Music has always been an inevitable and indispensable part of regional films in India. With talents and technology spree like never before, Kollywood is now more self-contained than ever, with a bunch of refreshingly new talents to watch out for. Well, a musical year it has indeed been, with an upsurge of potent musicians, who possess talents so much so that they can be called neighbour's envy, Kollywood's pride!
The year 2006 has been a surprise package. While Yuvan Shankar Raja, Srikanth Deva and D Imman composed music for many films, veterans like A R Rahman and Harris Jayaraj came up with just a couple of films this 2006.
While film music per se retained its usual magical charm with the viewers, few songs climbed the hilt and emerged smash hits. Like for instance, Valameenukum Vilangumeenukum from the film Chithiram Pesudhadi. Gana Ulaganathan, who was hitherto an unfamiliar name despite having sung a number in the film 'Machi' (the song Gummango Gummango) earlier, became a name to reckon with, after this song which became an instant hit with kids and elders alike. This film announced out loud the arrival of music director Sundar C Babu, son of veteran Veena maestro Chittibabu, to Tamil filmdom.
The song Valameenukkum was a simple folksy number, with catchy lyrics and an unsophisticated and yet, fine choreography by Shobi.
As regards the music director who composed for the maximum number of films, it is Imman all the way. He scored the music for over half a dozen films, while Srikanth Deva closely followed him.
Also the year saw Kamal Haasan's Dasavatharam going to floors with music by Bollywood's Himesh Reshmaiayya. Also 2006 saw a craze among the music composers to go for remix songs. Remix, it seems, is the in-thing today.
Devisri Prasad and Mani Sharma, both biggies in Tollywood, have been making their presence felt in Kollywood too. While Devisri Prasad delivered smash hits with songs like Un Parvaiyil and Kozhi Veda Kozhi in Unakkum Enakkum, Mani Sharma signed one of the most awaited movies of the year, Pokiri. It should be noted that Mani Sharma has already given hits to Vijay in the form of Aal thotta bhoopathy and Mellinamae in Shahjahan.
Likewise, Srikanth Deva, the music director who knows only too well the pulse of mass audiences, bagged another much expected film, Aalwar.
Among the lyricists, the year undoubtedly belongs to Na Muthukumar. He not only received an honorary doctorate this year but also penned the lyrics for the maximum number of songs.
There also emerged a fresh bunch of talents in the form of youngsters and this includes Dharan of Parijatham fame and GV Prakash of Veyyil fame. Both the music directors have given smash hits each, the former with Unnai Kandenae and the latter, with Uruguthae maruguthae. Nephew of AR Rahman, Prakash's work in Veyyil has opened new doors of fame for him.
Let's check out the top ten songs this year, in terms of how well they were received:
1. Valamennukum (Gana Ulaganathan) --- Chithiram Pesuthadi
2. Anbae Vaa Munbae Vaa (A R Rahman) ' Sillunu Oru Kathal
3. Partha Muthal Nalae (Harris Jayaraj) -- Vettaiyadu Vilayadu
4. Loosu Pennae (Yuvanshankar Raja ) ---Vallavan
5. Unnai Kandenae (Dharan) -----------Parijatham
6. Un parvaiyil (Devisri Prasad) ----- Unakkum Enakkum Something Something
7. Uruguthae maruguthae (GV Prakash) ---Veyyil
8. Dhinam dhinam Deepavali (AR Rahman) ---------Varalaru
9. Karuva paiya (Pravin Mani) ---- Thoothukudi
10. Adi vaa (Sabesh Murali) ---- Imsai Arasan 23am Pulikesi