Top 10 Kollywood composers who are hitting the high note right now
AR Rahman with his dazzling talent to straddle classical and techno, Ilayaraja, who continues to captivate after 40 years, Anirudh, who has the pulse of the young audience, and a string of fresh talent – see who’s shaking up Kollywood’s music scene at the moment.
AR Rahman
He’s won an Oscar and Grammys, scored for Hollywood and travelled the globe with his music. But Tamil movies continue to be a mega showcase for A.R Rahman’s remarkable artistry. Having wowed us most recently with gentle melodies such as ‘Malargal Kaetten’ and ‘Naane Varugiren’ in OK Kanmani , the Mozart of Madras is all set to work again with Mani Ratnam in his next film — said to be a Mammootty starrer – which will have 9 songs. Can’t wait.
Ilayaraja
Forty years of composing and hundreds of songs that still top playlists – that’s Isaignani Ilayaraja for you. He’s composed for the upcoming extravaganza, Rudramadevi, and is busy with some 20-plus films for the rest of 2015. In reality, Ilayaraja can rule the charts without creating anything new ever again. What could even come close to ‘Andhi Mazhai Pozhigiradhu’ and ‘Thenpaandi Cheemayilie’ and a hundred other vintage songs of the maestro?
Anirudh Ravichander
He burst on the scene with ‘Why This Kolaveri…’ , a surprise hit that went on to become viral. Anirudh Ravichander has kept the winning touch, sweeping up Best Music Director Awards and becoming hugely popular with the young audience. He’s formed a successful team with Dhanush – having scored for his Velayilla Pattadhari. The music for Dhanush’s next, Maari, is also by Anirudh and its ‘Don-u Don-u Don-u’ song is already a chart-topper.
Yuvan Shankar Raja
Yuvan burst on the Kollywood music scene with Thullavadho Ilamai in 2001 and continues to rock with his music – a mix of folk, rap and heavy metal – a marked departure from the style of his illustrious father. Yuvan’s best music has been in films such as Nandha, Paruthiveeran and Aaranya Kaandam. His other big project was the super-hit Mankatha. Yuvan is currently working on Taramani, Sipaai, Yatchan and Kaan.
Harris Jayaraj
Harris Jayaraj and Gautam Vasudev Menon have made a super team in the past, and he’s delivered hit music in films like Kaakka Kaakka and Vaaranam Aayiram. Even if the recent Ajith-starrer Yennai Arindhaal didn’t exactly set the box-office on fire, Harris Jayaraj proved that his touch is intact. He’s currently composing for Gethu.
Ghibran
When we heard the music of Vaagai Sooda Vaa, in which M.Ghibran made his debut as composer, we knew that here was a very special talent. Ghibran, for many years a composer of TV jingles who has a strong foundation in Western classical music, has been able to captivate Kollywood audiences with his soulful tunes. He scored for recent films like Amarakaviyam and Uttama Villain and is also the composer for Kamal Haasan’s upcoming films Papanasam – the remake of Drishyam — Thoongavanam and also Viswaroopam 2.
Santhosh Narayanan
Santhosh Narayanan would appear to be the indie filmmaker’s favourite composer. He’s worked on Attakathi, Pizza and Soodhu Kavvum, for which he won Vijay Award for Best Background Score. Other recent projects of his have been Jigarthanda and 36 Vayathinile. What’s more, Santhosh Narayanan will be scoring for Rajinikanth’s next, which is yet untitled.
GV Prakash
Singer-composer G V Prakash seems to have the knack of finding award-winning films and box-office success, or perhaps it’s the other way around. It’s an impressive line-up that he has to his credit, from the National Award-winning Aadukalam to hit films like Madrasa Pattinam, Raja Rani and, most recently, Kaaka Muttai. Sweet melodies are a G.V. Prakash speciality, as the songs in Saivam prove.
D. Imman
D. Imman won over audiences with his haunting music for Kumki, echoing the beauty of its scenic setting. His most recent work was in Romeo and Juliet and the upcoming Rajini Murugan, starring Sivakarthikeyan.
S Thaman
S Thaman started off in a side role in Boys, playing the drums on screen. Since then he’s worked under some of the big names in the South Indian music industry, such as Keeravani and Manisharma. Having branched out on his own after that, he’s scored for big ticket Telugu films like Dookudu. Having created the music for recent Tamil films Vanman and Meaghaman, his next projects include Appa Takkaru and Saahasam.
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