Friend Vijay Ramachandran has an interesting observation here on the number of songs composed by A.R. Rahman that start with what is known in Tamil grammar as an adukku thodar — immediate repetition of the same word. This was new to me, in that while I have listened to these songs multiple, in some cases, hundreds of times, I have not observed the pattern.
Given the sheer size of Rahman’s work, one can discern many other patterns. Like how some of his popular songs are centered on a one-word theme, that appears throughout the song (or form the basis either the pallavi or the charaNam).
- Chinna Chinna Aasai (Roja) — aasai
- Kaadhal Rojave (Roja) — gnyaabagam
- Kannukku Mai Azhagu (Pudhiya Mugam) — azhagu
- Poovukkul Olindhirukkum (Jeans) — adhisayam
- Pachchai Kiligal (Indian) — aanandham
- Anjali Anjali (Duet) — anjali. Incidentally, this is a double whammy as it can be classified under both patterns — the keyword is anjali, and the song begins with an adukku thodar.
- Kannum Kannum (Thiruda Thiruda) — artham. Oh, a triple whammy — the name of the movie is also an adukku thodar.
- Anbendra Mazhaiyile (Minsara Kanavu) — thOnrinaanE.
- Break The Rules (Boys) — thappu
- Thenalikku Ellaam Bayam (Thenali) — bayam
Not listed above are favorites like Oorvasi Oorvasi (Kaadhalan), Kuchi Kuchi Raakkamma (Bombay), Madrasai Suththi (May Maadham), Azhage Sugama (Paarthaale Paravasam) and Oru Dheivam Thandha (Kannathil Muthamittaal), and not-so-favorites like No Problem (Love Birds) which can receive half-votes.
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