#10YearsOfGhibran: 5 evergreen albums from the talented composer

Today marks 10 years of Ghibran's debut in films. After making a strong debut with Vaagai Sooda Vaa, this reticent composer has delivered some unique albums over the past decade, including Uttama Villain, Maara, Vathikuchi, Thirumanam Enum Nikkah, Amara Kaaviyam, Naiyyandi, Papanasam, Saaho and Aramm among others. We take a look at five of the talented composer's evergreen movie albums, plus one movie score (the incredibly effective Ratsasan) that is hard to forget.

Ghibran didn't just impress audiences with his debut, Vaagai Sooda Vaa, but also the master Kamal Haasan himself. The Ulaganayagan actually signed him up for four back-to-back films (Vishwaroopam 2, Uttama Villain, Papanasam and Thoonga Nagaram), something unheard of since his association with maestro Ilaiyaraaja! And this album proved to be the greatest of the four and remains inarguably Ghibran's finest work. As we remarked in our review of the album, it is that "rare Tamil film album which doesn't merely push the envelope but has managed to create a new, different envelope". From the contemporary 'beats song' to Sufi-influenced numbers to lively Villupattu and a phenomenal Indo-western fusion that is Iraniyan Naadagam, this album was a great showcase of Ghibran's prowess and remains as one of the (if not THE) greatest Tamil film album of the last decade.

The first one is always special, and Ghibran made us all sit up and take notice with this delightful album that was a fantastic debut for the composer. If the folksy Senga Soolakaaraa and Thanjavaru Maadathi, and the western classical-influenced Aanaa Aavanna showed his range, the superb Poraaney Poraaney and the sweet Sara Sara Sara Kaathu instantly made him a name to reckon with in Tamil film music.

One of his early hits, this album is still loved by fans for its instantly accessible songs. The Sufi-influenced Chillendra Chillendra, the classical Kannukkul Pothi Veipen, the peppy Rayile Raa are all well-liked numbers. But the piece de resistance is of course the phenomenal Enthaaraa Enthaaraa, which soars like a bird in full flight.

Amara Kaaviyam is indeed a special album from Ghibran, where you cannot discount any of the songs as just above average. From the energetic Saridhaana Saridhaana to the heartmeltingly gorgeous Edhedho Ennam Vandhu to the atmospheric Mounam Pesum and the slow-burning Dhaagam Theera, this is one album that had everything for those romantic at heart.

After a slew of strictly average albums, Ghibran knocked it out of the park with Maara, which marked a return to his usual form for the composer. If Yaar Azhaippadhu was an instant chartbuster, O Azhage and Theeranadhi showed that he can delight us with songs that slowly worm their way into our hearts.

Of course, when discussing Ghibran's greatest works, how can one ignore Ratsasan? While the film's album was just good going by the composer's standards, his background score in the film was a tour de force on how to compose for a thriller and still sends a chill down everyone's spine.