Rithik Rahman: adding some pg added tags

2025-12-18T08:16:46Z

adding some pg added tags

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{{Short description|1995 soundtrack album by A. R. Rahman}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2021}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Muthu
| type = soundtrack
| artist = [[A. R. Rahman]]
| cover = Muthu soundtrack.jpg
| border = no
| alt =
| released = {{start date|1995|10|8|df=y}}
| recorded = 1995
| venue = [[Panchathan Record Inn and AM Studios|Panchathan Record Inn]]
| studio =
| genre = [[Soundtrack|Film soundtrack]]
| length =
| language = Tamil
| label = Pyramid<br />Star Music<br />[[Aditya Music]]
| prev_title = [[Rangeela (1995 film)|Rangeela]]
| prev_year = 1995
| next_title = [[Love Birds (1996 film)|Love Birds]]
| next_year = 1995
}}

'''''Muthu''''' is the [[soundtrack album]] composed by [[A. R. Rahman]] for the 1995 [[Tamil language|Tamil]]-language film [[Muthu (film)|of the same name]] starring [[Rajinikanth]] and directed by [[K. S. Ravikumar]]. It is the first film where Rahman, Rajinikanth and Ravikumar worked together.<ref name="25YearsOfMuthu" />{{sfn|Ramachandran|2014|p=163}} The album has six tracks with lyrics by [[Vairamuthu]].<ref name="avdigital" /> The [[Hindi]] version is titled ''Muthu Maharaja'' and had lyrics penned by [[P. K. Mishra]],<ref>{{Cite book |last=Arunachalam |first=Param |title=BollySwar: 1991–2000 |publisher=Mavrix Infotech |isbn=9788193848210 |pages=615}}</ref> whereas the [[Telugu language|Telugu]] version of ''Muthu'' is penned by [[Bhuvana Chandra]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Muthu |url=https://gaana.com/album/muthu-telugu-2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201104183304/https://gaana.com/album/muthu-telugu-2018 |archive-date=4 November 2020 |access-date=4 November 2020 |website=[[Gaana (music streaming service)|Gaana]]}}</ref> Recording of the songs took place at the composer's [[Panchathan Record Inn and AM Studios|Panchathan Record Inn]] studio in [[Chennai]]. The soundtrack was released on 8 October 1995 under the Pyramid label.<ref name="avdigital" /> The Telugu version of the soundtrack was released under [[Aditya Music]], and [[Saregama]] distributed the Hindi soundtrack.

== Development ==
Ravikumar considered "Thillana Thillana" the song "most difficult to crack". It initially had the lyrics, "Tamizh naatu makkal kootam unnodu dhaane, naan mattum thalli nippena" ({{translation|All of Tamil Nadu is with you, would ''I'' stand far away?}}) which Ravikumar disliked. Vairamuthu eventually became irritated and said, "Ennanga neen[g]a, thanana thanana thillana thillana-nu" ({{translation|What man, you are like ''thanana thanana thillana thillana''}}) catching Ravikumar's attention. He realised it was the hook the song needed, so Vairamuthu wrote "Thillana thillana, nee thithikindra meena". The word "meena" was replaced with "thena" at Ravikumar's suggestion since he had previously written "Meena Ponnu" for ''[[Nattamai]]'' (1994).<ref name="25YearsOfMuthu" /> The song [[sampling (music)|sampled]] African humming which had been previously sampled by French group [[Deep Forest]] in "Night Bird".{{sfn|Ramachandran|2014|pp=163–164}}

Rahman composed a tune beginning with the gibberish word "kuluvalilae". When it came to writing lyrics, Vairamuthu could not find a substitute word for kuluvalilae that was equally long but made sense. He and Ravikumar wanted Rahman to change the tune slightly to accommodate a better word but realised it was not possible without disturbing the song. As a result, kuluvalilae was kept. Ravikumar recalled, "I just made it seem as though the song was set in this village called {{sic|Kuluvaele}} and put up a road sign indicating that it was the name of the village and then had the song start with the word".<ref>{{Cite book |last=Mathai |first=Kamini |title=A. R. Rahman: The Musical Storm |title-link=A. R. Rahman: The Musical Storm |publisher=[[Viking Press|Viking]] |year=2009 |isbn=978-0-670-08371-8 |pages=204}}</ref> The background rhythm and beats of "Kuluvalilae" were borrowed from "[[Rescue Me (Fontella Bass song)|Rescue Me]]" by [[Fontella Bass]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=S |first=Karthik |author-link=Karthik Srinivasan |title=A R Rahman [Tamil] |url=https://www.itwofs.com/tamil-arr.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200429101903/http://www.itwofs.com/tamil-arr.html |archive-date=29 April 2020 |access-date=5 November 2020 |website=[[ItwoFS]]}}</ref> The song includes "[[Omanathinkal Kidavo]]", a lullaby composed by [[Irayimman Thampi]].<ref>{{Cite magazine |year=2001 |title=Sruti Box |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QC0qAQAAIAAJ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230116123933/https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/Sruti/QC0qAQAAIAAJ |archive-date=16 January 2023 |access-date=29 April 2021 |magazine=[[Sruti (magazine)|Sruti]] |page=3 |issue=196–207}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2021-08-02 |title=Singer Kalyani Menon passes away aged 80 |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/singer-kalyani-menon-passes-away-aged-80/article35684065.ece |access-date=2024-06-25 |work=[[The Hindu]] |language=en |archive-date=23 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240923032529/https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/singer-kalyani-menon-passes-away-aged-80/article35684065.ece |url-status=live }}</ref>

The concept of "Oruvan Oruvan", a song reflecting philosophies relevant to society through its lyrics,{{sfn|Ramachandran|2014|p=162}} was inspired by "Aandavan Ulagathin Muthalali" from ''[[Thozhilali]]'' (1964). Ravikumar told Vairamuthu what he wanted the lyrics to portray.<ref name="25YearsOfMuthu" /> The song stresses that "God is above all and that greed will be the end of life".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Surendran |first=Anusha |date=5 May 2016 |title=When a Superstar enters |url=https://www.thehindu.com/thread/arts-culture-society/article8560629.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201001022925/https://www.thehindu.com/thread/arts-culture-society/article8560629.ece |archive-date=1 October 2020 |access-date=20 March 2021 |website=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref> [[Paravai Muniyamma]] was originally asked to sing "Kokku Saiva Kokku", but declined,<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 April 2020 |title=ஏ.ஆர்.ரஹ்மானுக்கே நோ சொன்ன பரவை முன்னியம்மா..! இந்த ரகசியம் தெரியுமா உங்களுக்கு.? |trans-title=Paravai Muniyamma said no even to A. R. Rahman..! Did you know this secret? |url=https://www.tamilspark.com/cinema/paravai-muniyamma-say-no-to-ar-rahman-music |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210407082925/https://www.tamilspark.com/cinema/paravai-muniyamma-say-no-to-ar-rahman-music |archive-date=7 April 2021 |access-date=15 April 2021 |website=TamilSpark |language=ta}}</ref> and the song was instead sung by [[Theni Kunjarammal]].<ref name="avdigital" /> It is set in the [[Carnatic raga]] known as [[Kalyani (raga)|Kalyani]]{{sfn|Sundararaman|2007|p=139}} while "Vidukathaiya" is set in [[Chakravakam (raga)|Chakravakam]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mani |first=Charulatha |author-link=Charulatha Mani |date=25 May 2012 |title=A Raga's Journey – Charming Chakravaham |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/a-ragas-journey-charming-chakravaham/article3455687.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170519160810/http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/a-ragas-journey-charming-chakravaham/article3455687.ece |archive-date=19 May 2017 |access-date=16 December 2018 |work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref>{{sfn|Sundararaman|2007|p=168}} Recording of the songs took place at the composer's [[Panchathan Record Inn and AM Studios|Panchathan Record Inn]] studio in [[Chennai]].<ref name="avdigital" />

== Track listing ==
{{Track listing
| headline = Tamil
| length4 = 5:30
| extra7 = [[Mano (singer)|Mano]], [[Sujatha Mohan]], [[Srinivas (singer)|Srinivas]]
| title7 = Thillana Thillana
| length6 = 1:14
| extra6 = Hariharan
| note6 = One Bit
| title6 = Vidukathaiya
| length5 = 3:09
| extra5 =  —
| note5 = [[Instrumental]]
| title5 = Theme Music
| extra4 = S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, [[Theni Kunjarammal]], [[Febi Mani]]
| extra_column = Singer(s)
| title4 = Kokku Saiva Kokku
| length3 = 6:19
| extra3 = [[Hariharan (singer)|Hariharan]]
| title3 = Vidukathaiya
| length2 = 6:13
| extra2 = [[Udit Narayan]], [[K. S. Chithra]], [[Kalyani Menon]], [[G. V. Prakash Kumar]]
| title2 = Kuluvalilae
| length1 = 6:25
| extra1 = [[S. P. Balasubrahmanyam]]
| title1 = Oruvan Oruvan
| length7 = 6:32
}}

{{Track listing
| headline = Hindi
| title4 = Rangeela Rangeela
| extra6 =  —
| note6 = [[Instrumental]]
| title6 = Theme Music
| length5 = 6:19
| extra5 = [[Hariharan (singer)|Hariharan]]
| title5 = Chhod Chala Nirmohi
| length4 = 6:32
| extra4 = [[Mano (singer)|Mano]], [[Sujatha Mohan]]
| length3 = 5:30
| extra_column = Singer(s)
| extra3 = S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, [[Ila Arun]]
| title3 = Koi Samjhade
| length2 = 6:13
| extra2 = [[K. S. Chithra]], [[Udit Narayan]]
| title2 = Phoolwali Ne
| length1 = 6:25
| extra1 = [[S. P. Balasubrahmanyam]]
| title1 = Uparwala Malik Hai
| length6 = 3:09
}}

{{Track listing
| headline = Telugu
| title4 = Visirinada Vidhi Galam
| extra6 =  —
| note6 = [[Instrumental]]
| title6 = Theme Music
| length5 = 6:25
| extra5 = S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
| title5 = Okade Okkadu
| length4 = 6:19
| extra4 = [[Hariharan (singer)|Hariharan]]
| length3 = 5:30
| extra_column = Singer(s)
| extra3 = S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, [[Ila Arun]]
| title3 = Konga Chitti Konga
| length2 = 6:13
| extra2 = [[S. P. Balasubrahmanyam]], [[K. S. Chithra]]
| title2 = Kalagalile Prema
| length1 = 6:32
| extra1 = [[Mano (singer)|Mano]], [[Sujatha Mohan]]
| title1 = Thillana Thillana
| length6 = 3:09
}}

== Release ==
The soundtrack album was released on 8 October 1995 at [[Kalaivanar Arangam]] in [[Chennai|Madras]] (now [[Chennai]]), where Rajinikanth and [[Kamal Haasan]] along with Ravikumar, Rahman and Vairamuthu unveiled the audio cassettes to the public.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdqTR237VbU |title=Muthu Audio launch – Ulaganayagan Kamal Hassan speech {{!}} Rajinikanth {{!}} AR Rahman |date=21 November 2018 |last=Kavithalayaa |author-link=Kavithalayaa Productions |time=0:19 |access-date=25 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220129040414/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdqTR237VbU |archive-date=29 January 2022 |url-status=live |via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> Over {{formatnum:400000}} cassettes of ''Muthu''{{'s}} soundtrack were sold on the release date.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Pillai |first=Sreedhar |date=12–18 November 1995 |title=Setting the Scene |magazine=Sunday |pages=[https://archive.org/details/dli.bengal.10689.20800/page/n881/mode/2up 22]–[https://archive.org/details/dli.bengal.10689.20800/page/n883/mode/2up 23]}}</ref> It was the most popular foreign soundtrack in Japan.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Prasad |first=Ayyappa |date=29 August 2003 |title=Films don't believe in borders |work=[[Screen (magazine)|Screen]] |url=http://www.screenindia.com/old/fullstory.php?content_id=5670 |url-status=dead |access-date=17 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081218060205/http://www.screenindia.com/old/fullstory.php?content_id=5670 |archive-date=18 December 2008}}</ref>{{sfn|Ramachandran|2014|p=20}}

== Reception ==
D. S. Ramanujam of ''[[The Hindu]]'' appreciated the soundtrack, particularly "Thillana Thillana", "Kuluvalilae" and "Kokku Saiva Kokku".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ramanujam |first=D. S. |date=3 November 1995 |title=Cinema: Muthu/Chandralekha/Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge |url=http://www.webpage.com/hindu/951104/03/0326b.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19961222014659/http://www.webpage.com/hindu/951104/03/0326b.html |archive-date=22 December 1996 |access-date=6 July 2023 |work=[[The Hindu]] |pages=26}}</ref> ''[[Ananda Vikatan]]'' praised the song sequences for their vibrancy.{{sfn|Dhananjayan|2011|p=179}} MM of ''[[The Indian Express]]'' wrote that the music, barring "Oruvan Oruvan", "doesn't stand out. The beat of the songs and the way they are picturised do not somehow jel together".<ref>{{Cite web |last=B |first=Jayabhuvaneshwari |date=2025-08-14 |title=50 years of Rajinikanth: What Cinema Express critics thought of superstar's films over the ages |url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/features/2025/Aug/14/50-years-of-rajinikanth-what-cinema-express-critics-thought-of-superstars-films-over-the-ages |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250815111351/https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/features/2025/Aug/14/50-years-of-rajinikanth-what-cinema-express-critics-thought-of-superstars-films-over-the-ages |archive-date=2025-08-15 |access-date=2025-08-16 |website=[[Cinema Express]] |language=en}}</ref>

== Legacy ==
"Thillana Thillana" was adapted by [[Nadeem–Shravan]] into "Deewana Deewana" for the 1996 film, ''[[Jung (1996 film)|Jung]]''.{{sfn|Ramachandran|2014|pp=163–164}} The songs from ''Muthu'' were later retained in its [[Kannada]] remake in 2004, ''[[Sahukara]]'', though [[Rajesh Ramanath]] was credited for its music.<ref>{{Cite news |last=M.L.N |date=23 August 2004 |title=Best of both |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-miscellaneous/tp-others/best-of-both/article28343385.ece |url-status=live |access-date=8 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201104164825/https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-miscellaneous/tp-others/best-of-both/article28343385.ece |archive-date=4 November 2020}}</ref> "Kuluvalilae" was heavily sampled by British singer [[Teejay Arunasalam]] for his 2014 song "Thaen Kudikka".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Latha |date=2021-06-07 |title=Hiyo; Teejay Arunasalam's Funky Fusion Of ‘Haiyo Pathikichu' |url=https://varnam.my/43100/hiyo-teejay-arunasalam-just-released-a-goofy-music-video/ |access-date=2025-11-22 |website=Varnam Malaysia |language=en-US}}</ref>

== References ==
<references>
<ref name="25YearsOfMuthu">{{Cite news |last=Lakshmi |first=V |date=23 October 2020 |title=#25YearsOfMuthu: Rajini sir was confident that Muthu would work: KS Ravikumar |work=[[The Times of India]] |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/25yearsofmuthu-rajini-sir-was-confident-that-muthu-would-work-ks-ravikumar/articleshow/78809083.cms |url-status=live |access-date=26 October 2020 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20201026165525/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/25yearsofmuthu-rajini-sir-was-confident-that-muthu-would-work-ks-ravikumar/articleshow/78809083.cms |archive-date=26 October 2020}}</ref>
<ref name="avdigital">{{Cite web |title=Muthu |url=https://avdigital.in/products/muthu |url-status=live |access-date=5 November 2020 |website=AVDigital |archive-date=5 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201105170935/https://avdigital.in/products/muthu }}</ref>
</references>

== Bibliography ==
* {{Cite book |last=Dhananjayan |first=G. |author-link=G. Dhananjayan |title=The Best of Tamil Cinema, 1931 to 2010: 1977–2010 |publisher=Galatta Media |year=2011 |isbn=978-81-921043-0-0}}
* {{Cite book |last=Ramachandran |first=Naman |title=Rajinikanth: The Definitive Biography |title-link=Rajinikanth: The Definitive Biography |publisher=[[Penguin Books]] |year=2014 |isbn=978-0-14-342111-5 |location=New Delhi |author-link=Naman Ramachandran |orig-date=2012}}
* {{Cite book |last=Sundararaman |title=Raga Chintamani: A Guide to Carnatic Ragas Through Tamil Film Music |publisher=Pichhamal Chintamani |year=2007 |edition=2nd |oclc=295034757 |orig-date=2005}}

{{A. R. Rahman}}

[[Category:1995 soundtrack albums]]
[[Category:A. R. Rahman soundtracks]]
[[Category:Hindi-language albums]]
[[Category:Tamil film soundtracks]]
[[Category:Hindi film soundtracks]]
[[Category:Albums recorded in India]]

Muthu (soundtrack) - Revision history

Rithik Rahman: adding some pg added tags