Happy Birthday Nagarjuna: 6 tracks from his Tamil films you should listen to

Akkineni Nagarjuna has charmed audiences across multiple languages in a career spanning nearly four decades. He has carved his niche with his story choices time and again. Women of many generations continue to swoon over him, irrespective of his age, no matter how many newbies enter the film industry.

His fandom knows no boundaries, for it continues to extend to the other states of our country, like in Tamil Nadu. Here is a list of songs from Nagarjuna’s Tamil films that you can listen to and soak in the Tamil lyrics of the lilting melodies.

1) Chandiranai Thottathu Yaar

Let us start on an upbeat tune composed by AR Rahman, that features Nagarjuna courting the beautiful Sushmita Sen from Ratchagan. Romantic songs about the moon are commonplace in Indian cinema. With the exceptional lyrics of Vairamuthu and the voices of Hariharan and Sujatha Mohan, Nagarjuna’s presence is the cherry on top here. He effortlessly owns the song where it looks like he is serenading his lady love by promising that he touched the moon first and not Neil Armstrong.

2) Oh Papa Laali

In the lyrics of Vaali and the soulful melody of AR Rahman, Nagarjuna takes the love of his life in his arms and soothingly comforts her like a mother to a child in times of distress. Immersing into the lyrics while watching the actors, the song leaves you teary-eyed. Sung by Mano and composed by Ilayaraaja, the melody is from Mani Ratnam’s romantic drama, Idhayathai Thirudathe (Geethanjali in Telugu)

3) Pudhidhaa

It is a heartfelt track that deserves a place among the best friendship songs in Tamil. The song describes the relationship of Nagarjuna and Karthi that evolves from employer-employee to besties. It shows the latter reigniting Nagarjuna’s passion for living life to the fullest in the voice of Karthik, with the lyrics by Madhan Karky. Composed by Gopi Sundar, you can catch this song while watching Thozhaa (Oopiri in Telugu)

4) Uyire Uyire

It is a song that celebrates the love and marriage of Nagarjuna and Manisha Koirala in the film. A track that instantly raises the bar of romance, it is the go-to song of every couple out there. A song that personifies relationship and marriage goals, you can catch it in the romantic thriller, Ellame En Kadhali (Criminal in Telugu).

5) Vidiya Vidiya Nadanam

A song that practically shouts, ‘let’s get rowdy’, the track features Nagarjuna in a bad boy avatar who calls out to everyone to live life to the fullest without paying heed to death or devil. He lays out our strengths that lie in our hands and eyes and our power of establishing anything that can become the law. The buoyant track is another masterpiece of Ilayaraaja, Idhayathai Thirudathe.

6) Soniya Soniya

It is a song where Nagarjuna questions his lady love, asking her what kind of a lover she is, followed by the couple serenading each other and explaining the various kinds of love. It would probably be the only time where someone wouldn’t mind getting questioned and lectured. Another foot-tapping rhythm composed by AR Rahman, you can catch this number in Ratchagan.