Notations for Film songs by Rithika Prabakar | And some Aesthetic Views on Music and Cinema.

Kadhalan - Released in 1994, originally a tamil film directed by Shankar. It was a major success. The film won many recognitions and honors, including two South Filmfare Awards, and four National Film Awards. After the success of Gentleman (1993), producer K. T. Kunjumon of A. R. S. Film International decided to collaborate with director S. Shankar for the second time. Shankar narrated the plot of "a young dancer from a normal middle-class household falling in love with a girl from a very influential household". Kunjumon liked the plot and, "to turn this into as grand a film as was possible", he decided to incorporate the cold-war between the then Tamil Nadu chief minister J. Jayalalithaa and the then governor Marri Chenna Reddy into the screenplay.Shankar wanted Prashanth to be the lead actor, but due to other commitments he could not act in the film. Prabhu Deva, who worked as a dancer for Kunjumon's previous ventures, was later finalized by Kunjumon. Shankar

Pudhiya Mannargal released in 1994, has this catchy song 'Onnu rendu moonu' sung by Mano and KS Chitra. Most songs in Pudhiya Mannargal aren’t widely known, despite it being one of A.R. Rahman’s early scores. However, "Onnu Rendu Moonu" is the type of song that can instantly become a favorite on first listen. Interestingly, this song was never picturized or included in the film. Its lyrics suggest a lighthearted boy-girl debate, giving it a playful, harmless charm. A.R. Rahman was relatively new to the Tamil film industry at the time of composing Pudhiya Mannargal. His unique style combined traditional Indian music with contemporary elements, which was groundbreaking. This fusion is evident in "Onnu Rendu Moonu," where he utilized a mix of electronic sounds and classical instrumentation like Strings, mridangam and morsings with interesting melody and rhythm pattern. Here Rahman makes remarkable use of synthesizers, drum machines, and sampled effe

Released in 1994, this was a woman-centric film. The film went on to win two National Film Awards  in Music Category. The music has been described as one of the highlights of the film, contributing significantly to its emotional narrative. A.R. Rahman's composition really elevated the film's storytelling. Mano sang the song Sevvanam along with SPB Pallavi, daughter of the singer SP Balasubramaniam. This song is based on "Mamboove", composed by Rahman for the Malayalam film Yoddha.  Breaking down vocals and music :  "Sevvanam Chinna Pen Soodum" is a soulful, breezy track that exudes a light-hearted, feel-good vibe from start to finish. The song opens with a playful and melodious flute, accompanied by a mouth organ, setting a joyful tone. This is further supported by strings that provide a rhythmic foundation. Mano and SPB pallavi starts singing the pallavi, each one one line, very playful and conversational. Though the song features modern instrum

Kizhakku cheemayile, Released in 1993, The film involves a touching sentimental story between a brother and a sister. Thanu advertised the film using only Bharathiraja, A. R. Rahman, and Vairamuthu in the wall posters on the launch date as they were more popular than the artists. Kizhakku Cheemayile was the first of five films in which Bharathiraja and Rahman worked together. The songs gained Rahman notice for composing folk music, contrary to his reputation for composing westernized music. Aathangara Marame: This is the first song Mano worked with ARR. Mano sung a song in both tamil and telugu versions along with singer Sujatha. Aathangara maramey in Tamil and Idigo Peddapuram songs in Telugu along with Singer Sujatha.  Kizhakku Cheemaiyile is a rural drama that explores family conflicts, loyalty, and love within a small South Indian village setting. The film brought Tamil rural life and its intense emotions to the forefront, and Rahman’s music was integral in elevating it