It is not just romance that is best described by poetry. What about the bond between parents and their children? What about the relationships that can't quite be boxed? Na Muthukumar had the answers

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25 songs that best describe the genius of Na Muthukumar, a dream left unfinished!

Facing an unenviable task of picking 25 songs from the outstanding work of Na Muthukumar, we have designed five categories and listed five remarkable songs in each category. Feel free to add on your favourites to the list

Avinash Ramachandran

Updated:19th Mar, 2020 at 1:15 PM

Is affection ever unconditional? Can we put a price on love, ever? 'Iru Nenjam saerndhu pesida ulagil baashaigal edhuvum thevayillai...' - Aanandha Yaazhai

Who's a parent? Does just giving birth qualify someone to be one? 'Karuvarai Illai Endrabothum Sumanthida Thoanuthey Vizhiyoram Eeram Vanthu Kudai Kaetkuthey.' - Aariro Aaraariro

What made Na Muthukumar write such lines? Was he a better son or a father? Which felt more like home? 'Mannil vandha naan un nagal allava... Kaayangal kanda pinbe unnai kanden' - Dheivangal Ellam

Haven't we all been confused in love? Weren't we undecided on crossing the thresholds of friendship? 'Idhu kaadhal illai, idhu kaamam illai, indha uravukku ulagathil peyar illai' - Nenjodu

Matha pitha guru dheivam. He wrote about parents, would he leave the teachers unattended? 'Nigazhkaalam nadhi pola mella nagarnthu poguthe Nadhi paayalaam Ninaivil ulla kaatchchi paayumaa' -Para Para

A very deep thinker, Na Muthukumar used his words to paint pictures, and at times, teach life lessons. What is beauty? What is strength? What is loss? What is survival? Na Muthukumar philosophies

Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder. What if the beholder was a 10 year-old? Won't the child see the world differently? 'Nanmaikku sollidum poigalum azhagu unmai adhuthaan meiyaai azhagu' -Azhage

Where do we get our strength from? What if everything is against us? 'Manam nonthu norugaamal Ada sithan pirapathum illai Vaazhndhaai theeyin madiyil Serndhaai theertha karayil' - Or Aayiram

What if you can never catch a break? What happens when you realise no one is indispensable? 'Ethanai kodi kanneer mann meedhu vizhundhirkum, athanai kandapinbum bhoomi ingu poo pookum' - Oru Naalil

How do we understand co-existence? Has mankind forgotten how to live as one with nature? 'Kaatrodu vilaiyaada oonjal engae seigiraai, kadan vaangi sirikkindra maanudan nenjai koigiraai' - Pullinangal

Is a mistake forgiven when we repent for it or when the apology is accepted? What if both don't overlap? 'Dheivam vaazhvadhu engae, Thavarugalai unarum Manidhan nenjil…' - Vaanam

Writing those massy glorifying numbers for HEROES is no mean achievement. Be it a fun-filled character or a message-spewing messiah, he never shied away from those unbridled crowd-pleasing lyrics

Even in a film that glorifies captialism, he made Superstar sing paeans about living in villages 'Verum Thanni Ketta Moru Tharum Nesam Vellanthi Manithargal Vaasam Mannu Engum Veesum' - Baleilakka

For an actor to become a star, it is not enough to do dance, act, and fight. You need to have a song that reaches masses. Singamna Seerum Da Siruthaina Paayum Da Ennoda Balamellaam V -Koduva Meesa

How do you convert an already hit number and make it your own? How do you ensure a mass number becomes an anthem? 'Seeri Adicha Ah Ghilli Parakkum Naan Seeri Adicha Vinne Polakkum' - Soora Thenga

The relevance of certain songs never wanes. And such a number was missed in Saamy 2 'Oothukuli venna da, Tiruchenduru vellam da Chennaiyila enna da, Thanni konjam kooda illa da' Thirunelveli Alwa da

Did the need to be politically correct exist in the early noughties? Will such a song pass social media muster now? 'Kaluvura meenula nazhuvura meenu Namooru ponnu therinjuko' - Theradi

Tamil cinema can't function without one thing: Romance. And the true test of a lyricist lies in constructing a make-believe world where everything is sunshine and rainbows

How do you put in words the beauty of a blossomed romance? The familiarity of the intertwining hands? Well... 'Neeyum Naanum Serumunney Nizhal Rendum Ondru Kalakirathey!' - Akkam Pakkam

In a crowd, you see only her, and hope she glimpses at you. The pining of unrequited love. 'Unakenave Kaathirunthaale, Kaal Adiyil Vergal Mulaikkum. Kaadhalil Valiyum Inbam dhaane' - Kadhal Valarthen

Why is it called being head-over-heels in love? Why do we always 'fall' in love? 'Azhagana Vibathil Indru Haiyoo Naan Maatikonden Thappika Vazhigal Irundhum Vendam Endren' - Kanmoodi

When Na Muthukumar channelised his inner Bharathi and wrote about passionate, no-holds-barred love 'Thee Indri Thirium Indri, Thaegangal Erium Endru Indru Thane Naanum Kandu Konden' - Sutrum vizhi

What if a love story comes with an expiry date? You don't find a happy ending always, do you? 'Ambuliyil Nanaindhu Sandhikkira Pozhudhu Anbu Kadhai Pesi Pesi Vidiyudhu Iravu urugudhey' - Urugudhey

Shakespeare once said, “There are two tragedies in life. One is to lose your heart's desire. The other is to gain it.” Na Muthukumar revelled writing for such situations. The beauty in tragedy.

Lives altered. Dreams shattered. Fates going on uncharted territories. All happiness drained. 'Kadavulukkum kavalai undu Engum inbam mattum irukindra idhayamillai' - Kanneer Thuliye

Till death do us part. Do we overcome the loss of a loved one? 'Tholil Saindhu Kadhaigal Pesa Mugamum Illai Inge Mudhal Kanavu Mudiyum Munname Thookkam Kalaindhadhey' - Ninaithu Ninaithu

It is lovely to relive all the memories with a loved one. But what if your S/O doesn't remember you? 'Kalainthalum megham athu meendhum medhakum Adhu pola thaaney undhan kadhal ennakum' - Pogadhey

IS being in love enough? Does the company of your loved one make you forget worries? 'Kallarai Meethuthaan Pootha Pookal Yendrumthaan Vannathu Poochigal paarthiduma' - Unakkena

How do you love someone knowing there is no forever? Does the finality hurt or is the answer comforting? 'Unnalae Pala Gnaabagham, En Munne Vanthaaduthae, Oru Nenjam Thindaduthae' - Venmegam