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{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}{{Infobox album
| cover = Annakili (soundtrack).jpg
| name = Annakili
| type = soundtrack
| artist = [[Ilaiyaraaja]]
| released = 1976
| genre = [[Feature film soundtrack]]
| length = 20:45
| language = Tamil
| label = [[Saregama|His Master's Voice]]
| producer = [[Ilaiyaraaja]]
| next_title = [[Paalooti Valartha Kili]]
| next_year = 1976
}}

'''''Annakili''''' is the debut soundtrack album composed by [[Ilaiyaraaja]] to the [[Annakili|1976 film of the same name]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Annakili Tamil EP Vinyl Record by Ilayaraaja |url=https://banumass.com/shop/annakili-tamil-ep-vinyl-record-by-ilayaraaja-record-2/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220927215855/https://banumass.com/shop/annakili-tamil-ep-vinyl-record-by-ilayaraaja-record-2/ |archive-date=27 September 2022 |access-date=19 March 2023 |website=Banumass}}</ref> The film is directed by [[Devaraj–Mohan]] and written by [[Panchu Arunachalam]] from a story by [[R. Selvaraj (screenwriter)|R. Selvaraj]], and stars [[Sivakumar]] and [[Sujatha (actress)|Sujatha]] with [[S. V. Subbaiah]], [[Srikanth (actor, born 1940)|Srikanth]], [[Thengai Srinivasan]] and [[Fatafat Jayalaxmi]] in supporting roles. The soundtrack featured five songs written by the screenwriter Arunachalam and released under the [[Saregama|His Master's Voice]] label.

Prior to his debut, Ilaiyaraaja worked as a technician and instrumentalist for several composers and assisted [[G. K. Venkatesh]], before Arunachalam's interest on a debutant composer. Ilaiyaraaja was eventually suggested by Selvaraj, who had presented all of the tunes before scripting the film which led Arunachalam to develop the screenplay based on the songs he had composed. The soundtrack was considered to be a blend of [[Indian classical music|Indian]] and [[Western classical]] music with the [[Tamil folk culture|Tamil folk]].

Upon release, the soundtrack was appreciated for its composition and the musical styles and genres, which were much different from earlier [[Tamil film music]] and eventually became popular after its release, besides attributing to the film's success. It further established Ilaiyaraaja as a leading composer in the [[Tamil film industry]] who would later work on several films

== Background and development ==
Before his debut as a composer in ''Annakili'', Ilaiyaraaja worked as a [[Session musician|session guitarist]], keyboardist, and organist for film music composers and directors such as [[Salil Chowdhury]] from [[West Bengal]].<ref name="hindu_200511200034">{{Cite web |date=20 November 2005 |title=Looking back: flawless harmony in his music |url=http://www.hindu.com/mag/2005/11/20/stories/2005112000340500.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107163412/http://www.hindu.com/mag/2005/11/20/stories/2005112000340500.htm |archive-date=7 November 2012 |access-date=15 November 2006 |website=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref><ref name="thehindu_3752336">{{cite news |last1=Mujumdar |first1=Neha |date=11 August 2012 |title=One of a kind |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/one-of-a-kind/article3752336.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160117184421/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/one-of-a-kind/article3752336.ece |archive-date=17 January 2016 |access-date=11 August 2012 |work=The Hindu}}</ref> After being referred by [[Master Dhanraj]], he assisted [[Kannada]] film composer [[G. K. Venkatesh]] during the early-1970s, who helped him to [[Orchestration|orchestrate]] melodic outlines developed by Venkatesh and learned composing under his guidance.<ref name="dhanraj">{{cite news |date=8 August 2008 |title=Humorist springs a surprise |url=http://www.hindu.com/fr/2008/08/08/stories/2008080850910200.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120509031325/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2008/08/08/stories/2008080850910200.htm |archive-date=9 May 2012 |work=[[The Hindu]] |location=Chennai, India}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Srinivasan |first=Sudhir |date=31 May 2019 |title=Ilaiyaraaja: The beauty of success is when you don't see it coming |url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/stories/interviews/2019/may/31/ilaiyaraaja-the-beauty-of-success-is-when-you-dont-see-it-coming-11936.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210226094001/https://www.cinemaexpress.com/stories/interviews/2019/may/31/ilaiyaraaja-the-beauty-of-success-is-when-you-dont-see-it-coming-11936.html |archive-date=26 February 2021 |access-date=31 January 2024 |website=[[Cinema Express]] |language=en}}</ref> He eventually wrote and composed background music for [[Muslims|Muslim]] devotional songs rendered by Nagore E. M. Haniffa.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kolappan |first=B. |date=4 June 2017 |title=Before Ilaiyaraaja's Annakili took wing |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/before-ilaiyaraajas-annakili-took-wing/article18719418.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112034725/https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/before-ilaiyaraajas-annakili-took-wing/article18719418.ece |archive-date=12 November 2020 |access-date=31 January 2024 |work=[[The Hindu]] |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

At that point, when Arunachalam wanted a debutant composer who could provide new kind of music, it was Selvaraj who suggested Raaja's name.<ref name="vik">{{Cite web |last=அருணாசலம் |first=பஞ்சு |date=9 June 2016 |title=திரைத்தொண்டர் - 11 |url=https://cinema.vikatan.com/kollywood/120057-thiraiththondar-panchu-arunachalam |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230319153126/https://cinema.vikatan.com/kollywood/120057-thiraiththondar-panchu-arunachalam |archive-date=19 March 2023 |access-date=19 March 2023 |website=[[Ananda Vikatan]] |language=ta}}</ref> Arunachalam added "Ilaiya" ({{Translation|younger}}) as prefix in his name Raaja and he named as "Ilaiyaraaja" to differentiate from the already established composer [[A. M. Rajah]].<ref name="vik" /> During a meeting with Ilaiyaraaja, Arunachalam asked if he had composed any songs for the film, he casually sang a bunch of songs, one of them was "Annakili Unnai Theduthe" and "Machanai Paartheengala" using [[harmonium]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rangan |first=Baradwaj |author-link=Baradwaj Rangan |date=16 August 2018 |title=Southern Lights: The Man Who Made (And Named) Ilayaraja |url=https://www.filmcompanion.in/opinion/tamil-opinion/southern-lights-the-man-who-made-and-named-ilayaraja/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220927142643/https://www.filmcompanion.in/opinion/tamil-opinion/southern-lights-the-man-who-made-and-named-ilayaraja/ |archive-date=27 September 2022 |access-date=11 December 2023 |website=[[Film Companion]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-05-14 |title=44 years of Ilayaraja: Composer's debut album Annakili trends! |url=https://www.moviecrow.com/News/26372/44-years-of-ilayaraja-composers-debut-album-annakili-trends |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200519160113/https://www.moviecrow.com/News/26372/44-years-of-ilayaraja-composers-debut-album-annakili-trends |archive-date=2020-05-19 |access-date=2024-01-31 |website=Moviecrow}}</ref> Arunachalam eventually wrote the film's screenplay based on the film's songs.<ref name="vik" />

== Production ==
Ilaiyaraaja applied the techniques of modern popular film music orchestration to Tamil folk poetry and folk song melodies, which created a fusion of Western and Tamil idioms.{{Sfn|Greene|2001|pages=171–172}} According to historian [[S. Theodore Baskaran]], the compositions were "a blend of Indian classical music, Western classical music and folk music of the Tamils".{{Sfn|Baskaran|1996|p=147}}

The song "Machanai Paartheengala" was originally composed and sung at a marriage by Ilaiyaraaja and his orchestra even before the film's release.<ref name="RandorGuy2">{{Cite news |last=Guy |first=Randor |author-link=Randor Guy |date=11 June 2016 |title=Annakili (1976) |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/Annakili-1976/article14416628.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201012040152/https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/Annakili-1976/article14416628.ece |archive-date=12 October 2020 |access-date=17 September 2020 |work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref>{{Sfn|Dhananjayan|2014|page=237}} In an event Ilayaraja told that he was inspired from the classical guitar piece [[Romance (guitar piece)| Romance d'Amour]] to compose the music for "Machanai Paartheengala" and converted that tune into a folk song.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwaAiqPgbKI |title=How I Composed My First Song! {{!}} Ilaiyaraaja's Truly Live in Concert - Chennai {{!}} Mercuri Foundation |date=2024-08-20 |last=Mercuri Live |access-date=2024-11-11 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/MwaAiqPgbKI |archive-date=11 November 2024 |via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> The song "Sonthamillai Banthamillai" is based on Nadanamakriya raga.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kolappan |first=B. |date=25 December 2012 |title=In tune with nativity and modernity |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/in-tune-with-nativity-and-modernity/article4236799.ece |url-status=live |access-date=17 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150524073529/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/in-tune-with-nativity-and-modernity/article4236799.ece |archive-date=24 May 2015}}</ref> Arunachalam revealed he wrote lyrics for the song "Sondhamillai" even before its tune was composed while lyrics for songs "Machanai", "Annakili Unnai" and "Suttha Samba" were written after its tunes were composed.<ref name="vik" /> The song "Sonthamillai Banthamillai" was deleted during the first release of the film; however after fans demanded the song it was later again added into the film.<ref name="hi2">{{Cite web |last=சிவகுமார் |author-link=Sivakumar |date=16 April 2021 |title=திரைப்படச்சோலை 23: அன்னக்கிளி |url=https://www.hindutamil.in/news/blogs/659588-thiraippada-solai.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210504085320/https://www.hindutamil.in/news/blogs/659588-thiraippada-solai.html |archive-date=4 May 2021 |access-date=4 March 2023 |website=[[Hindu Tamil Thisai]] |language=ta}}</ref><ref name="mm2">{{Cite web |date=28 April 2016 |title=இளையராஜா இசை அமைத்த முதல் படம் அன்னக்கிளி மாபெரும் வெற்றி |url=https://www.maalaimalar.com/cinema/cinehistory/2016/04/28230136/1008960/Cine-history-Ilayaraja-musical-compositions-first.vpf?infinitescroll=1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230319153054/https://www.maalaimalar.com/cinema/cinehistory/2016/04/28230136/1008960/Cine-history-Ilayaraja-musical-compositions-first.vpf?infinitescroll=1 |archive-date=19 March 2023 |access-date=19 March 2023 |website=[[Maalai Malar]] |language=ta}}</ref>

When the song "Annakili Unnai" was being recorded, during the first take the studio faced a power cut though it was recorded in second take but the song was not recorded clearly as the recorder's assistant forgot to plug in the switch but it was improvised in the third take.<ref name="recording">{{Cite web |last=அருணாசலம் |first=பஞ்சு |date=16 June 2016 |title=திரைத்தொண்டர் - 12 |url=https://cinema.vikatan.com/kollywood/120266-thiraiththondar-panchu-arunachalam |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230319153113/https://cinema.vikatan.com/kollywood/120266-thiraiththondar-panchu-arunachalam |archive-date=19 March 2023 |access-date=19 March 2023 |website=[[Ananda Vikatan]] |language=ta}}</ref> Initially, Ilaiyaraaja wanted [[S. P. Balasubrahmanyam]] to sing the title track, but as Balasubrahmanyam was unwell during that time, he then approached [[T. M. Soundararajan]] to perform the sad version of the song.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Subramanian |first=Lakshmi |date=2020-09-26 |title=Melodic acquaintance: The SPB-Ilaiyaraaja bond that ruled Kollywood for five decades |url=https://www.theweek.in/news/entertainment/2020/09/26/melodic-acquaintance-the-spb-ilaiyaraaja-bond-that-ruled-kollywood-for-five-decades.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240131105516/https://www.theweek.in/news/entertainment/2020/09/26/melodic-acquaintance-the-spb-ilaiyaraaja-bond-that-ruled-kollywood-for-five-decades.html/ |archive-date=2024-01-31 |access-date=2024-01-31 |website=[[The Week (Indian magazine)|The Week]] |language=en}}</ref>

== Track listing ==
{{Track listing
| headline =
| extra_column = Singer(s)
| title1 = Adi Raakayi
| extra1 = [[S. Janaki]]
| length1 = 4:11
| title2 = Annakili
| note2 = happy
| extra2 = S. Janaki
| length2 = 4:49
| title3 = Annakili
| note3 = sad
| extra3 = [[T. M. Soundararajan]]
| length3 = 3:17
| title4 = Machaana Pathingala
| extra4 = S. Janaki
| length4 = 4:26
| title5 = Sontham Illai
| extra5 = [[P. Susheela]]
| length5 = 4:02
| total_length = 20:45
}}

== Reception ==
According to Baskaran, the songs were "authentically folksy and it changed the way the film music was composed".{{Sfn|Baskaran|1996|p=147}} [[Randor Guy]], writing for ''[[The Hindu]]'' called Ilaiyaraaja's music as a "major highlight" and described "Machaana Pathingala" as an "evergreen melody".<ref name="RandorGuy2" /> Nandhu Sundaram of ''[[The News Minute]]'' attributed Ilaiyaraaja's music being much different from [[M. S. Viswanathan]]'s works with "the harmonics, the beats and the lyricism are all radically different" and "just like the folksy tunes, it is the background score that makes ''Annakili'' a really great watch."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sundaram |first=Nandhu |date=2019-05-11 |title=43 years of 'Annakili': Devaraj-Mohan's film is still a riveting watch |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/flix/43-years-annakili-devaraj-mohan-s-film-still-riveting-watch-101638 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231101084603/https://www.thenewsminute.com/flix/43-years-annakili-devaraj-mohan-s-film-still-riveting-watch-101638 |archive-date=2023-11-01 |access-date=2024-01-31 |website=The News Minute |language=en}}</ref>

== Impact ==
The soundtrack was critically acclaimed and its success and popularity, established Ilaiyaraaja as a leading composer in Tamil cinema.<ref>{{Cite web |date=10 September 2018 |title=An Artiste of the Millennium: Ilaiyaraaja at 75 |url=https://thewire.in/the-arts/an-artiste-of-the-millennium-ilaiyaraaja-at-75 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201102053336/https://thewire.in/the-arts/an-artiste-of-the-millennium-ilaiyaraaja-at-75 |archive-date=2 November 2020 |access-date=31 January 2024 |website=[[The Wire (India)|The Wire]]}}</ref> The soundscapes, composition, orchestration and instrumentation were praised by critics attributed it being much different from earlier Tamil films, and also attributed that Ilaiyaraaja had revolutionized Tamil film music by providing wide range of genres and musical styles.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Yamunan |first=Sruthisagar |date=2019-03-10 |title=Ilaiyaraaja: His preludes and interludes changed the way we listened to Tamil film music |url=https://scroll.in/reel/914398/ilaiyaraaja-at-75-his-preludes-and-interludes-changed-the-way-we-listened-to-tamil-film-music |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200907110307/https://scroll.in/reel/914398/ilaiyaraaja-at-75-his-preludes-and-interludes-changed-the-way-we-listened-to-tamil-film-music |archive-date=2020-09-07 |access-date=2024-01-31 |website=Scroll.in |language=en-US}}</ref> During the film's 100th day of theatrical run, audience applauded to Ilaiyaraaja's name in the title card, and danced to the song "Machaana Pathingala".<ref name="hi2"/><ref name="mm2"/> Trade analysts described that the songs were instrumental in the film's success, besides the story and screenplay.<ref>{{Cite web |last=யுவராஜ் |first=லாவண்யா |date=2023-05-13 |title=47 years of Ilaiyaraaja: 'அன்னக்கிளி' கொடுத்த அன்பு பரிசு இளையராஜா.. தமிழ் சினிமா வரலாற்றில் இசையின் அளவுகோல்..! |url=https://tamil.abplive.com/entertainment/ilaiyaraaja-debut-film-annakili-was-released-on-this-date-giving-tamil-cinema-47-years-of-ilaiyaraaja-with-mesmerizing-music-117447 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230521121639/https://tamil.abplive.com/entertainment/ilaiyaraaja-debut-film-annakili-was-released-on-this-date-giving-tamil-cinema-47-years-of-ilaiyaraaja-with-mesmerizing-music-117447 |archive-date=2023-05-21 |access-date=2024-01-31 |website=[[ABP Live|ABP Live Tamil]] |language=ta}}</ref> Since then, ''Annakili'' has been regarded as one of Ilaiyaraaja's best works in his career, with ''[[News18]]'' called "Machaana Pathingala" as one of the "best songs to date".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-10-31 |title=Machana Pathingala to Ore Naal Unai Naan, Best Compositions of Legendary Ilayaraja |url=https://www.news18.com/news/movies/machana-pathingala-to-ore-naal-unai-naan-best-compositions-of-legendary-ilayaraja-6279265.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221106133301/https://www.news18.com/news/movies/machana-pathingala-to-ore-naal-unai-naan-best-compositions-of-legendary-ilayaraja-6279265.html |archive-date=2022-11-06 |access-date=2024-01-31 |website=News18 |language=en}}</ref>

In an interview to Srinivasa Ramanujam of ''The Hindu'' during 2018, Ilaiyaraaja recalled that he used to go for walks on the Santhome Beach, and used to hear the radio announcement of the airplay of the film's songs in his neighbour's house, where "the person inside used to shout, 'Annakili varudhu' (They're playing ''Annakili'' songs) to his neighbour. By the time I walked to the end of the street, radios in every house would be playing the same song. It was a wonderful experience."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ramanujam |first=Srinivasa |date=2018-05-31 |title=The Ilayaraaja interview: the maestro narrates how his songs inspired the story of Vaidehi Kaathirunthaal |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/tamil-film-composer-ilayaraaja-interview-on-his-75th-birthday/article59851815.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220926210416/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/tamil-film-composer-ilayaraaja-interview-on-his-75th-birthday/article59851815.ece |archive-date=2022-09-26 |access-date=2024-01-31 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> Critic Sujatha Narayanan attributed the success of "Machaana Pathingala" which led to the emergence of [[dappankuthu]] numbers in films during the 1980s; she felt the song was "rustic" in the beat and lyrics, yet "melodious" in the tune.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Narayanan |first=Sujatha |date=2022-04-07 |title=What makes a song memorable? |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/music/what-makes-a-song-memorable/article65299290.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220421210709/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/music/what-makes-a-song-memorable/article65299290.ece |archive-date=2022-04-21 |access-date=2024-01-31 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

15th May 2025, 51st year of celebration of Ilayaraja was felicitated in Biz over Breakfast - WBC club and shared the nostalgia memories of 14th May 1976 - 2025 by Ravi Nagarajan.

== Popular culture ==
The violin portions of the title song were used by [[K (composer)|K]] for the "Bar Anthem" in ''[[Mugamoodi]]'' (2012).<ref>{{Cite news |date=29 July 2012 |title=Mugamoodi |url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-cinemaplus/mugamoodi/article3697982.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220328073646/https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-cinemaplus/mugamoodi/article3697982.ece |archive-date=28 March 2022 |access-date=17 September 2020 |work=[[The Hindu]] |language=en-IN}}</ref> The song "Machaana Pathingala" was parodied in ''[[Japanil Kalyanaraman]]'' (1985), in a comedy subplot featuring [[Goundamani]] and [[Kovai Sarala]], as they were lost during a visit to [[Japan]].<ref>{{cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znbj_m7nWGw |title=Japanil Kalyana Raman Comedy Scenes |date=2021-05-12 |type=Motion picture |language=en |time=14:56 |access-date=2024-01-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210522135800/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znbj_m7nWGw |archive-date=2021-05-22 |via=YouTube}}</ref> It was featured in [[Padikkadavan (2009 film)|''Padikkadavan'']] (2009), in a sequence where Rocky's ([[Dhanush]]) parents go to their native town to get him engaged to his niece Thirukkani ([[Aarthi (actress)|Aarthi]]);<ref>{{cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNwzagrPmeY |title=''Padikkadavan'' Comedy Scenes 1 |language=en |publisher=[[Saina Play]] |access-date=2024-01-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210625213533/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNwzagrPmeY |archive-date=2021-06-25 |via=YouTube}}</ref> the song "Adi Rakkayi" was played in another sequence during Rocky and Assault Arumugam's ([[Vivek (actor)|Vivek]]) visit to Thoravi, a fictional town in [[Andhra Pradesh]].<ref>{{cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7379l36bZRI |title=''Padikkadavan'' Comedy Scenes 5 |language=en |publisher=[[Saina Play]] |access-date=2024-01-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230405140206/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7379l36bZRI |archive-date=2023-04-05 |via=YouTube}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== Bibliography ==
*{{Cite book |last=Baskaran |first=S. Theodore |title=The Eye of the Serpent: An Introduction to Tamil Cinema |publisher=East West Books |year=1996 |location=Chennai |oclc=243920437 |author-link=S. Theodore Baskaran}}
*{{Cite book |last=Dhananjayan |first=G. |title=Pride of Tamil Cinema: 1931–2013 |title-link=Pride of Tamil Cinema |publisher=Blue Ocean Publishers |year=2014 |oclc=898765509 |author-link=G. Dhananjayan}}
*{{Cite journal |last=Greene |first=P. D. |year=2001 |title=Authoring the Folk: the crafting of a rural popular music in south India |journal=Journal of Intercultural Studies |edition=2nd |volume=22 |issue=2 |pages=161–172 |doi=10.1080/07256860120069585 |s2cid=143604516}}
{{Ilaiyaraaja}}
{{authority control}}
[[Category:1976 debut albums]]
[[Category:1976 soundtrack albums]]
[[Category:Ilaiyaraaja soundtracks]]
[[Category:Tamil film soundtracks]]

Annakili (soundtrack) - Revision history

Tollystory: Made first article v1