3 Favorite Kamal Romantic Song Sequences

The last 2 years, I marked Valentine's Day with some special posts. The first year saw a list of my favorite romantic tracks in Tamil movies and last year, I listed my favorite romantic movies in Tamil cinema. Work's been a little too busy for me too compose any such lists today but I didn't want the day to go by without any special posts at all. Since I marked Rajni's birthday with my favorite song sequences, I thought I'd do the same with romantic songs and list my favorite romantic song sequences.

It didn't take long for me to realize that that was way too ambitious. So I decided to come up with some criterion for restricting the list. As far as Tamil cinema goes, the word romance is almost synonymous with Kamalhassan. Considering that I haven't made any other list with Kamal, a list of his songs seemed liked a good place to start. But then even ordering my favorite Kamal songs turned out to be an uphill task. I mean, I couldn't really decide where I would place Sundari Neeyum... or Nee Oru Kaadal Sangeetham... or Poongaatril Un Per Solla... or Endhan Nenjil.... And I hadn't even considered movies from the early 80s yet! But one thing I was sure about was the three songs that would take the top 3 spots on that list. So I finally decided to make things easier for me and simply write about those 3 songs.

3. Valaiyosai Kalakalakalavena... (Sathya)



I've always said this is one non-dance number that has been expertly choreographed. Amala aside, my favorite aspect of the song is the way Kamal-Amala's normal, everyday movements have been picturized perfectly in sync with the music. From Kamal catching the bug to Amala reacting to his tickling to their swaying in the bus, each of their actions is transformed to a dance set to music. Right from that first kiss, Kamal is at his romantic and playful best and Amala looks gorgeous.

2. Enna Satham Indha Neram... (Punnagai Mannan)



Rarely have romance and passion been portrayed so well in Tamil cinema. Kamal and Rekha are lovers who want to experience everything that life offers in the few minutes they have and this adds intensity and urgency to their time together. That is beautifully expressed in this number. Ilaiyaraja surpassed himself in a song that oozes melody and SPB's voice complemented it perfectly. The locations are spectacular.

1. Andhi Mazhai... (Rajapaarvai)



My all-time favorite song, this is one of those rare songs where everything comes together beautifully. Kamal and Madhavi wander around with the kind of wild abandon that comes only from young love and the scenery is bright and colorful. Kamal in particular is fabulous and I still remember how refreshing his natural portrayal of blindness(like the way he looks for Madhavi who is behind him) was after all those performances where blindness meant wide eyes and frequent blinking. The music and tune are glorious and SPB's smooth voice is mellifluous. The lyrics take one's breath away with their imagination (indhiran thottathu mundhiriye), imagery(thanneeril nirkumboadhe verkkindradhu) and wordplay(imaigaLum sumaiyadi iLamayile).