Arunmozhi

Arunmozhi (also called Napoleon Selvaraj) (born 1951) is an Indian playback singer and well-known flutist. He has sung songs composed by leading Indian film industry music directors, including Ilaiyaraaja, Shankar Ganesh, Deva, S. A. Rajkumar, Viji Manuel, Swararaj, Harris Jayaraj, Sirpy, Vidyasagar, Soundaryan, Karthik Raja, Siva, Masa, Dhina and Yuvan Shankar Raja. He has also performed in live concerts across the world. He is a part of Ilaiyaraaja's musical troupe, playing flute. Arunmozhi is very familiar with western musical notes, and used to interpret and explain those written by Ilaiyaraaja to other musicians in the group. Introduced by Ilaiyaraaja as a playback singer, Arunmozhi has sung some very popular hit songs.

Early life Arunmozhi was born in Thirukandiswaram village, near Nannilam in Tiruvarur district, Tamil Nadu. Arunmozhi, a self-taught musician, started playing flute at the age of nine, with a flute that was made by him. After completing his schooling, he was working as a supervisor in a pharmaceuticals company. His attempt to pursue higher education was disturbed when he lost his documents on the way to Chennai for admission. The events happened after that incident took him to the film industry. While he was practicing flute in Prasad Studios, Chennai, in November 1984, a major breakthrough in his music career came. Ilaiyaraaja, who was also composing music in the same studio called Arunmozhi through his personal assistant after hearing his flute. Later Arunmozhi met Ilaiyaraaja, and got his first chance to play flute, along with other flutists, for the song "Vanthal Mahalakshmi" in the movie Uyarndha Ullam, which had Kamal Haasan, and Ambika in the lead role. After seeing his performance in this song, Ilaiyaraaja asked Arunmozhi to join his orchestra on a regular basis. Arunmozhi, then, joined Ilaiyaraaja's musical group in December 1984, after completing his commitments with other music directors. For playing flute, Arunmozhi is being considered as an important selection by Ilaiyaraaja. Meanwhile, he played flute for few popular songs including "Malaiyoram Veesum Kaathu" (Paadu Nilave) and "Pallaviye Charanam" (Oruvar Vaazhum Aalayam).

In December 1984, the song "Ore Murai Un Dharisanam" in the film En Jeevan Paduthu was the first song in which Arunmozhi, as Ilaiyaraaja's exclusive flutist, played the flute, though this movie was released few years later. The music was composed by Ilaiyaraaja as a flute-based song, and Arumnozhi has continued to play flute in Ilaiyaraaja's songs in the decades since, including in live concerts. Notable works with flute include "Ila Nenje Vaa" (Vanna Vanna Pookkal), "Thalattum Poongkaatru" (Gopura Vasalile), "Valaiosai gala gala" (Sathyaa), and all the songs in the 1991 drama Chinna Thambi.

Playback singing Arunmozhi's debut in playback singing was for the song "Naan Enbathu Nee Allavo Deva Deva" in the film Soora Samhaaram, which had Kamal Haasan, and Nirosha in the lead role. Arunmozhi and K. S. Chithra sang this song. Ilaiyaraaja composed the music. During the recordings of this song, Vaali and Ilaiyaraaja changed his name to Arunmozhi. Ilaiyaraaja is the music director with whom Arunmozhi has rendered most of the songs in his career. Some of Arunmozhi's hit songs include "Punnaivana Poonguyil" (Sevvanthi), "Vaasakari Veppilaiye" (Sirayil Pootha Chinna Malar), "Vennilavukku Vaanatha" (Thalattu Padava), "Velli Kolusu mani" (Pongi Varum Kaveri), "Oththa Roova tharen" (Nattupura Pattu), "Engal Veetil Ella Naalum" (Vaanathaippola), and "Chalakku Chalakku" (Suryavamsam). Arunmozhi has sung in genres such as hymns and choral. He is one of the few singers with good diction in Tamil film music. Arunmozhi also became the staple voice for actor Parthiban. with Karthik Raja and Vidyasagar composing the music for each film, respectively.

Discography

Singer According to popular online media musical sources, the discography of Arunmozhi includes,

YearFilmLanguageSongsMusic directorCo-singers1988Soora SamhaaramTamil Naan Embathu Nee Allava Ilaiyaraaja K. S. Chithra 1988 Soora Samhaaram Tamil Neela Kuyile Solai Kuyile Ilaiyaraaja K. S. Chithra 1988 Manamagale Vaa Tamil Tell Me Tell Me Ilaiyaraaja 1989 Pongi Varum Kaveri Tamil Velli Kolusu Mani Ilaiyaraaja K. S. Chithra1989 Pongi Varum Kaveri Tamil Dhinamum Sirichi Mayakki Ilaiyaraaja K. S. Chithra1989 Thangamana Raasa Tamil Sokku Podi Vachirukken Ilaiyaraaja S. Janaki1989 Kai Veesamma Kai Veesu Tamil Oru Jann Vaithukku Ilaiyaraaja S. Janaki1989 Padicha PullaTamil Seemaiyellam Ilaiyaraaja 1990 En Uyir ThozhanTamil Aeh Raasaaththi Ilaiyaraaja Malaysia Vasudevan 1990 Vellaiya Thevan Tamil Vaanaththil Irunthu Ilaiyaraaja Uma Ramanan1990 Sirayil Pootha Chinna Malar Tamil Vaasakari Veppilaiye Ilaiyaraaja S. Janaki1990 Kavithai Paadum Alaigal Tamil Unnai Kanamal Naan Ethu Ilaiyaraaja K. S. Chithra 1990 Thalattu Padava Tamil Odai Kuyil IlaiyaraajaK. S. Chithra1990 Thalattu Padava Tamil Neethana Neethana Ilaiyaraaja S. Janaki1990 Thalattu Padava Tamil Varaathu Vantha Ilaiyaraaja S. Janaki1990 Thalattu Padava Tamil Vennilavukku Vaanatha Ilaiyaraaja S. Janaki1990 Pondatti Thevai Tamil Aararo Paada Ilaiyaraaja K. S. Chithra1990 Pondatti Thevai Tamil Enathu Raagam Ilaiyaraaja S. Janaki1990 Madurai Veeran Enga Saami Tamil Thangame Ilaiyaraaja Sunanda1990 Maruthu Pandi Tamil Adhamum Yevalum Ilaiyaraaja S. Janaki1990 Ethir Kaatru Tamil Raja Illa Ilaiyaraaja Uma Ramanan1990 Keladi KannmaniiTamil Enna Paduvathu Ilaiyaraaja Ilaiyaraaja, Saibaba1990 Aarathi EdungadiTamil Androru Naal Shankar GaneshSirkazhi G. Sivachidambaram, Swarnalatha1990 Mallu Vetti MinorTamil Manasukkulle Ilaiyaraaja S. Janaki1991 Idhaya Vaasal Tamil En Manampol Viji Manuel Mano, Malaysia Vasudevan1991 Eeramana Rojave Tamil Adichachu Lucky Prize Ilaiyaraaja Mano1991 Thanthu Vitten Ennai Tamil Muthamma Ilaiyaraaja Uma Ramanan1991 Thayamma Tamil Oru Muthu Kili Ilaiyaraaja Mano, S. N. Surendar1991 Vetri Karangal Tamil Megha Veedhiyil Ilaiyaraaja Mano 1991 Ennarukil Nee Irunthal Tamil Oru Kanam Aagilum Ilaiyaraaja 1992 Thai Mozhi Tamil Thaai Illa Pillai Ilaiyaraaja 1992 Singaravelan Tamil O Ranga Sriranga Ilaiyaraaja S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Saibaba1992 Singaravelan Tamil Pottu Vaitha Kathal Thittam Ilaiyaraaja Kamal Haasan, Saibaba1992 Thambi Pondatti Tamil Sonnaalu Vetkam Ilaiyaraaja 1992 NaangalTamil Maanay Theney Ilaiyaraaja S. Janaki1992 Idhu Namma Bhoomi Tamil Idhu Namma Bhoomi Ilaiyaraaja 1993 Maamiyar Veedu Tamil Mamiyar Veedirukku Ilaiyaraaja Malaysia Vasudevan 1993 Maamiyar Veedu Tamil Oru Jann Vaithukku Ilaiyaraaja Malaysia Vasudevan1993 Aranmanai Kili Tamil Raathiriyil Paadum Ilaiyaraaja Minmini , Malaysia Vasudevan1993 Ezhai JaathiTamil Atho Antha Nadhiyoram Ilaiyaraaja S. Janaki 1993 Dharma Seelan Tamil Thendral Varum Ilaiyaraaja Minmini1993 Enga Thambi Tamil Ithu Maanodum Ilaiyaraaja Uma Ramanan1993 Manikuyil Tamil Vetti Vetti Veru Ilaiyaraaja 1993 Manikuyil Tamil Kadhal Nilavey Ilaiyaraaja Uma Ramanan1994 SadhuTamil Paddikirom Ilaiyaraaja Mano, Swarnalatha1994 Vanaja Girija Tamil Thirumagal Unn Ilaiyaraaja 1994 Puthupatti Ponnuthaye Tamil Maankutti Nee Vadi Ilaiyaraaja K. S. Chithra1994 Veetla Visheshanga Tamil Malarey Thendral Ilaiyaraaja S. Janaki1994 Sakthivel Tamil Malliga Mottu Ilaiyaraaja Swarnalatha1994 Veera Tamil Thirumagal Ilaiyaraaja 1994 Veera Tamil Aathula Annakili Ilaiyaraaja 1994 Mogamul Tamil Nenje Gurunaatharin Sevadi Ilaiyaraaja 1994 Mani Rathnam Tamil Neerodai Thaalampottu Sirpy Sujatha1994 Mani Rathnam Tamil Kuzhanthaikku Pasiyeduthal Sirpy Sujatha1994 Sevvanthi Tamil Punnaivana Poonguyil Ilaiyaraaja Swarnalatha1995 Villadhi VillainTamil Sarakku Sarakku Vidyasagar S. P. Sailaja, Suresh Peters1995 Chithirai ThiruvizhaTamil Muthanai Sharath Priyadev Sindhu1995 Periya KudumbamTamil Raththatha Ilaiyaraaja 1995 PullakuttikaranTamil Pothum Edutha Deva Uma Ramanan1995 PullakuttikaranTamil Metti Metti Deva S. Janaki, Parthiban1995 Murai MamanTamil Yennachi Yennachi Vidyasagar Sirkazhi G. Sivachidambaram, Swarnalatha1995 Raasaiyya Tamil Masathana Ilaiyaraaja Bhavatharini1995 Raasaiyya Tamil Dindukallu Ilaiyaraaja Ilaiyaraaja, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Sindhu Devi1995 Nandhavana Theru Tamil Unn Munnai Naanum Paada Vantha Ilaiyaraaja 1995 Nandhavana Theru Tamil Adichu Pudichu Ilaiyaraaja S. N. Surendar, Mano 1995 Nandhavana Theru Tamil Velli Nilave Ilaiyaraaja S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. N. Surendar, Uma Ramanan1995 Oru Oorla Oru Rajakumari Tamil Vandhaal Vandhaal Ilaiyaraaja Mano, Devie Neithiyar 1995 Oru Oorla Oru Rajakumari Tamil Raja Rajathan Ilaiyaraaja S. Janaki, S. N. Surendar1995 Ilaya Ragam Tamil Naan Ondru Ilaiyaraaja K. S. Chithra1995 Ilaya Ragam Tamil Adi Mathalam Ilaiyaraaja 1995 ChandralekahTamil Tharai Varamal Ilaiyaraaja Unni Krishnan, Geetha 1995 ChandralekahTamil Arumbum Thalire Ilaiyaraaja Geetha1995 Rajavin ParvaiyileTamil Amman Kovil Ilaiyaraaja 1995 Rajavin ParvaiyileTamil Kotunge Kotunge Ilaiyaraaja Mano 1995 Rajavin ParvaiyileTamil Ival Yaaro Ilaiyaraaja S. Janaki1995 VishnuTamil Singara Kannukku Deva K. S. Chithra1995 Paattu PadavaTamil Iniya Gaanam Ilaiyaraaja S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. N. Surendar1995 Mayabazar Tamil Naan Poranthathu Ilaiyaraaja Lekha, Devi Neithiyar, Ilaiyaraaja1995 KolangalTamil Therke Veesum Ilaiyaraaja Lekha1995 Muthu Kulikka VaarieyalaTamil Chik Chik Chik Soundaryan S. Janaki1996 Vasantha VaasalTamil Athipathi Azhagu Masa (songs), Dhina (background score) K. S. Chithra1996 Vasantha VaasalTamil Puthu Roja Masa (songs), Dhina (background score) 1996 Nattupura PattuTamil Oththa Roova Ilaiyaraaja Devie Neithiyar1996 Nattupura PattuTamil Satti Potti Ilaiyaraaja Devie Neithiyar1996 Katta PanchayathuTamil Mayavarathu Ilaiyaraaja 1996 Katta PanchayathuTamil Vendina Veendum Ilaiyaraaja Devie Neithiyar1996 Irattai RojaTamil Pombalainka Kaiye Ilaiyaraaja Ilaiyaraaja1996Gulabi Kannada Madhura Naada Ilaiyaraaja Sowmya Rao1997 Kadhalukku MariyadhaiTamil Anandha Kuyilin2 Ilaiyaraaja Bhavatharini1997 Kadhalukku MariyadhaiTamil Ayya Veedu Ilaiyaraaja Ilaiyaraaja1997 Kadhalukku MariyadhaiTamil Anandha Kuyilin Ilaiyaraaja S. N. Surendar, Deepika, K. S. Chithra, Malaysia Vasudevan1997 SuryavamsamTamil Chalakku Chalakku S. A. Rajkumar Sujatha 1997 Thenpandi Singam Tamil Vaarthai Ondru Ilaiyaraaja 1997 Thenpandi SingamTamil Vilvovukkum Ilaiyaraaja 1997 Thambi DuraiTamil Kanyakumari Neeye Ilaiyaraaja 1997Raman AbdullahTamil En Veettu Jannal Ilaiyaraaja Bhavatharini1997 Kadavul Tamil Poovarasan Poove Ilaiyaraaja Sujatha 1997 PorkkaalamTamil Karuvella Kaatukkulae Deva Anuradha Sriram, Sujatha 1997 Bharathi KannammaTamil Thendralukku Theriyuma Deva K. S. Chithra1997 SwarnamukhiTamil Kammakkarai SwararajSwarnalatha1997 VasukeTamil Vamsathukku Ilaiyaraaja Mano, K. S. Chithra1997 Oru Yathramozhi Malayalam Kakkalakkannamma Ilaiyaraaja S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, M G Sreekumar1998 Elavamkodu Desam Malayalam Iniyente Kunjithathe Vidyasagar Sujatha 1998 PagaivanTamil Rajanea Deva Anuradha Sriram1998 Nilaave VaaTamil Onnum Onnum Vidyasagar Swarnalatha1998 Kanmani Oru KavithaiTamil Raagam Azhaitha Geetham Ilaiyaraaja K. S. Chithra, Bombay Jayashri1998 Kangalin VaarthaigalTamil Alli Sundhare Ilaiyaraaja 1998 Veera ThalattuTamil Saanthu Pottu Ilaiyaraaja Swarnalatha1998 Veeram Vilanja MannuTamil Mayilu Mayilu Deva Swarnalatha1998 En Aasai RasaveTamil Pathu Rooba Ravikka Deva K. S. Chithra1998 Chinna Ramasamy Periya RamasamyTamil Vaazhaiyadi Vaazhaiyaa Ilaiyaraaja K. J. Yesudas1998 Cheran Chozhan PandianTamil Kadhalicha Ponnu Soundaryan S. N. Surendar, Shahul Hameed1998 ThalaimuraiTamil Vellimani Thottil Katta Ilaiyaraaja Ilaiyaraaja, Sujatha 1998 ThalaimuraiTamil Dapangkuthu Ilaiyaraaja Swarnalatha1998 SimmarasiTamil Kumbakonam Santhayile S. A. Rajkumar Sujatha 1998 Kalyana GalattaTamil Velli Malai Yuvan Shankar Raja K. S. Chithra1998 Kalyana GalattaTamil Kummaalam Yuvan Shankar Raja Mano, Sujatha 1998 Kavalai Padathe SagodharaTamil Chinna Chinna Ilaiyaraaja Devi Neithiyar, Unni Krishnan, S. N. Surendar1999 Poomagal OorvalamTamil Kannai Parikkira Siva Devi, Unni Krishnan, K. S. Chithra1999 Annan Tamil Otha Roobavukku Oru Ilaiyaraaja Swarnalatha1999 Annan Tamil Kutti Nalla Kutti Ilaiyaraaja 1999 Ullathai KillatheTamil Nee Engey Deva 1999 SethuTamil Maalai En Vethanai Ilaiyaraaja Unni Krishnan, S. N. Surendar1999 SethuTamil Sethuvukku Sethuvukku Ilaiyaraaja 1999 SethuTamil Sikaadha Sitrondru Ilaiyaraaja Unni Krishnan, S. N. Surendar1999 Nee Varuvai EnaTamil Poonguil Paattu Pidichirukka S. A. Rajkumar Harini1999 ThodarumTamil Naanthaan Ilaiyaraaja Gangai Amaran, Malaysia Vasudevan, Sunanda 1999 Kummi PaattuTamil Samanja Pulla Ilaiyaraaja 1999 Kummi PaattuTamil Uchi Veyilukku Ilaiyaraaja Swarnalatha1999 Kummi PaattuTamil Oorukku Ilaiyaraaja Swarnalatha1999 Kummi PaattuTamil Ammiyile Araichi Ilaiyaraaja Swarnalatha1999 Kummi PaattuTamil Aasai Machaa Ilaiyaraaja Swarnalatha1999 Manaivikku MariyadhaiTamil Aakka Poruthathu Sirpy K. S. Chithra1999 Manaivikku MariyadhaiTamil Elandapazham Sirpy Devi1999 Rajasthan Tamil Jai Jawan Ilaiyaraaja T. L. Maharajan2000 Vaanathaippola Tamil Engal Veetil Ella Naalum S. A. Rajkumar S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Sujatha 2000 ThirunalveliTamil Ini Naalum Thirunaal Ilaiyaraaja Swarnalatha, Ilaiyaraaja, S. N. Surendar, Manorama2000 ThirunalveliTamil Yele Azhagamma Ilaiyaraaja K. S. Chithra2000 Karisakattu PooveTamil Ethanai Manikku Ilaiyaraaja Anuradha Sriram2000 MaayiTamil Ola Ola S. A. Rajkumar Swarnalatha2000 Kannukkul Nilavu Tamil Adida Melathai Ilaiyaraaja S. N. Surendar, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam2001 Kanna Unnai ThedukirenTamil Rasathi Rasathi Ilaiyaraaja Anuradha Sriram, Harini2001 FriendsTamil Vaanam Perusuthan Ilaiyaraaja Vijay Yesudas, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam2001 Vinnukum MannukumTamil Chembaruthi Poo Sirpy K. S. Chithra2001 DosthTamil Ethen Thottathu Deva Swarnalatha2002 IvanTamil Bhajanai Seivom Ilaiyaraaja 2002 IvanTamil Pattukku Pogathinga Ilaiyaraaja S. N. Surendar, Febi Mani Background humming

Lyricist