I am not a Tamilian by origin, but love many of ARR's Tamil songs. My discovery of ARR's Tamil work was quite late relatively, but with this discovery provided by some very good friends who are also ARR fans, my ARR musical experience has been enriched by leaps and bounds.
After much deliberation and careful thought, I have put together my top 25 Tamil songs by ARR. It was not easy and there are of course lot many more songs from his Tamil work that I enjoy and love that are not included in this list. Please remember that. I don't know a word of Tamil, but these songs reach deep inside me....touch my soul, move me, inspire me. rock me to the core.....that only ARR can do....just with his tunes, sounds, harmonies, rhythms. I listen to this top 25 very often and am often stunned by the end....the awesome power of ARR's music and it leaves me in awe....always asking....how can ONE man create such heavenly music??? After reading my list, you may wonder, "How come he didn't include this song or that song????" I think everyone's list is different and like I said, these songs touch me deeply, perhaps included are some unconventional favorites. I did not include songs from Roja and Bombay because they are etched more in my mind as Hindi numbers due to first exposure in Hindi, even though they are originally Tamil. It's very hard to create a "top" list for ARR's songs, but these below are TRULY my favorites among his Tamil albums and some of my favorites of ARR of all time. Why make this list? It was for my own compilation collection, but decided also to share here. Why 25? Sounded like a reasonable number and enough songs to fit in 2 CDs. :) My Top 25 in Hindi is coming soon: ____________________________________________________________________ Here they are...not in any type of order.... Pacchai Nirame (Alai Payuthey) PURE MAGIC, JUST A PERFECT SONG! Narumugaiye (Iruvar) ARR AT HIS ETHNIC FINEST, COMPLETE MASTERPIECE Yenna Solla Pogirai (Kandukonden Kandukonden) PURE MAGIC Theeyil Vizhunda (Godfather) SUPER HAUNTING, RAAGA CHARUKESHI Anarkali (KKS) AMAZING SEMI CLASSICAL STUFF, GREAT TABLAS Thee Thee (Thiruda Thiruda) ROCKS, JUST ROCKS!!!! En Swasa Kaatre (En Swasa Kaatre) OH SO SOOTHING...MELTS IN YOUR EARS Kannathil Muttamuttal by Chinmayee (KM) BRILLIANT, HAUNTING Kannamoochchi (Kandukonden Kandukonden) CHARMING BEAUTY..SPARKLING Varaga Nathi (Sangamam) CAPTIVATING, RIVETING, TRANCE INDUCING Poo Kodiyin (Iruvar) EVERGREEN MELODY, ARR AT HIS PERIOD BEST Porkalam (Thenali) HAUNTING MELODY, EVERGREEN Enuyir Tozhiye (KKS) BEST INTO AND WHAT PASSION AND MELODY Azaghae Sugama (Parthale Paravasam) A SOUNDSCAPE AND MELODIC BEAUTY! Ale Ale (Boys) WHAT A RHYTHM AND WHAT ARRANGEMENTS!!!! Katrae En Vasal (Rhythm) MESMERIZING SEMI CLASSICAL NUMBER O Vennela (Kaadhal Desam) PURE MAGIC - SO SOOTHING!!!!! Yedo Yedo (Ennakku 20, Unnakku 18) CHARUKSESHI RAAGA AGAIN Vellai Pookal (KM) ARR UNPLUGGED AT ITS BEST - SO PURE Mumbe Vaa (Silonu Oru Kaadhal) GORGEOUS MELODY Sakhi (Antimantharai) HIGHLY SPIRITUAL, MINIMALISTIC MAGIC Poogum Vazhiyellam (Ratchakan) SO ALTEERNATIVE - HAUNTING, INTENSE! Marudaani (Sakkarakatti) - SO BREEZY AND FRESH, LILTING! Udhaya Udhaya (Udhaya) - FRIGGIN MINDBLOWING MUSICAL ARRANGEMENTS!!!!! Snehidaane (Alai Payuthey) - A TOTAL BEAUTY START TO FINISH
