It is a sharp reminder that the genius hasn’t abated in the composer. It was the 1,000th film to have music by the Isaignani. Ilayaraja’s music for Tharai Thappattai, which Bala helmed, won the national award for best background score. In a way, these songs are a reminder of the era gone by when Ilayaraja was the final word for film music in tinsel town. Comedian-turned-hero Santhanam often uses the songs of Ilayaraja when he was all the rage. The juxtaposing of the songs in a new milieu often takes place in the comedy track of a movie. The out-of-context quoting of his songs thus convey their comic potential.
Moreover, the new generation with little exposure to the films of the eighties and nineties, quickly grasps the comic intent behind the songs, which are anyways quite familiar. Some see the evergreen qualities of Ilayaraja in this new trend. The song has been used in more than one occasion in recent times. A local politician is comically conveyed to have the qualities that marked Vijayakanth’s character in his critically acclaimedChinna Gounder. In the new wave hit Subramaniyapuram, the song is used to provoke laughter. ‘Antha Vanatha Pola’ is a song of used by directors across the spectrum.
His songs have also been remixed for the yuppie crowd.īut do we understand why many filmmakers are parodying his songs in their movies? Is it because of Isaignani’s evergreen quality? Or is it because his songs signal humour in quick shorthand what the scene tries to convey? His achievements with solo albums and symphonies have added to his reputation. We have seen the reverence with which Tamil film industry holds the composer. One has only to go to YouTube to see bands come up with their own unique version of their favourite Ilayaraja song. We know of various film artistes, musicians and upcoming bands paying tribute to the Isaignani. Entire programmes feature only songs of the composer, who has scored the BGM and songs for over 1,000 movies. The maestro’s numbers do dominate the radio airwaves in the night. All channels are playing his songs,” they tell me.
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