What I Missed While Walking Past the Kanchi Mutt

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A place I passed every day without really understanding it. As a kid growing up in Malleswaram, devotion wasn’t something we discussed — it was just in the air. The smell of agarbathi in the evenings. The noise of vendors lining up on 8th cross before a festival. The quiet expectation that you showed up, bowed your head, and moved on. Ganesh Chaturthi. Varalakshmi Vratam. Deepavali. Janmashtami. Ugadi. The calendar moved, but the pattern stayed. The Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham in Malleswaram was part of my daily route to school. Not something I questioned. Not something I deeply understood. Just… there. Every morning, on my way to school, I would slow down for a second in front of the Mutt. Just enough to bow my head toward Kanchi Kamakshi from outside the gate — and then hurry along before the school bell. It was a ritual for as long as I can remember. I don’t know if it came from devotion. I did it because my parents did it. The street...

My favourites!

I was just listening to some of my all time favourite numbers in Tamil and Hindi. Here goes the list and the songs are not in any order of preference. The time period of these songs is from the late eighties upto the current time.

Tamil
  1. Chinna Chinna Aasai (Album: Roja, Artist: AR Rahman)
  2. Pudhu Vellai Mazhai (Album: Roja, Artist: AR Rahman)
  3. Vellai Pookal (Album: Kannathil Muthamittal, Artist: AR Rahman)
  4. Minnalae (Album: May Madham, Artist: AR Rahman)
  5. Mandram Vandha Thendralukku (Album: Mouna Raagam, Artist: Ilayaraja)
  6. Ninnukori Varanam (Album: Agni Natchathiram, Artist: Ilayaraja)
  7. Endhan Nenjil Neengadha (Album: Kalaignan, Artist: Ilayaraja)
  8. Anbe Sugama (Album: Parthalae Paravasam, Artist: AR Rahman)
  9. Nila Kaigiradhu (Album: Indira, Artist: AR Rahman)
  10. Anbe Sivam (Album: Anbe Sivam, Artist: Vidyasagar)
  11. Chandralekha (Album: Thiruda Thiruda, Artist: AR Rahman)
  12. Ennuyir Thozhi (Album: Kangalal Kaidhu Sei, Artist: AR Rahman)
  13. Bombay Theme Music (Album: Bombay, Artist: AR Rahman)
  14. Vaanam Thottu Pona (Album: Thevar Magan, Artist: Ilayaraja)
  15. Kanmani Anboda Kadalan (Album: Guna, Artist: Ilayaraja)
  16. Raakamma Kaiyya Thattu (Album: Dhalapathy, Artist: Ilayaraja)
  17. Uyiren Uyire (Album: Khaaka Khaaka, Artist: Harris Jeyaraj)
  18. Pulveli Pulveli (Album: Aasai, Artist: Deva)
  19. Malai en vethanai (Album: Sethu, Artist: Ilayaraja)
  20. Oru Nanban Irundhal (Album: Enakku 20 Unakku 18, Artist: AR Rahman)
Hindi
  1. Yeh Jo Des Hai Tera (Album: Swades, Artist: AR Rahman)
  2. Pehla Nasha (Album: Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar, Artist: Jatin Lalit)
  3. Lukka Chuppi (Album: Rang De Basanti, Artist: AR Rahman)
  4. Dil Se (Album: Dil Se, Artist: AR Rahman)
  5. Dil Chahta Hai (Album: Dil Chahta Hai, Artist: Shankar Ehsaan Loy)
  6. Yeh Jo Zindagi Hain (Album: 1947 Earth, Artist: AR Rahman)
  7. Nahin Samne (Album: Taal, Artist: AR Rahman)
  8. Tanha Tanha (Album: Rangeela, Artist: AR Rahman)
  9. Baazigar (Album: Baazigar, Artist: Anu Malik)
  10. Do Dil Mil Rahe Hain (Album: Pardes, Artist: Nadeem Shravan)
  11. Pehli Baar Mile Hain (Album: Saajan, Artist: Nadeem Shravan)
  12. Mujhe Neend na aaye (Album: Dil, Artist: Anand Milind)
  13. Dheere Dheere (Album: Aashiqui, Artist: Nadeem Shravan)
  14. Akele Hain (Album: QSQT, Artist: Anand Milind)
  15. Chaiyya Chaiyya (Album: Dil Se, Artist: AR Rahman)
  16. Kuch Na kaho (Album: 1942 A Love Story, Artist: RD Burman)
Obviously there are a number of other songs that can easily fit into this list. The end to good music is just not there. It is also easy to see from the list that ARR is my favourite.

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