho

Thalapathi is one of the iconic films not only in Thalaivar Rajni’s career but also to Mani Ratnam and also to Tamil cinema. Whenever this film comes up most times Chinna Thaayaval will be the first song that’ll flash into our heads to that iconic break-up scene and the tune will flash into our eyes or the ever-soothing Yamunai Aatrile or Kaatukuyilu Manasukkula will be our favorites, however,

Echoes of the Maestro – Song 67 – Unakkum Enakkum

Unakkum Enakkum was trending on Instagram last year and I thought it must be some old Illayaraja song but never in my wildest dreams I thought this song was from Sri Raghavendra movie. This song was reused by the American band Black Eyed Peas’s bonus track “The Elepmunk Theme” and this version was the one that got popular on Instagram

Echoes of the Maestro – Song 64 – Maanin Iru Kangal

Maanin Iru Kangal is one of those mellifluous Illayaraja songs that doesn’t come across as a song from a Rajnikanth film but it is. This song is composed in the Mayamalawagowla raga which is also called a Morning raga. This raga is said to evoke peace that creates a soothing effect hence can be sung anytime.

Echoes of the Maestro – Song 61 – Naarkalikku Sanda podum

An interesting way to Introduce Rajni in the film. Unlike today, where we see their legs, head, shoulder, Mustache, and finally the face, but back then it wasn’t the case and I believe this trend started with Suresh Krishna’s Baasha. Naarkalikku Sanda podum is the political song that teases

Echoes of the Maestro – Song 60 – VUzhaipaali Illadha

I especially chose this song because it was one of my favorites when I was a kid. Whenever this song gets played on TV or Radio I used to dance like Rajni it seems and it still is one of my favourites. Vaali brilliantly laces the song with the typical Rajni message but also does justice to the title and the Coolies. Mano simply elevates the song up a notch.

Echoes of the Maestro – Song 57 – Rajavukku Raja Naan da

Rajavukku Raja Naan da can be attributed to your typical Rajni Intro song which it is fun to watch and laced with a life message. I remember watching this song on a Music channel when I was a kid and was amusing to see the car driving on top of buildings when I rewatch this song now all of them are iconic buildings of Chennai

Echoes of the Maestro – Song 55 – Aadi maasam Kaathadikka

Yet another Disco song from the Rajni – Illayaraja combo, even though the song is set on a Disco floor but it is a folk song out and out. Interestingly, this song starts as a disco, but immediately after the prelude, and briefly, after the 2nd pallavi, the music jumps back to Disco mode and jumps back into folk mode.