Not so long ago, it was a much awaited combination for both music and film buffs in Southern India who took Tollywood and Kollywood by storm for more than a decade. If one is capable of knitting an excellent story line, the other is competent enough to compose soul-stirring music. Thats what the duo Maniratnam and Ilayaraaja together gifted for us.

And all those Tamil dubbed films which were released in 1980s and 90s were just like native to the Telugus. Speak about Mounaraagam, Nayakudu, Dalapathi and Anjali. These films had all that naive touch be it projecting different hues from the lens eye of Maniratnam or for those background scores, which haunt the audience even today. Their phenomenal output included a unique melodious mix of different elements ranging from folk, Indian classical with western strokes, modern electronic music and every song or a background music was like a full scale symphony.

Maniratnam who brought out the mischevious side of children, innocently asking an elderly man, "Uncle, Pillalu ela pudataaru?" (How are children born?) in the film Anjali was immediately followed by a background bang echoing the cheers of other naughty brigade in that residential apartment, was always a scene to recollect not just because Charuhasan wears a shaded face, but for that agreeable sound scored by Ilayaraaja.

Can anyone forget the background score on violin strings and the pathos song rendered by S Janaki for Aadajanmaku enni sokaalo, where a baby was cuddled in Yellow cloth? Take it from us, you will surely end up with tears in your eyes, everytime you watch this.

It was told that the style of wearing a French plait has become popular among the young girls, only after looking at the sexy dancer, in a gagracholi, without a chunni, of this yesteryears, foot-tapping item number, Chilakamma Chitikeyamma. Maniratnam never ignores the latest trends, his heroines are always in vogue. They may be asked to stand before camera, without make-up, yet they are beautiful. Remember grown up Baby Shalini in Sakhi? What all you have to do is to look from Mani Ratnam's eye!

Anyhow, this 1991 composition Chilakamma Chitikeyamma by Maestro Ilayaraaja and Mani Ratnam continues to remain as the popular song according to BBC Song of the Century Poll!

Why not? The pulsating music suddenly turns classical as slim Sobhana with all her tactics in the eyes tries to catch the glimpse of Rajanikanth, who was dancing in frenzy. Can we ever forget this song and or turndown our music sets as it dont have ear-blaring music.

It is our own Geetanjali now. The dialogue "Lechipodaama" uttered by cute Girija to the cancer patient Nagarjuna raised many eyebrows those days. Remember that teasing background score whenever Girija was caught in the plot of Nagarjuna.

Providing no mention for the song Om Namaha may make this incomplete. It is all about love in the form of passionate kissing. It was classic, artistic and of course enthusing. It was a song in the history of Telugu films, which had all the ingredients in the correct mix, be it romance, lyrics, picturisation and the soothing music.

Each and every reel in the combination of Maniratnam and Ilayaraaja is unique in its own kind. It is all about having good taste, talent and the determination to bring out a beautiful film, which we find them in common.

They have another thing in common too, which may sound surprising. They both may have considerable age gap, but June 2 is a day to mark in our calendars to wish them Happy Birthday. Idlebrain.com wishes them both a happy birthday and a great success ahead.

However, let us request that we are looking forward a film in their combination. Aren't we?

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