Even Yuvan Shankar Raja, IllaiyaraajaвЂ™s son, is not averse to using his fatherвЂ™s songs for comic effect. His films likeВ 600028В andSarojaВ feature songs and scores from IlayarajaвЂ™s films. In more recent times, actor Vivek has used songs and dialogues of vintage films to devastating comic effect.ДЇor example, if the famous theme music from the blockbusterВ KarakattankaranВ is used, it is instantly recognised by the audience and shows the master at his best.ДЄce director Venkat Prabhu had chosen IlayarajaвЂ™s music in many of his films to illustrate comic situations. Similarly, RajaвЂ™s music is also used for fun.Д¬omedian NS Krishnan, who was in the field 40-50 years ago, made fun of Carnatic keerthanas. The way we sanctify our gods is not harmed. This is done in such a way that doesnвЂ™t desecrate the gods. As it is a permissive religion, innocent fun is often made of our gods, especially Naradar, who is a serious god in mythology. Some see a close connection between the trend and the way Hinduism is represented in Tamil cinema.

Scores from films likeВ NayaganВ andВ Mudhal MariyadaiВ are often heard and this conveys a simplified emotion to the audience. Whenever a director wants a hero to be shown as a lover of music and romantic, it is IlayarajaвЂ™s songs and BGM he turns to. The music of the master isnвЂ™t straight-jacketed and used for comedy scenes alone. And itвЂ™s clear that the new generation is cheering from the side-lines. It is a sharp reminder that the genius hasnвЂ™t abated in the composer.

It was the 1,000th film to have music by the Isaignani. IlayarajaвЂ™s music forВ Tharai Thappattai, which Bala helmed, won the national award for best background score. In a way, these songs are a reminder of the era gone by when Ilayaraja was the final word for film music in tinsel town. Comedian-turned-hero Santhanam often uses the songs of Ilayaraja when he was all the rage. The juxtaposing of the songs in a new milieu often takes place in the comedy track of a movie. The out-of-context quoting of his songs thus convey their comic potential. Moreover, the new generation with little exposure to the films of the eighties and nineties, quickly grasps the comic intent behind the songs, which are anyways quite familiar. Some see the evergreen qualities of Ilayaraja in this new trend. The song has been used in more than one occasion in recent times. A local politician is comically conveyed to have the qualities that marked VijayakanthвЂ™s character in his critically acclaimedChinnaВ Gounder. In the new wave hitВ Subramaniyapuram, the song is used to provoke laughter. вЂAntha Vanatha PolaвЂ™ is a song of used by directors across the spectrum. His songs have also been remixed for the yuppie crowd.Д«ut do we understand why many filmmakers are parodying his songs in their movies? Is it because of IsaignaniвЂ™s evergreen quality? Or is it because his songs signal humour in quick shorthand what the scene tries to convey? His achievements with solo albums and symphonies have added to his reputation. We have seen the reverence with which Tamil film industry holds the composer. One has only to go to YouTube to see bands come up with their own unique version of their favourite Ilayaraja song.

We know of various film artistes, musicians and upcoming bands paying tribute to the Isaignani. Entire programmes feature only songs of the composer, who has scored the BGM and songs for over 1,000 movies. The maestroвЂ™s numbers do dominate the radio airwaves in the night. All channels are playing his songs,вЂќ they tell me.

Ilayaraja tamil songs