The films starred none other than MGR, with songs from Naan Yean Pirandhen and Idhayaveenai making their mark.īut it was another movie produced by Thevar Films which made the industry and the audience take to Shankar-Ganesh’s signature mix of folk with a subtle nod towards Hindustani classical (the influence of which is mostly felt in Meghame meghame). But their music career did take off, and two key films they composed music for, hit bull’s eye in the late 70s. Prior to that, their goodwill came from both MSV and Kannadasan who again took them to Thevar Films for a film which never took off. Legend has it that Shankar-Ganesh’s debut happened because Jayalalitha recommended them to producer Chinnappa Thevar as they had worked with her on a dance drama before. Hence, it’s also imperative that those who did shine during the times of MSV or Ilaiyaraaja or Rahman must be celebrated as well. And then this song, where SPB hits it out of the park in the most lilting, mischievous manner as he shines with his effortless singing: Naan Kattil Mele Kanden Vennilaa from the film, Neeya.Įvery era in Tamil cinema has its own star composer, but not all films can go to them. A Twitter thread on them threw up more favourites: Nadiganin Kadhali Nadagam Yenadi from the Kamal Haasan-Rajinikanth-Sridevi starrer, Thayillamal Naanillai the Jency-SPB duet Paniyum Neeye Malarum Naaney from the film Panimalar their all-time hit song, Meghame Meghame sung by Vani Jayaram for the film, Palaivanacholai (those who have missed such gems from Oliyum Oliyum do look for them online). They had been long-time associates of MSV, and hence their music obviously had his influence the most. The music composers of both the above-mentioned films are Shankar-Ganesh.

I instantly smile because just a few days prior to this ‘discovery’, I had lost a bet with a friend at a dinner table who said the composer of the film Aattukkara Alamelu was not MS Viswanathan. And then, I found the names of the composers. It sounded like an Ilaiyaraaja number or so I have been believing all my life till I googled it, to share on Twitter.

The song is from Amma, and is from the ‘only-seen-on-Oliyum-Oliyum’ (a popular 80s and 90s Doordarshan TV show) playlist.

On one rainy evening in Chennai (before the clouds decided to carry the rains away), my mind kept drifting to the song, “Mazhaiye mazhaiye ilamai muzhudhum nanaiyum varaiyil vaa”.

Tamil melody songs 1990