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1999 - The Magician's Spell
by CP

A chartbuster...there just couldn't have a better way to begin the year for "The Magician". Kaathal Nayagara,with its amazing beats, had already captivated the minds of music lovers all over the world. Jumbalakka wasn't far behind either! These two songs were good enough to force people to buy the album. Little did they know that they were in for a
greater treat. Chinna Chinna Mazhai Thuligal arrived, perhaps for the first time in Tamil Nadu in the month of February ! These mazhai thuligal had everybody drenched with its magic. Two more melodious numbers -Theendai and Thirakkaatha Kattukulley completed the list of six smash hits. SPB and Unnikrishnan helped Rahman to shut the mouth of people who were going about saying "ARR doesnt know what melody is". There couldn't have been a better reply from the "Wizard".

Hmm....now that a good beginning had been made, how did Rahman hold on to his status as No.1 Music Director in
TamilNadu?? How else...with another smash hit viz. Jodi. Three contrasting numbers from the album would do more than just summarizing it. Kai Thatti Thatti with its changing tempo was more than good enough to attract listeners. Srinivas' voice was just perfect for the song. Now...you want melody, you've got melody sez ARR with Velli Malare. SPB and melody....synonymous, aren't they? SPB proved just that in this song. And....doesn't ARR mean difference ? Anjathey Jeeva had justified the "difference" between Rahman and other Music Directors. Seergazhi Siva Chidambaram's voice provided a new dimension to the song.

Next on Rahman's list (a success list of course!) was Kaathalar Dhinam. Six unbelievable songs helped Kathir more than anything,to enjoys the success of his venture.I would rather call them six gems,for that matter who wouldnt! Enna Vilai Azhage saw Rahman at his absolute best.The reason why Unni Menon was now becoming more and more popular with the music lovers so evident from this song.Unnikrishnan had something to say too...in Roja Roja,another captivating number,which had this "Floating On Air" effect ! Well.....if you were thinking "What does this Floating On Air effect mean??",it just shows you are one among the unlucky few to have not listened to this song! Oh Maria,a song which had aptly portrayed the theme of the film, had instantly attracted the youth.It saw Devan and Yugendhran attain celebrity status(!) overnight.Dandiya Aatam had the typical "Kummi" style,something which wasn't utilised for SOME period of time.The list continues...with Kadhalenum Thaervu and Nenaichapadi.That is all it took for ARR to create yet another chartbuster!

How big can a year get for music fans? Their ARR was now teaming up, once again, with The Superstar of Tamil Cinema - Rajnikanth,to emulate their success in Muthu. As expected, they did live upto expectations. The music, which had already grown on the fans, grew even more after they saw the film and realised how apt they were for a Rajni film. En Paeru Padaiyappa and Vetri Kodi Kattu were instant attractions for a Superstar fan. Rahman's choice of SPB for the title song suited more than perfectly for Rajnikant. Sriram with his Vetri Kodi Kattu had tied has Vetri Kodi atop Mt.Everest. These were followed by a typical ARR carnatic number - Minsaara Kanna. Srinivas and Nithyashree had done justice to their abilities in aiding the success of the song. Kicku Yeruthaey with all its "Thathuva Varigal" was another feather in Rahman's cap. Finally there was this song - Suthi Suthi, a song which had caught up with the rest a bit later, but without doubt was a "spell" by our beloved "Magician". Finally, Rahman did it again in the BGM department with his exceptional BGMs for Rajni and Ramyakrishnan.

If there is one thing Suresh Krissna can be proud about Sangamam, it wouldn't be his direction. It would rather be the Music Direction of A.R.Rahman for this Thillana Mohanaambaal type film. Rahman sure did live upto the standards which K.V.Mahadevan had set in Thillaana Mohanaambaal,rather exceeded it with his amazing score for this film.Mazhai Thuli Mazhai Thuli had simply an amazing representation of tamil folk music. Mellisai Mannar's rendering for Aalaala Kanda
couldn't have got any better. Next on the list of hits was Maargazhi Thingal,which had great interludes and some even better rendering by S.Janaki.Shankar Mahadevan's Varaaha Nathi Karai,a qawwali type song, was another notable number in this
"Wonder". Sowkiyamaa with its lyrics similar to Nalanthaana added to the value of this album. By now Srinivas and ARR had literally become inseperable as Srinivas, teaming up with Sujatha, sung yet another song for the "Little Maestro", namely Muthal Murai. The score for this film by Rahman was of an entirely different class. A class, which other Music Directors of today can NEVER meet.

Well known, as it is, that a Shankar-Rahman is indefinitely a success story.This year saw one such success Muthalvan. Shankar had openly agreed that Rahman was part and parcel of this success package,appreciating him for his awesome BGM (especially the one in which "the sanskrit verses" are "chanted"). Vasundhra Das was the new kid on the block, as Shakalaka Baby was the first to reach the audience.Those typical ARR beats had made the song an instant hit.Following closely was Muthalvane,which had an absolutely new kind of music....typical ARR-eh ? The interludes of the song were flooded with these "new efforts" of Rahman. But the song which was played over and over again on every tamil television channel was Uppu Karuvaadu. Though it took some time to be digested, it was assimilated well ! Shankar Mahadevan
and Kavita had done an excellent job with this song.People even saw a "new form" of dance develop in this song ! Rahman's choice of SPB and Hariharan for the two melodies in the film, Azhagaana Raakshasiye and Korukku Chiruthavale was a perfect fit.It helped increase the value of these songs. Thus Shankar's faith in our "Genius" continued to grow and it still is.

One last film,a BharathiRaja film,was on the cards. Bharathiraja's "Iniya Tamizh Makkal" couldn't have asked for a better score than what they got. The film,even for the few weeks it lasted, did so only because of Rahman's astonishing score.
In this eleven song album, Chotta Chotta had refreshing music, a new effort by Rahman once again. The other notable numbers include Thirupaachi Aruvaala, Manja Kizhangey and Eechi Elumichi. Rahman had thus ended this golden year of his in a manner in which he began !

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2002 Constellation - A group of ARR fans from TFMPage.com