It has been 15 years since ARR made his debut. Here are some 15 random songs composed by Rahman which are not extremely popular like the ones of Roja, Dilse etc that I enjoy. I have deliberately left out the songs from films directed by Mani Ratnam (With exception of one song), Shankar, Ashutosh etc. If you get a chance, do listen to these songs.
1. Nendhikitten – Star
I like this song for the way it teases you. The lyrics are quite funny and the choice of instruments are quite different. Its fun listening to this song especially when the lady goes ‘Aasai dosai hey hey’ and a Mridhangam starts playing in the background. Actually the music is so rich that one might miss out on the trivial bits in this song. Like when the guy sings ‘saaral adikudhadi’ there is a beep beep. Quite nice
2. peNNalla peNNalla oodha poo – Kezhavan Uzhavan
Slow song, but a lovely one with brilliant lyrics. This is one song which I felt was too short. Yeh dil maange more. I don’t know why I like this song. Whether it is for SPB, or for the lyrics or for the catchy interludes. Good one.
3. Sakiye – Anthimantharai
I have never seen this movie. But I would recommend this album for anyone who loves melodies. I do like ‘oru naaL oru pozhudhu’ but the way Unni Krishnan has sung this song is very nice. The song starts like Unnikrishnan whispering ‘sakiye nee dhaan thuNaiye vizhi mael amarndha imaiye’. And slowly the tempo picks up with Mridangam. There is one portion where all instruments stop playing, except for Mridangam. And slowly the flute sneaks in. Aaaha. Why doesn’t Unnikrishnan sing for Rahman anymore? 
Very refreshing song.
4. Kisna Theme 2 – Kisna
You like Piano? You like Flute? Then this song is a must for you. Its the same tune as that of ‘Hum hain is pal yahan’. I like this more than the Udit Narayan version. Ideal song on a long ride. Wish Rahman conducts a concert in which there are just instrumentals, and no human voice 
5. Rasiya – Mangal Pandey
I am just copy pasting what Baradwaj Rangan wrote whilst reviewing ‘Mangal Pandey’
‘But the album’s standout is undoubtedly Rasiya (Richa Sharma, Bonnie Chakraborty). The opening lines suggest that the singer is writhing in love much like a fish writhing in a net, and there’s not a moment throughout the song that doesn’t suggest this pain-pleasure agony of infatuation. Richa Sharma has one of those Shamshad Begum-type, bass-rich voices that automatically adds a baser instinct to her words. Mora becomes a languorous mmorrrrraaaaa, kaske becomes a spicy kassske, the teasing in the way she enunciates chhaliya, the pleading in rasiya… This isn’t just singing; it’s a vocal performance. (The instrumental arrangements, though elegant, don’t dare cross her path.) In her hands, and in Rahman’s, love doesn’t become a merely generic emotion. It becomes an emotion that crosses the boundaries of genre.‘
6. Sonnalum kaetpadhillai – Kaadhal Virus
Harini Unni Krishnan is one my all time favorite duet combination. Sad that this movie was a disaster. I think the song ‘Hey hey enna aachu’ was one of the first tamil songs to be played on Channel V and MTV frequently. I like the way Harini stresses on the word ‘sonnaaaalum’. Simple interludes and a lovely melody.
7. PorkaLam ange – Thenali
Pathos song. Srinivas comes in pretty late in the song. I love the way they(Gopika poornima and Srinivas) sing together ‘unnai ingu pirigiren unakkuL dhaane vaazhgiren anbil unnai aLakkiren anichai seyalaai aNaikkiren’ and later just Srinivas songs. Another thing to mention is the drum beats all through the song. Lyrics of piRaisoodan are pretty good. Best part of the song according to me is when Srinivas sings ‘PorkaLam illai’ and immediately switches to lower pitch 
8. Aaha Thamizhamma – KangaLaal kaidhu sei
Next to ‘Chinamma Chilakamma’ from Meenaxi, this is the song I love mainly for the interludes and chorus. Booyaka Booyaka shah. Ha ha 
Another song for long ride. Superb beats. A racy number. Whats the instrument that plays between 0.23 and 0.34. Violin? Priya Mani debut song. Is this the first song that Shreya sung for ARR? Another sing where you can forget the lyrics and enjoy it just for the music arrangement.
9. Mehndi Hai Rachnewali – Zubeidaa
Foot tapping number from Zubeidaa. I somehow prefer this song over ‘Dheeme Dheeme’. Of course thats a good song, but I like the konjal in this song. I like the interludes in most of the songs, but this is one of the songs where I enjoy the starting music more than interludes. O hariyali banno!
10. Vennilavin Theril – Duet
I was suffering from Jaundice when this movie audio released. My brother liked Anjali Anjali and En Kaadhale, but this was my favorite. Once upon a time I learnt violin, before the violin master disappeared. Poor guy! I always enjoy songs which has Violin interludes. And luckily this song didn’t have any of the K Balachandar adhigaprasangithanam. The song ends with a lovely flourish of Violin.
11. Khamosh Raat – Thakshak
Roop kumar Rathod at his best. I think I have already mentioned this song in my blog. Its one of my all time favorites. I enjoy it even more now on Bangalore roads, thanks to my car stereo 
Chorus is wonderful in this song too. ‘sa ri sa ri’ part in between 3.50 and 4.20 is enchanting
12. New – Kalaiyil dhinamum – Telugu version
Am sure all would have listened to the Tamil version. But somehow I like the Telugu version of this song. Somehow I get a feeling Telugu version was composed before the Tamil version. Not sure.
13. Sambo Sambo – Pudhiya Mugam
When it comes to Pudhiya Mugam everyone raves about kaNNukku mai azhagu and Netru Illadha maatram. But this song was what that caught my attention initially. There is a personal reason behind it. I was studying 12th that time, and this movie album was released during our vacation time. We went on a picnic, and I had taken this cassette along with me. One of my class mates danced for this song in the bus, and it was hilarious the way she used to mimic ‘Bhakti paadal paadatuma’. We all used to scream ‘Nooooooooooo’. Sigh! Those days! Apart from that reason, I love the song for the way Rahman has used the percussion instruments and the way Shuba drags the song deliberately. Everytime I listen to this song, I feel much better
14. Piya Haji Ali – Fiza
Those days it was very rare to find Rahman sing a full song. I was in Mumbai when this movie released, with my friends from Kashmir, Gujarat and Rajasthan. They were big fans of ARR, and I used to translate the tamil songs to them. For this song it was vice versa, as I didn’t know Hindi then. Pleasant memories, once again.
Any guesses on which Mani Ratnam movie song am talking about? Its not that popular
i think you missed out few good ones in Aah..Aaah.. probably bcoz of S J Surya?!!!
though i have not heard few of your collections, i think this is a commendable job!!
probably, dil se or guru?!!
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Very thoughtful to post a 15/15 on ARR on 15th.. and almost all these numbers are great ones.. thanks for reminding a lot of those fabulous songs…
Prabhu – just came back to say a BIG Thank you..on seeing your post the first song I went and listened was # 7.. just love every nano second of the song…
hi,
good collection.
what about sevvanam song?
i think its beautiful in every way – music, lyrics,the girl voice
Man! Just reading your blog brought back a flood of pleasant memories… i’m going home today and burning these 15 songs on a CD for my car.. Thanks a bunch!!
no.6 and 7 all time favourites of mine.One more is “kaiyil mithakkum kanavaa nee” from Ratchagan.Awesome number.
and yea,thanks to this post,me too downloading a few numbers that i didn’t have
roja??? pudhu veLLai mazhai or kaadhal rojavae???
hey i like azhagae sugama from the maddy *er..paarthaalae paravasam
and velli malarae from jodi i think,not sure of movie
Dei… most of these are songs that we listened to on our roadtrip (1, 7, 10, 11, 12). Illa? , 6 was on the same CD but we didn’t get there. Like some observed here, I will burn some of these 15 in addition to the ones below.
1. Dheemi Dheemi (1947 Earth)
2. Allah Ke Bande (Waisa Bhi Hota Hai)
3. Nahin Saamne Yeh Alag Baat Hai (Taal)
4. Pyar Ye Jaane Kaisa Hai (Rangeela)
5. Only You (Vande Mataram album)
Like you mention, these songs were not the top hits from those albums, but were definitive ones from ARR. The CD could probably a mix of Hindi and Tamil songs.
Infact there are many more songs that if we pause and search that would turn up. At the top of my mind, these are the ones.
oh,forgot this is a guessing game.My guesses would be
1.Kaiyil mithakkum -Ratchagan
2.Uyirum neeye – Pavithra? [ not too sure of t movie.sung by Unnikrishnan]
3.Theendai from En swaasa kaatre.
Vennilavin Therile, not famous??? it is a famous one and one of my favourite
Porkalam ange is also a good one.
Vellai Pookal from Kannathil Muthamittal?
I like the “Nendhikitten” song a lot! Some more of my fav songs appear on your list too
!
Hmm – “putham pudhu bhoomi vendum”?
How abt songs from Indira… Acham Acham Illai was awesome… it has nothing to do with today being independence day.. but that song is really good. And Nila Kaigiradhu and thoda thoda were also good from the same album.
u shd gv some clue P-F? popular or not so popular is so relative!!!
give one more clue other than MR-ARR combo…pls
mayb u cn specify duet or male/female solo?
Wow! Super post!
Some of my fav songs that are not so popular:
Has some wonderful flute interludes
1. Pyaara Sa Gaon from Zubeida – Though this one has a sad tinge to it, I like it more than Mehndi hai Rachnewali
2. My Wish Comes True from Kisna
3. Tu Achcha Lagta Hai from Nayak – Rahman has done a great job in composing this song, having a north Indian folk song feel to it, as a substitute for the Carnatic-based Azhagana Rakshashi in Tamil
4. Sadiyaan from Lakeer
5. Desh Mere from The Legend of Bhagat Singh
I am guessing that it could be from Iruvar… Narumugaiye and pookodiyin… were good ones from that album.
ouch,i didnt read the last few lines properly. have been listing all non-mani movies.
Is the 15th song from Aayutha Ezhuthu ?
Yaakai Thiri (or) Hey goodbye nanba (or) Nenjamellaam ?
Was singing most of the songs as I read them…
Good Collection…
Thought I was the only one who raved about these lesser known gems…
Most of those listed are a must on my play list and constantly hummed…
Gud one!!!
The Maniratnam song is it the Narumugaye from Iruvar?
Don’t know which maniratnam song you are talking about. But Ay Hairathe from GURU is one song that I have listened to millions of times….From your list, I specially like #6, 10 and 14.
>>9. Mehndi Hai Rachnewali – Zubeidaa
I too had neglected this song initially, and was addicted only on Dheeme Dheeeme and Hai Na… After this song was performed in ARR’s Bangalore concert, I took a liking to this song… lov every bit of it!!!! I have even heard it like 50 times continuously in loop!!!
@sankar & anon:
narumugaiyae IS popular!!!!:)
i too made the same mistake and quoted fm roja…:D
Brimming with nostalgia! Nice list.. ella paatum ippo winamp la poattu kettundu irukken.. as for the mani ratnam song.. is it pudhu vellai mazhai? i was just listening to it a while back on the bus, and i really had to check my tears from flowing – it is so beautiful!!!!
er..is the song supposed to be from a non-popular maniratnam movie ?? Does that category exist ???!! then it should be anything other than “Narumugaiye” from iruvar or anything other than “oru deivam thantha poovey” from Kannathil Muthamittaal ..seekram answer sollunga..see i am breaking my own records for number of comments for a single post here.
Ok. Time for some clues
1. It is not a popular song. But I never said the movie is not popular
2. It is a female solo
Thee Thee ? from thiruda thiruda ?
btw: maniratnam Directed or produced ?
Sreekrishnan,
Thee Thee is not popular?? Ofcourse Maniratnam directed.
rubic_cube,
Allah Ke bande from Waise bhi Hota hai-2 is not by ARR.
Prabhu,
Is it one of the 2 songs below?
“Poongoduiyin punnagai” from Iruvar?
“Evano oruvan” from Alaipayuthe?
- Sriram
“sattena nanainthathu nenjam” from kannathil muthamittaal
.
Guess I will make it even more easier. Hindi movie. And one of the commenters has mentioned the movie name
Shauk hai from Guru
Bulls eye!
Ye…for the number of comments I’ve posted, I should have nailed it long back
Thanks for the correction, Cinefan. Allah Ke Bande is not by ARR. In it’s place I would like to include — Des Ki Mitti (Bose – The Forgotten Hero)
Apologies for any hurt!
Also, you should try “kangalil enna eeramo” from Uzhavan. Quite a beautiful song in all aspects, the interludes, the female rendition and especially the SPB rendition.
did u miss out indira [thoda thoda malarndadhu enna] cause it was famous?
i didnt think it was such a big hit as his other songs
but i also think thats one of his best songs ever
Also, “pennalla pennalla” from Uzhavan was a big hit, if I remember correctly!
Few more to ur list…
Kadhal Rojave – Roja
Ratchagan Theme music
Kapaleri poyachu(esp the Sare Jahan se acha in d middle) – Indian
Vellai Pookal – Kannathil muthamittal
Viduthalai – Iruvar
Surprised to see Roja and Kannathil Muthamital dint find a place in ur list…
Nice List. Recently discovered Sakiye and you reminded me of Porkalam. Adding three more:
Sithirai Nilavil(Vandicholai Chinnarasu)
Mujpe toofan(Tehzeeb)
Chodo mori baiyaan(Zubeidaa)
Awwwww! Shauk Hai! Thanks a ton for reminding me about the song! I found out only after watching the movie that I had been cheated out of it on the CD
You left the songs Oh Vennila and Thenrale .. from Kathal Desam .. Not so popular songs which got hidden behind the “Enai kaanavillaye netrodu .. ” , “Musthafa Musthafa” and “Kalloori saalai”
Lukka Chuppi from Rang De Basanti. I like especially good use of tabla in the songs. Final portion where just Lata Mangeshkar, ARR, tabla and flute are in full flow.. such a heaven.
udhaya udhaya from the movie udhaya is also a good one. nice post.
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