Partly Yours, Partly Lost

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Some places stay with you long after life has moved elsewhere. There is something strange about destiny. You just cannot overcome it, but at the same time, you cannot simply do nothing because something is destined to happen. In India, it is not uncommon to have your horoscope charted about a year after birth. Grandparents wait with bated breath to hear how well the stars were aligned, and what remedies might be needed to appease the Gods. So when I was a year old, my grandmother took my birth date and time to Dharmaraja Ghanapadigal, one of the most revered astrologers in Pudukkottai. He apparently told her that I would do reasonably well in studies, travel to multiple countries, and eventually live abroad. Here was an old lady asking about her grandson from a small town. My parents were then living in Gobichettipalayam. This was the eighties, long before economic reforms had changed the country. My grandmother thanked him politely, but quietly wondere...

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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