Let me first say that this is a purely subjective list. You may have a different take on which his best songs are. Feel free to add your own list to this.

1. Chinna Chinna Aasai (Roja-Tamil/Hindi) Get Lyrics
This song has to be there in the list because it announced the brilliance of Rahman to Indians all over the world, making him the first pan-Indian music director. Rahman’s mother says she still cries when she hears this song. You can actually feel the innocence of village life when you listen to this song.

2. Vande Mataram Get Lyrics
Bharat Bala and Rahman came up with a new version of Vande Mataram to celebrate 50 years of Indian independence. and what a way to celebrate India’s independence! The song came out at a time when the youth had become cynical of  of Indian democracy. But the song really galvanised everyone, bringing out long forgotten patriotism. Some would call it pop patriotism. But what the heck? The song did what it was aiming at and much more!

3. Malargale (Lovebirds-Tamil) Get Lyrics
This is a song that the Hindi heartland has not heard because the movie was a flop and was not dubbed in Hindi. So, it is not as popular as his other songs. But what a composition!

4. Narumugiye (Iruvar-Tamil) Get Lyrics
Again not a song which was a chartbuster. But the nuances Rahman has put in in this Carnatic music-based song are interesting. And with Unni’s voice, what more can you ask for?

5. Dil Se (Dil Se-Hindi/ Uyire-Tamil)Get Lyrics

when you have the maestro singing to his own music, what more could you ask for? Rahman’s voice has the ability to reach really high pitches and this song truly brings out this quality. Look out for the BGM in this song.

6. Uyire/Tu hi Re (Bombay-Tamil and Hindi)Get Lyrics

Another Mani Ratnam-Rahman combination. Does Mani Ratnam bring out the best in Rahman?

7.Munpe Vaa (Sillanoru Kadhal)Get Lyrics

This movie was again a flop. But the song certainly didn’t go unnoticed. Shreya Ghosal, a Bengali, renders this with finesse.

8. Sakhiye/Saathiya (Alaipayuthe-Tamil and Saathiya -Hindi)
Get Lyrics
This is probably the most downloaded of Rahman’s songs. Every Indian has had this ringtone at some point or the other. I rest my case.

9. Khwaja mere Khwaja (Jodha Akbar)
Get Lyrics
What a different song!Sufi music with Rahman’s own voice! Rahman’s deep faith comes through in the song.

10. Ishwar Allah (1947 Earth-Hindi)Get Lyrics

I am not sure many people have heard this song. But those who have would not be able to forget it if they have seen the movie. The song blends in beautifully with theme of the movie-communalism and partition.

It’s been really difficult to shortlist the top ten songs. I wish I could added more like AE Ajnabi from Dil se, Ishq Bina from Taal, the Taal title song, margazhi poove from may madham, pyaar yeh from Rangeela, kaise mujhe from Ghajini, kannalanae from Bombay, desh mere from Bhagat Singh, songs from Jeans, Zubeida, Kaadhalan, Rhythm,Yuvraaj, pukar, thiruda thiruda, sangamam, lagaan …….the list is endless. in any case, how can u quantify genius?compress a genius’ lifelong work into ten songs?

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