Listen: A. R. Rahman's "Thirupaachi Aruvala" (Tamil)

Director Mani Ratnam and Shankar's collaborations with Isai Puyal A. R. Rahman are perhaps two of the most enduring in Hindi/Tamil cinema, but perhaps a little lesser known association is his music for P. Bharathiraja, which have been just as out-of-the-box at the same time yielding tunes that are unlike anything else in his catalog: Aathangara Marame, Poraale Ponnuthayi, Oru Naal Oru Pozhudu, Chotta Chotta, Theekuruvi, Anarkali, the list goes on. But Thirupaachi Aruvala's insanely energetic rustic soundbed, coupled with Palakkad Sreeram, Clinton Cerejo and Kalpana Patowary's spirited singing, is a dramatic departure even by Rahman standards and a compelling left turn from a composer who has already made so many. Give it a listen below (or via Saavn) -