Falling in Love with Indian Music - One Music Director at a Time

From Ilaiyaraaja’s soulful silences to A.R. Rahman’s global melodies, this blog is a personal walk through the music directors who shaped my love for Indian music. Not just songs, but emotions, memories, and phases of life - one composition at a time.

By Uma | Updated on January 23, 2026

I grew up in a house where music was always playing - even when no one was actively listening. Somewhere between school mornings, bus rides, and late-night thoughts, Indian music became more than background noise. It became comfort.

If I had to trace this love, it would start with Ilaiyaraaja.
He doesn’t just compose music - he builds worlds. His songs feel like they understand silence. Tracks like “Ilaya Nila”, “Thenpandi Cheemayile”, and “Mandram Vandha Thendralukku” don’t rush you. They sit with you. Even today, when life feels loud, Ilaiyaraaja’s music feels like home.

Then there’s A.R. Rahman, who made me realise music could be both rooted and global. Rahman’s songs feel like emotions layered over emotions. “Vellai Pookal”, “Roja Roja”, “Pudhu Vellai Mazhai”, “Kun Faya Kun” - each one feels spiritual in its own way. His music taught me that change doesn’t mean losing identity.

M.S. Viswanathan (MSV) feels like warmth. His compositions carry an innocence that today’s world sometimes forgets. Songs like “Avalukkenna” and “Ulagam Pirandhadhu” feel timeless - not old, just eternal. MSV’s music feels like sitting with elders and listening to stories you never want to end.

Vidyasagar is heartbreak wrapped in melody. His songs understood longing before I had words for it. “Malare Mounama”, “Azhagiya Theeye”, “Poovukkul” - they all feel personal, like diary entries you didn’t write but deeply relate to.

Rajkumar (especially in Kannada cinema) showed me how music could be powerful yet simple. His compositions carry strong emotional clarity - songs that feel grounded, honest, and deeply cultural.

Then comes G.V. Prakash, who feels like a bridge between generations. His music grew with me. From “Aadukalam Theme” to “Pirai Thedum” and “Yathe Yathe”, he captured youth, rebellion, heartbreak, and quiet love so effortlessly.

Other composers who shaped my playlists and moods:

• Harris Jayaraj – “Suttrum Vizhi”, “Ennai Konjam” (pure romance)

• Yuvan Shankar Raja – “Kadhal Konden”, “Venmegam” (raw emotions)

• Santhosh Narayanan – “Aval”, “Vada Chennai Theme” (real, rooted, bold)

• Anirudh – “Why This Kolaveri”, “Kanave Kanave” (youth + emotion)

Every music director I love didn’t just give me songs - they gave me phases of life. Some songs remind me who I was. Some remind me who I became.