[NeroASERCH]

Annamalai is a the landmark movie of Rajini. It revolutionised the concept, of the 'erangi-kuthu' type intro and a punch transition song. Though he had intros like 'Pothuvaga En Manasu', 'My name is Billa','Aasai Nooruvagai' (quite forgot, was this an intro song?). 'Vandhenda Paalkaran' and 'Vetri Nichayam' were trendsetters for 4 different movies. The songs did create a hype and the movie exceeded all expectations.

Its a joint work by the MD and the director, its upto the MD to live up to that expectations. And in a larger than life Rajini movie I wouldnt look for instruments or anything. These 2 songs (if present) should make me shout 'Thalaivaaaaaa' no matter how silent the theater is Surely Annamalai, Basha and to an extent Arunachalam too did that.

Agreed Deva is an average MD, he copies blah-blah, but he did, he worked out very well, and so my vote for these kind of movies

IR would've done it, but he was'nt experimented under this very same condition. He did do many past movies, but post-Annamalai the expectations totally differed.

ARR made a match in 'Padayappa'. 'Singanadai' and 'Vetrikodi Kattu' echoed all across Tamilnadu. Yes 'Oruvan Oruvan' was good too, but I did'nt feel it was the best of the lot, and 'Dippu Kumari' was the forgettable for 3 reasons: that stuppid humming in the start , SPB did'nt sing, I did'nt like the tune as much as the other intros. 'Sakthi Kodu' was good, but could be called the best of the lot type.

Here I am talking only about the larger than life portrayals. Sure there are other songs, but IMO for such type stories in a Rajini movie, the movie would live up with/for these 2 songs and if one screws up these songs, no matter how good the other songs are, it would be a disappointment. After all whats the fun in going to a such a movie without that.

I'll writeup another sometime later about why I said Ilayaraja otherwise. Till then I leave this post for counter-opinions :P

PS: no strikethrough tag thats what the tag meant in the first few lines.