Nayakan (soundtrack)

1987 soundtrack album by Ilaiyaraaja

Nayakan

Soundtrack album by

Ilaiyaraaja

Released| 1987
Genre| Film soundtrack
Length| 23:37
Language| Tamil
Label| Echo
Producer| Ilaiyaraaja

Nayakan is the soundtrack to the 1987 Tamil-language epic crime drama film of the same name directed by Mani Ratnam, starring Kamal Haasan. The film's musical score is composed by Ilaiyaraaja, whose soundtrack features five songs under the lyrics of Pulamaipithan and Ilaiyaraaja himself. The soundtrack, which was released under the Echo label, became popular after the film's release.[1]

## Development

[edit]

Nayakan is Ilaiyaraaja's sixth collaboration with Mani Ratnam—following Pallavi Anu Pallavi (1983), Unaroo (1984), Pagal Nilavu, Idaya Kovil (both 1985) and Mouna Ragam (1986)—and also his 400th as a composer.[2] Pulamaipithan was hired as the main lyricist, and contributed to all the songs except for "Nila Adhu Vanathumele", which Ilaiyaraaja himself wrote.[3] The songs "Andhi Mazhai Megam" and "Nila Adhu Vanathumele" were set in the Carnatic Natabhairavi and Keeravani ragas,[4][5][6] while "Nee Oru Kaadhal Sangeetham" is in the Hindustani raga Desh.[7][8] The song is featured on both sides of the original LP record as the second track.[3] For the song "Naan Sirithal Deepavali", Ilaiyaraaja collaborated with K. Jamuna Rani and M. S. Rajeswari to perform the song, due to the film's setting in the late-1960s.[9]

The theme song "Thenpandi Cheemayile" plays for most of the film; during the introduction titles, it has the colloquial line "yaar adichaaro" (sung by Ilaiyaraaja), but when it plays later in the film, the line is altered to the more polished "yaar adithaaro" (sung by Haasan). Film critic Baradwaj Rangan asked Ratnam whether this change was an indication to the eventual refinement of Velu. Ratnam said that Ilaiyaraaja's portions were recorded first, and that when they went for recording, they had this rustic version which lacked background music, and was of folk quality. Because the song was going to be repeated throughout the film, they also wanted a more orchestral version, and in this version sung by Haasan, the language became more sophisticated.[10] Though Ratnam liked the original tune Ilaiyaraaja created for "Thenpandi Cheemayile", he felt it did not suit the song's narrative; the original tune was then used for "Nila Adhu Vanathumele".[11]

During the production of this film, Ratnam simultaneously worked Agni Natchathiram (1988) as did Ilaiyaraaja. He recorded string instruments and orchestra for Nayakan during morning hours, and recorded electronic instruments for Agni Natchathiram, as the film featured synth-pop music.[12][13]

## Track listing

[edit]

No.| Title| Lyrics| Singer(s)| Length

|
|
|
|

1.| "Naan Sirithal Deepavali"| Pulamaipithan| K. Jamuna Rani, M. S. Rajeswari| 4:46
2.| "Nila Adhu Vanathumele"| Ilaiyaraaja| Ilaiyaraaja| 5:01
3.| "Andhi Mazhai Megam"| Pulamaipithan| T. L. Maharajan, P. Susheela| 4:46
4.| "Nee Oru Kadhal Sangeetham"| Pulamaipithan| Mano, K. S. Chithra| 4:32
5.| "Thenpandi Cheemayile"| Pulamaipithan| Ilaiyaraaja, Kamal Haasan| 4:32
Total length:| 23:37

## Reception and legacy

[edit]

Ilaiyaraaja's music was acclaimed by critics for using the periodic instruments set in tune with the storyline.[14][15] Writing for India Today, Madhu Jain wrote that "Illayaraaja's innovative music balances the film's obvious excesses".[16] The News Minute-based critic Ananda Kumar R. S. called Nayagan as "one of his [Ilayaraaja's] best works".[9]

All the songs in the film attained popularity, post-release, especially the song "Thenpandi Cheemayile" which had been referenced and parodied by several filmmakers in Tamil, becoming an integral part in the pop-culture.[17] "Nila Adhu" was remixed by D. Imman for the film Ninaivil Nindraval (2014).[18] During the Rock with Raaja concert in March 2022, Dhanush re-created the tune of "Nila Adhu Vanathumele" as a lullaby, altering the lyrics and performed it on stage, dedicating it to his sons Yatra and Linga.[19]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Nayagan (1987)". Raaga.com. Archived from the original on 20 October 2014. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
2. ^ Gnani (9 January 2011). "திருப்புமுனை திரைப்படங்கள்" [Pathbreaking films]. Dinamani (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 29 June 2016. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
3. ^ a b "Nayagan Tamil Film LP VInyl Record by Ilayaraaja". Mossymart. Archived from the original on 20 October 2021. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
4. ^ Sundararaman 2007, p. 124.
5. ^ Sundararaman 2007, p. 148.
6. ^ Lalitha, M. (7 January 2012). "Natabhairavi's Jewish connection". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 9 May 2016. Retrieved 9 May 2016.
7. ^ Sundararaman 2007, p. 147.
8. ^ "The Firstpost Playlist: The Beatles' heartbreak, Ilaiyaraaja's classical strains and Chitra Singh's ghazal". Firstpost. 4 June 2016. Archived from the original on 7 June 2016. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
9. ^ a b R. S., Anand Kumar (21 October 2017). "30 years since 'Nayagan': Why Tamil cinema still looks up to the Mani Ratnam classic". The News Minute. Archived from the original on 26 January 2024. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
10. ^ Rangan 2012, p. 53.
11. ^ "WATCH | Usha Uthup's Bengali rendition of this Ilaiyaraaja classic is going viral". The New Indian Express. 15 October 2021. Archived from the original on 7 November 2021. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
12. ^ Rangan 2012, p. 59.
13. ^ Maderya, Kumuthan (9 February 2023). "Once Upon A Time In Kollywood: Ilaiyaraaja And The Electro-Synth Pop Revolution In Tamil Film Music". Film Companion. Archived from the original on 21 March 2023. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
14. ^ Krishnaswamy, N. (23 October 1987). "Authentic". The Indian Express. p. 5\. Archived from the original on 28 January 2021. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
15. ^ ஜெயமன்மதன் (8 November 1987). "நாயகன்". Kalki (in Tamil). p. 17\. Archived from the original on 30 July 2022. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
16. ^ Jain, Madhu (15 January 1989). "12th International Film Festival: Commercial films dominate Indian Panorama". India Today. Archived from the original on 17 December 2017. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
17. ^ "Top 10 classics of Mani Ratnam & Ilaiyaraaja that won fans' hearts". DT Next. 2 June 2022. Archived from the original on 7 July 2022. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
18. ^ "Double Delight". The Hindu. 11 July 2011. Archived from the original on 25 May 2024. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
19. ^ "Dhanush recreates Ilayaraja's evergreen song as a lullaby for his sons on stage!". IndiaGlitz. 19 March 2022. Archived from the original on 19 March 2022. Retrieved 19 March 2022.

## Further reading

[edit]

* Rangan, Baradwaj (2012). Conversations with Mani Ratnam. India: Penguin Books. ISBN 978-0-670-08520-0.
* Sundararaman (2007) [2005]. Raga Chintamani: A Guide to Carnatic Ragas Through Tamil Film Music (2nd ed.). Pichhamal Chintamani. OCLC 295034757.

*[No.]: Number