When ever you talk of Mani Ratnam you are obliged or rather compelled to talk about his film’s music in as many pages as you talk about his direction. The music in Mani Rathnam’s film is worth special chapters in the history of Tamil cinema. Be it for the special songs or the magnificent picturisation or the right placement, the songs of Mani Ratnam films are very special.

On his Silver Jubilee ears in Tamil it is interesting and unique to note that in a career spanning 25 years so far in Tamil cinema Mani Ratnam has worked with only two music directors. And both were the best of their respective eras. Maestros Illayaraja and A R Rahman.

When Mani Ratnam entered films Illayaraja was already a legend at his peak. It was possible for both to work together because both had strong aesthetic sensibilities and they were able to read each other’s mind so perfectly. If ‘Pagal Nilavu’ was a starter the main course was served right from the second film ‘Idhayakovil’. The songs of Idhayakovil stood out even if the film did not do well. “Koottathile Koil Pura” or “Naan Paadum Mounaragam” could be possible only with this team.

In his first independent film starting off with Mani’s first rain song all the songs are reference points to know how a great director and musician can complement each other for a great out put.

The spirited rain song “O Ho Megam Vanthatho” by S. Janaki, the melodious classic solo “Nilaave Vaa” by SPB, the perfect “Mandram Vantha”, the dreamy “Chinna Chinna Vannakuyil”, and the misty “Panivizhum Iravu” all make ‘Mounaragam’ arguably the best music of Mani Ratnam.

‘Nayagan’ which followed ‘Mounaragam’ was equally enchanting not just in songs, even in the BGM section. In “Nee Oru Kadhal Sangeetham” where veena takes over from the visual beauty in the very beginning of the song is total magic. The iconic song “Thenpandi Cheemayile” gave a new meaning for a song so intensely touching. If a music company had come out with the albums of BGM scores of Mani-Raja films that would have put Indian cinema on the world map much earlier.

‘Agni Natchatiram’ released in 1988 was a study in film music. The classical based songs were picturised so modern. Even if you watch the film today you will get a contemporary feeling. ‘Agni Natchatiram’ was well ahead of time in techniques at that time. Thanks to the formidable team of Mani Ratnam, Illayaraja and Sreeram.

In ‘Agni Natchatiram’ Mani and Raja enticed the MTV generation so gracefully even before MTV came to India. With sound and light playing riot, Mohanam ragam based “Ninnu Kori Varnam” is a true gem. “Oru Poongavanam” is a mixture of sound and music. “Raaja Raajathi Raaja” fast and furious yet very rhythmic. The melodies “Vaa Vaa Anbe Anbe” by Yesudas and Chitra and Amirthavarshini ragam based “Thoongatha Vizhigal Rendu” by Yesudas and Janaki are soulfully very romantic songs very rarely matched by others. Perhaps ‘Agni Natchatiram’ is the best paradigm of western and carnatic fusion in film music.

‘Anjali’ and ‘Thalapathy’ were the last two films of Mani Ratnam with Illayaraja. If ‘Anjali’ is one genre the signing off film ‘Thalapathy’ touched another peak. ‘Anjali’ must have been an experimental film. But ‘Thalapathy’ was their usual best. Classical music took all forms in this supposed to be an action drama. The fast paced “Yamunai Aatrile” was a revelation. “Chinna Thayaval” is melodramatically classical. Even the “Sundari Kannal Kannal Oru Sethi” which runs for over 7 minutes doesn’t drop even one beat anywhere. This song blends happiness and pathos like no song ever did. When you listen to this song you can see Love and War together in visuals of your choice. It brilliantly mixes Kosalam and Kalyani ragams to show contrastingly different emotions. And finally “Rakkama Kaiya Thattu” by SPB and Swarnalatha. The song which featured in BBC’s Top 10 Songs of the world is a highpoint. The use of violin beats is very effective in this fast beat song.

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