in an elaborate manner. This might look more like the requisite conditions for a successful marriage, but the process of producing excellent film music seems to require no lesser understanding than is required for a successful marriage.

When a director and a composer are able to read each other’s minds with ease, it results in some great music. By great music, one does not mean only the songs that are made, more importantly it includes the appropriateness of a song to the narration and pace of a movie. Gautham and Harris Jeyaraj have produced super hit music as a combination. Harris has been able to create big hits even with other directors and Gautham might be able to do the same too, we will know soon. But, there is definitely something special about the songs they produce together. More than the musical quality, it is the way in which a song is able to bring out the emotions in minds of a character that is special. It is not always that a song belonging to the ‘kuthu’ genre can convey pathos as effectively as in the ‘Anjala’ number of Vaaranam Aayiram. Or can mental turmoil and anguish be so well expressed in a racy number like ‘Uyirin Uyire’? Both the songs are the choicest of dance numbers amongst youngsters and yet they convey a few dark emotions; a rare hybrid.

It is only very special combinations that are able to consistently produce music that are so heavily laden with emotions without crossing that fine line beyond which the listener gets bogged down with the emotion without being able to enjoy the music. The Mani Rathnam-Rahman combine is a classic example. The ‘Ae Ajnabee’ song from Dil Se (‘Poongaatrile’ from Uyire), ‘Kannalane’ and ‘Uyire’ from Bombay and ‘Kadhal Rojave’ from Roja are fine instances when beautiful music and strong emotions have been equally represented in one composition. The Yuvan-Selvaraghavan combination (sadly no longer together) too has produced some numbers that can be put in the same category; one example being the ‘Kan Pesum Vaarthaigal’ song from 7/G Rainbow Colony. And, how can one forget the earthy feelings that were so beautifully conveyed by the Bharathiraja-Ilayaraja combination.

Combinations that are able to work such magic in music ought not to be wasted for any reason. Rarely do they happen, and we cannot afford to let them go by. So, indeed it is great to hear that there are possibilities of Gautham and Harris coming together again. More than for all the music lovers out there, they are reportedly mulling over a reunion because they genuinely miss working with each other. Working with someone who easily grasps your thoughts and transforms them into action is indeed a pleasure. Let’s hope that they take the right decision soon. We are waiting.