AlejandroQkj at 15:37, 23 October 2025

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{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}}
{{Short description|1992 soundtrack album to Annaamalai by Deva}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Annaamalai
| type = soundtrack
| artist = [[Deva (composer)|Deva]]
| cover = Annaamalai soundtrack.jpg
| caption = Cassette cover
| released = {{start date|1992|5|8|df=y}}
| genre = [[Soundtrack|Feature film soundtrack]]
| length = {{Duration|m=28|s=43}}
| language = Tamil
| label = [[Lahari Music]]
| producer = [[Deva (composer)|Deva]]
| prev_title = [[Vaigasi Poranthachu]]
| prev_year = 1991
| next_title = [[Surieyan]]
| next_year = 1992
}}

'''''Annaamalai''''' is the [[soundtrack album]], composed by [[Deva (composer)|Deva]] with lyrics by [[Vairamuthu]], for the [[Annaamalai|1992 Tamil film of the same name]], starring [[Rajinikanth]] and directed by [[Suresh Krissna]]. It marks the beginning of a collaboration between Rajinikanth and Deva, replacing [[Ilaiyaraaja]], who was the norm composer for Rajinikanth's films. The soundtrack was released on 8 May 1992,<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6p_9ipxmqq4 |title=Legendary K.Balachander's speech at Annamalai's Audio Launch |date=15 September 2018 |last=Kavithalayaa |author-link=Kavithalayaa Productions |time=2:12 |access-date=12 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221027235209/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6p_9ipxmqq4 |archive-date=27 October 2022 |url-status=live |via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> under [[Lahari Music]] label.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Annamalai (1992) |url=http://www.raaga.com/channels/tamil/moviedetail.asp?mid=T0001968 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120117024856/http://www.raaga.com/channels/tamil/moviedetail.asp?mid=T0001968 |archive-date=17 January 2012 |access-date=8 March 2012 |website=[[Raaga.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Annamalai |url=https://www.jiosaavn.com/album/annamalai/1sm6jY5EXz8_ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190716035202/https://www.jiosaavn.com/album/annamalai/1sm6jY5EXz8_ |archive-date=16 July 2019 |access-date=16 July 2019 |website=[[JioSaavn]]}}</ref>

== Development ==
''Annaamalai'' marked Deva's first collaboration with Rajinikanth. [[K. Balachander]], the film's producer, chose Deva as the composer, due to a misunderstanding with his usual composer [[Ilaiyaraaja]]. Rajinikanth and Krissna were initially worried with the choice of Deva.{{Sfn|Krissna|Rangarajan|2012|pp=29–30}} When Krissna met Deva, he had already composed the title song "Annaamalai Annaamalai" when [[Vasanth]] was the director.{{Sfn|Krissna|Rangarajan|2012|page=30}} The song, which is a duet number, sung by [[S. P. Balasubrahmanyam]] and [[K. S. Chithra]], is set in the [[Carnatic raga]] known as [[Mohanam]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Saravanan |first=T. |date=20 July 2017 |title=Composer Deva: the monarch of Gaana music |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/music/music-composer-deva-talks-about-tweaking-ragas-and-understanding-film-music-in-his-journey-from-composer-to-singer/article19316698.ece |url-status=live |access-date=6 June 2018 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20181030035929/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/music/music-composer-deva-talks-about-tweaking-ragas-and-understanding-film-music-in-his-journey-from-composer-to-singer/article19316698.ece |archive-date=30 October 2018}}</ref>

"Vanthenda Paalkaaran" was inspired by "Neenaarigadayo Ele Manava", a [[Kannada]] poem by G. V. Iyer which Rajinikanth had suggested; the poem talked about cows as deities, useful to humans in many ways. Vairamuthu grasped the core of the poem and embellished it further, adding an element of contrast between the ever-giving cow and selfish humans who only take from other beings. He also inserted a few ingenious words to boost Rajinikanth's image as a "mass hero" of the Tamils, such as "Ennai Vaazha Vaithadhu Tamizh Paalu" (It is the milk of love from you Tamils that has given me life).{{Sfn|Krissna|Rangarajan|2012|pp=31–32}} The song's tune is based on the [[Marathi language|Marathi]] folk song "[[Mi Dolkara Daryacha Raja]]" released in 1969.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Srinivasan |first=Karthik |date=20 November 2018 |title=The Kannada And Marathi Roots Of Rajinikanth's First Hero Introduction Song |url=https://www.filmcompanion.in/features/the-kannada-and-marathi-roots-of-rajinikanths-first-hero-introduction-song |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181120104341/https://www.filmcompanion.in/the-kannada-and-marathi-roots-of-rajinikanths-first-hero-introduction-song/ |archive-date=20 November 2018 |access-date=20 November 2018 |website=[[Film Companion]]}}</ref>

"Kondayil Thazham Poo" was written as a "peppy piece" to differentiate from the "soft and more melodic" title song. Krissna was irked by the lines "Koodaiyil Enna Poo? Khushbu" (What is the name of the flower in your basket? Khushbu) and "Veerathil Mannan Nee, Vetriyil Kannan Nee, Endrumae Raja Nee, Rajini" (You are always a brave and victorious king, oh, Rajini) because of the obvious references to the actors who were not playing themselves, but the rest of the crew liked them, so they were retained.{{sfn|Krissna|Rangarajan|2012|pp=42–43}} Vairamuthu revealed that Rajinikanth wanted his name included in the lyrics after hearing Khushbu's name being uttered.<ref>{{Cite web |date=16 July 2025 |title=குஷ்பூ பேரு வருதே... என் பேரு வருமா? வைரமுத்துவிடம் விளையாட்டாக கேட்ட ரஜினிகாந்த்: இந்த ஹிட் பாட்டு அவருக்குதான்! |url=https://tamil.indianexpress.com/entertainment/vairamuthu-on-annamalai-movie-kondayil-thaazham-poo-song-writing-tamil-news-9502931 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/5ggHX |archive-date=2025-10-23 |access-date=2025-10-23 |website=[[The Indian Express]] |language=ta}}</ref>

After Deva composed the tune for "Oru Pennpura" and recited it to the crew, beginning with a "sober strain" and following it with a "mellifluous faster pace", Vairamuthu hesitated to write the lyrics, despite liking the tune. He said, "It's lovely, but the latter part of the [[Pallavi]] takes off rapidly. I can't spoil the beauty of the tune by filling it up with flippant phrases, and I'll end up doing exactly that if the tune has such short notes". After Krissna and Deva were unsuccessful in convincing Vairamuthu to write the song, Rajinikanth succeeded, and Krissna was impressed with the lyrics Vairamuthu wrote.{{sfn|Krissna|Rangarajan|2012|pp=44–45}} According to Krissna, the story of ''Annaamalai'' is not about how the title character becomes wealthy, but what happens afterwards. To depict how he becomes wealthy, the nearly five-minute song "Vetri Nichayam", which is a montage showing Annaamalai's rise to power over the course of several years, was conceived.{{Sfn|Krissna|Rangarajan|2012|p=|pp=53–54}}<ref name="NoAnnamalaiNoBaashha">{{Cite news |last1=Krissna |first1=Suresh |author-link=Suresh Krissna |last2=Suganth |first2=M. |date=27 June 2017 |title=Without Annamalai, there wouldn't be Baashha |work=[[The Times of India]] |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/without-annamalai-there-wouldnt-be-baashha/articleshow/59322761.cms |url-status=live |access-date=28 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180228223001/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/without-annamalai-there-wouldnt-be-baashha/articleshow/59322761.cms |archive-date=28 February 2018}}</ref>

The film did not originally call for a duet number picturised on Annaamalai and Subbu in their old age. Balachander felt the film was becoming too grim and that a duet number would bring levity to the situation. Though Rajinikanth objected when Krissna suggested this, Balachander convinced Krissna that audiences would not see it as an intrusion; this resulted in the song "Rekkai Katti Parakudhu" being conceived.{{sfn|Krissna|Rangarajan|2012|pp=38–40}} Balachander wanted to compose the song within a day so that shooting of the film being completed. With an orchestra of 40 musicians with 25 violins, Deva composed that song in 20 minutes and finished the recording that afternoon.<ref>{{Cite web |last=பாண்டியராஜன் |first=மா. |date=23 October 2019 |title='' 'வாங்க உட்காருங்க' லாஜிக் சொன்னேன்; 'ரா ரா ராமையா' பாட்டு உருவாச்சு!'' - இசையமைப்பாளர் தேவா |url=https://cinema.vikatan.com/tamil-cinema/an-exclusive-interview-with-music-director-deva |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624201830/https://cinema.vikatan.com/tamil-cinema/an-exclusive-interview-with-music-director-deva |archive-date=24 June 2021 |access-date=2021-06-18 |website=[[Ananda Vikatan]] |language=ta}}</ref> The theme song, which does not appear on the soundtrack and plays during the Super Star graphic title card,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Yamunan |first=Sruthisagar |date=24 June 2018 |title=How Tamil composer Deva rolled out the hits: 'A film song should immediately register with people' |url=https://scroll.in/reel/883765/how-tamil-composer-deva-churned-out-the-hits-a-film-song-should-immediately-register-with-people |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20190906054743/https://scroll.in/reel/883765/how-tamil-composer-deva-churned-out-the-hits-a-film-song-should-immediately-register-with-people |archive-date=6 September 2019 |access-date=6 September 2019 |website=[[Scroll.in]]}}</ref> was inspired by the [[James Bond Theme]].{{Sfn|Krissna|Rangarajan|2012|p=89}}

== Track listing ==
{{Track listing
| headline =
| length3 = 4:41
| extra6 = S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chithra
| title6 = Rekkai Katti Parakudhu
| length5 = 5:13
| extra5 = [[K. J. Yesudas]]
| title5 = Oru Pen Pura
| length4 = 4:14
| extra4 = S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
| title4 = Vetri Nichayam
| extra3 = S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chithra
| extra_column = Singer(s)
| title3 = Kondayil Thaazham Poo
| length2 = 4:58
| extra2 = S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, [[K. S. Chithra]]
| title2 = Annaamalai Annaamalai
| length1 = 5:06
| extra1 = [[S. P. Balasubrahmanyam]]
| title1 = Vanthenda Paalkaran
| total_length =
| length6 = 4:23
}}

== Reception ==
Lalitha Dileep of ''[[The Indian Express]]'' wrote "Lyricist Vairamuthu and music director Deva share the honours in elevating the musical score of the film, with S. P. Balasubramaniam and Chitra adding their mite".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Dileep |first=Lalitha |date=3 July 1992 |title=Soul-mates forever |url=https://news.google.co.in/newspapers?nid=P9oYG7HA76QC&dat=19920703&printsec=frontpage&hl=en |access-date=28 July 2021 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |pages=7 |via=[[Google News Archive]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref> K. Vijiyan of ''[[New Straits Times]]'' criticised three of the songs for slowing the film's pace, but appreciated the background score.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Vijiyan |first=K. |date=11 July 1992 |title=Revenge storyline getting too stale |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=PqRUAAAAIBAJ&sjid=OpADAAAAIBAJ&pg=2717%2C247623 |access-date=28 July 2021 |work=[[New Straits Times]] |pages=13 |via=[[Google News Archive]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
==Legacy==
Deva adapted the song "Oru Penpura" as "Sangathiye" for Kannada film ''[[Kadamba (2004 film)|Kadamba]]'' (2004) also directed by Suresh Krishna. This version was rendered by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam.<ref>{{Cite web |date=24 October 2019 |title="அஜித்தைப் பாட வைக்க முயற்சி செய்தேன்!" |url=https://cinema.vikatan.com/tamil-cinema/exclusive-interview-with-music-director-deva |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210807073910/https://cinema.vikatan.com/tamil-cinema/exclusive-interview-with-music-director-deva |archive-date=7 August 2021 |access-date=16 August 2025 |website=[[Ananda Vikatan]] |language=ta}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Bibliography ==
* {{Cite book |last1=Krissna |first1=Suresh |title=My Days with Baasha: The Rajnikanth Phenomenon |last2=Rangarajan |first2=Malathi |publisher=Westland |year=2012 |isbn=978-93-8162-629-0 |author-link=Suresh Krissna}}

[[Category:1992 soundtrack albums]]
[[Category:Soundtracks by Indian artists]]
[[Category:Tamil film soundtracks]]

Annaamalai (soundtrack) - Revision history

AlejandroQkj at 15:37, 23 October 2025