Tamil Film Music and Literature

In the Tamil epic Silapathikaram, Kannagi burnt down the city of Madurai with her anger after her husband Kovalan was wrongly executed by the Pandyan king. Poompukar was Kovalan's first wife Madhavi's city, not where Kannagi directed her wrath. Nellai and Thanjavoor are other major Tamil cities but not the target of her curse.

Kambar titled his Tamil Ramayana 'Ramavatharam'. The term 'avatharam' means incarnation or descent, referring to Vishnu's incarnation as Rama. 'Ramayanam' and 'Ramapuranam' are other names for the epic but not Kambar's specific title. 'Rama ithihasam' is a Sanskrit term meaning 'story of Rama'.

Ooruku Nooru Per (1979) had music composed by M.S. Viswanathan, making it the only film listed here that AR Rahman did not score. Pavithra (1994), Uzhavan (1993), and Anthimanthaarai (1996) are all Rahman compositions from his early career.

Ilaiyaraaja won the National Film Award for Best Music Direction in 1985 for Sindhu Bhairavi, which featured acclaimed songs like 'Paadum Vaanampadi'. While Kadhal Oviyam, Thevar Magan, and Salangai Oli are notable films, they did not earn him the National Award.

Vairamuthu began his lyricist career with 'Pon maalai pozhuthu' from Nizhalgal (1980), composed by Ilaiyaraaja. 'Kanne kalaimaane' from Moondram Pirai is actually by Kannadasan, while 'Poongaatru' and 'Kanukul nooru nilava' came later in his career.

Vazhvey Maayam (1982) featured music composed by Gangai Amaran, Ilaiyaraaja's brother. The film starring Kamal Haasan had popular songs like 'Methuvai Methuvai'. Neither Ilaiyaraaja, M.S. Viswanathan, nor Shankar-Ganesh scored this film.

Yuvan Shankar Raja made his debut as music director with Aravinthan (1999), directed by Aabaavanan. Kalyana Galatta, Velai, and Unakaga Ellaam Unakaga are films by other music directors from the same period.

Mahesh Mahadevan composed music for Nammavar (1994) starring Kamal Haasan but succumbed to cancer in 2002 at age 38. The film's soundtrack was critically acclaimed, particularly the song 'Sorgam Enbathu'. Ranjith, Ganesh, and Vaidhyanathan were not associated with this film.

After Roja (1992), AR Rahman's second Tamil film was Puthiya Mugam (1993) directed by Suresh Menon. Thiruda Thiruda (1993), Pavithra (1994), and Vandi Cholai Sinarasu (1994) came after Puthiya Mugam in his filmography.

Kadhal (2004), directed by Balaji Sakthivel, had music composed by Joshua Sridhar. The soundtrack was highly successful, particularly 'Dhavani Pottu' and 'Kannum Kannum'. G.V. Prakash, Vijay Anthony, and Ranjith were not involved in this cult romance film.

Legendary playback singer P.B. Srinivas lent his voice to the song 'Idhayam Thedum' in Aayirathil Oruvan (2009) composed by G.V. Prakash Kumar. This was special as P.B. Srinivas was returning to Tamil cinema after decades. Balamurali Krishna, M.S. Viswanathan, and T.M. Soundararajan were not featured in this soundtrack.

Kamal Haasan lent his voice for the song 'Ulagam Vitruthalaam' in Ulaasam (1997) with music by Karthik Raja. This wasn't unusual as Kamal Haasan has sung for many films. Ajith Kumar, Vikram, and Joseph Vijay did not contribute vocals to this Karthik Raja soundtrack.