Heavy Rotation: Deepak Dev, Mohan Sithara & More

Chantham Thelinju from Utopiayile Rajavu is not only enchanting, but it also made me go back in time and revisit some of the best melodies I've had heard over the years...

Parayathe Ariyathe (Deepak Dev, Udayananu Tharam) - A lovely but heart-breaking song sung beautifully by Yesudas and Chithra.

Thumbikinnaram (Naran) (Deepak Dev, Naran) - Another gorgeous composition from Deepak Dev, and the mellow Hindustani touches are just superb.

Raghuvamsha Sudha, Sukhamo, Chithramanikkaattil, Panimathiye (Deepak Dev, Symphony) - A first-rate semi-classical fusion of the Carnatic kriti.

Shilayil Ninnum, Swayamvara Chandrike, Chundathu, Chirichiriyo, Pakalpoove (Deepak Dev, Chronic Bachelor) - Deepak's musical debut, and a fantastic blend of melodies.

Pichavecha Naal (Puthiya Mukham), Kannimalare (Ithihasa), Aaro Nee Aaro, Chalanam Chalanam (Urumi), Chirimani Mulle (Lion), Thammil Thammil (Christian Brothers), Nilaakkudame (Chirakodinja Kinavukal), Oru Koti Mangalam (Oru Koti Mangalam), Anaadhi Yugangallai, Cherathe (Lavendar), Mozhikalum (Padmasree Bharat Dr. Saroj Kumar), Nimishame, Oka Poovula (Naa Oopiri), Needhana Needhana (Sadhu Miranda) (Deepak Dev) - Beautiful melodies, each one of them.

Aaranne Aarane (Urumi), Velmuruka (Naran) (Deepak Dev) - Irresistibly catchy dance numbers, in traditional folk style.

Izhavenil Thalattum, Veesum Kaatrukku, Cho Larey, Mutthey Mutthamma, Konjum Manjal (Karthik Raja, Ullaasam) - The songs that put Karthik Raja on the map. Splendid is quite an understatement!

Intha Siru Pennai, Aiylesaa Aiylesaa, Kattaana Ponnu Romantica (Naam Iruvar Namakku Iruvar), Kavithaigal Sollava, Anbe Anbe (Ullam Kollai Poguthae) (Karthik Raja) - If one can excuse Alyssia Vibha Sharma's mangling of Tamil, the mellifluous Intha Siru Pennai is indubitably Karthik Raja's best. On a side note, did you know that Karthik Raja made his musical debut in the 1992 film Pandiyan with the song Pandiyanin Rajiyathil or that singer Shreya Ghoshal made her Tamil entry with Chellame Chellam from the 2002 film Album?

Ragasiyamai, Desingu Raja (Karthik Raja, Dumm Dumm Dumm) - The one thing I have observed about Hariharan is that it doesn't matter who the composer is, whether be it Ilaiyaraaja or A. R. Rahman or Vidyasagar or Deva or S. A. Rajkumar, or others like Mani Sharma, Karthik Raja and Joshua Sridhar, he has always had standout melodies from each one of them. That's quite a feat!

Allikalil, Chandanamani (Praja), Nilavinte Neela (Agnidevan), Katte Nee (Kattu Vannu Vilichappol) (M. G. Radhakrishnan) - Dulcet semi-classical fusion pieces from M. G. Radhakrishnan, handled with finesse by his brother M. G. Sreekumar, Sujatha and Chithra.

Oru Murai (Reprise) (M. G. Radhakrishnan, Manichitrathazhu) - While K. S. Chithra-sung version is an instant classic, this slower reprise variant, composed in ahiri raga and sung by Sujatha, is beyond captivating.

Pulli Kuyile (Ramesh Narayan, Anyar) - Sujatha aces the slow-burner of a lilting melody and how!

Bhasuri, En Nenjile, Rathri Mazha, Manassi Naphasi, Iniyum Mizhikal, Puzhayude Geetham (Rathri Mazha), Oru Narupushpamaayi (Meghamalhar), Parayaan Maranna (Garshom) (Ramesh Narayan) - Astounding compositions steeped in Hindustani and ghazal influences.

Kaanana Kuyile, Ninne Kandal (Mohan Sithara, Mr. Brahmachari) - Soothing melodies, utterly euphonious and tuneful in M. G. Sreekumar, Radhika Thilak and Sujatha's mesmerising vocals.

Mazhayil (Mohan Sithara, Karutha Pakshikal) - Manjari elevates this classical stunner of a melody to a whole new level with her impeccable singing.

Karuppinazhaku (Mohan Sithara, Swapnakoodu) - An exuberant melody matched by Jyotsna's spirited rendition.

Inni Naanum Naanilai (Srinivas, Yai! Nee Romba Azhaga Irukke!) - Yai! Nee Romba Azhaga Irukke! marked the first time a film soundtrack in Tamil featured five songs from as many as five composers. Carnatic motifs meet western sounds in Arvind-Shankar's Yamini Yamini, with Harish Raghavendra hitting all the right notes with his splendid rendition. Thottu Thottu, in addition to being Ramesh Vinayakam's first song as a composer, works well as a breezy folk-leaning melody, while Shankar Mahadevan nails Raaghav-Raja's delightful classical piece Kadhal Vandicho. Singer Anuradha Sriram's brother Murugan Mohan, for his part, concocts a groovy classical-meets-club fusion in Poi Sollalam, complete with propulsive techno beats and traditional percussion, but it's singer Srinivas who ultimately wows with the lilting semi-classical melody Inni Naanum Naanilai, aided by superb singing from Srinivas, Sujatha and Sunitha Sarathy, who made her singing debut.

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