1. Pallavi Anupallavi - First film. First collaboration. An 'IDEA' that initiated us into the worlds of the now iconic duo.
2. Unaru - The first and only Malayalam film directed by Mani Ratnam. This was the first time the director did a political film. He'd work with Mohanlal once again... in Iruvar
3. Pagal Nilavu - Mani Ratnam's first Tamil film. Who can forget the 'Poo Malaye' composition? Incidentally, this is the first time Mani Ratnam shot standalone songs... The starting of a legacy.
4. Idhaya Kovil - While it may not count much as a standout film, Idhaya Kovil was special for multiple reasons. As always a brilliant album, and for marking the debut of Ilaiyaaaja — the lyricist
5. Mouna Ragam - This album. This movie. Not every film deserves the legendary tag, but again, not every movie is Mouna Ragam.
6. Nayagan - Hollywood has The Godfather. Tamil Cinema has Nayagan. Benchmark for everything that is a gangster movie. And of course, Thenpaandi Cheemayile...
7. Agni Natchathiram - Was Raja Rajadhi Raja Vaali's way of cementing the composer's legacy in Indian cinema? And for a change, Mani Ratnam's film relies heavily on style and pizzazz.
8. Geethanjali - Romance comes in various shapes, sizes, and, in the case of this Telugu film, starring Nagarjuna and Girija, also with an expiry date... Almost...
9. Anjali - A film for kids. Also for the adults. A formula many tried to emulate, with little success in Tamil cinema. A free-spirited album to boot.
10. Thalapathy - Can't you just hear those violin strings and the flute bit from this image? Well, to paraphrase an iconic dialogue from Casablanca... 'We'll always have Thalapathy'
