World Music Day: 19 Tamil movies that has music at its core

Music brings life into movies, holds the audience's hand and takes them to the lives of the mood of characters in the movie. On World Music Day, we give you 19 movies that have music as its core.

Who can forget the epic song 'Nalandhana' from Thillana Mohanambal (1968) where Sivaji Ganesan and Padmini convey love cheekily through their eyes?

In Sindhu Bhairavi (1985), carnatic singer JKB's love for Sindhu is weaved through a mix of Bharathiyar songs and music which is rooted in Tamil. The album is a goldmine for music lovers.

Duet (1994) revolves around two musician brothers (Prabhu, Ramesh Aravind) who fall in love with the same woman. The soundtrack features eight songs, three recitals and three instrumental pieces.

The soundtrack of Sangamam (1999) boasts of prominent singers like S Janaki, Hariharan, Unni Krishnan, Nithyasree Mahadevan, Sujatha and Shankar Mahadevan.

Karakattakaran (1989) starring Ramarajan and Kanaka ran successfully for over a year in theatres. Bonus points if you could sing 'Manguyile Poonguyile' even in your sleep. Such was the song's success.

The song Mannil indha kaadhal which stands tall in Keladi Kanmani's (1990) album, has SP Balasubrahmanyam singing two stanzas seemingly without taking a single breath in between the lines.

If you've not hummed to konji konji song from Rajinikanth's Veera (1994), is your 90s album of Tamil melodies even complete?

Listening to Ada Veettukku and Pachamala Poovu from Kizhakku Vasal (1990) creates a warm, fuzzy feeling in your heart and it is one album that brings the heaven down to earth.

From Kannamoochi yenada to Yengae enathu kavithai, there is song for every mood in Kandukonden Kandukonden (2000).

This Ajith Kumar-starrer features the actor as an aspiring music composer who wants to make it big in the industry. The musical is scored Deva, whose album is inspired from English albums, such as Oh... Nenje (Get Down You're the One for Me) by the Backst

This 1999 Tamil-language romantic comedy musical follows the life of two musicians who closely collaborate, but depart ways after a friction. The song Poove Poove featuring Jyothika has still got a recall value to a lot of 90s kids.

The soundtrack for Thulladha Manamum Thullum (1999) was composed by SA Rajkumar, while lyrics were written by Vairamuthu and Muthu Vijayan. The song Innisai Paadivarum became an anthem for lovers during that time.

Oru Poiyavadhu sol kanne, un playlist-il immortal aga irukiren endru. This song from Jodi (1999) lives long and gets better with every time you listen to it.

Maara (2021) has soundtrack by Ghibran who scored 120/100 when it came to composing songs like Yaar Azhaippadhu, Theeranadhi and Oh azhage. Rain or sun, the album walks you through every climate that

Boys (2003) marked the successful seventh collaboration of Shankar and AR Rahman. Girlfriend, Ale Ale and Maro Maro were instantly successful and the songs were blasting on every speaker and headphone

When words fail, music comes to the rescue. A perfect example is Radha Mohan's Mozhi (2007). Jyotika's performance as a deaf-mute woman was exceptional.

Talk about ripping apart your heart and stitching it back with band-aids. Minsara Kanavu's (1997) album lives, loves and thrives till date.

Music and rhythm are omnipresent. Staying true to the title, Sarvam Thala Mayam (2019) reverberates with extremely feel-good cozy music right from varalama to Sarvam Thala Mayam theme song.

This short in Navarasa (2021) directed by Gautham Menon has some gem-of-a-kind songs. As Thooriga sends you to a high, Guitar Kambi Mele Nindru theme song tugs at your heart strings.