Thiruvasagam - Maanikavasagar aruliyadhu
                                     Illayaraja isai amaithu namakku alithdhu.

I don't take 100% of what a reviewer says (read quiet a few reviews on the web) be it on music or movies, I have my own likes and dislikes a reviewer has no idea what I am looking for but I do start based on a review I don't decided based on the reviews. But one thing I firmly believe is that "Isaiyai rasika kaelvi gynam podhum". Music/Song is considered a hit when a "pamaran" (common man with limited knowledge) is able to sing/hum that song/tune leave alone the no. of units sold. When he is unable to do that it simply means the music did not reach his heart. I listened to Thiruvasagam lately this is what I felt, tune as such is great! Honestly it's good because the lyrics are in its purest form I am not able to sing those songs myself unless I use the lyrics booklet given along. And moreover it's a symphony the tune as such is broken and it has more of background music than the tune itself.

My opinion is, if Thiruvasagam is not liked by many then, it is because we are unable to understand and appreciate the lyrics it carries, I simply cannot replicate what I listened few seconds ago. Damn! Pure Tamizh is difficult. The only Tamizh CD I bought after coming here is Thiruvasagam and I love it. It would have reached much more if it was presented in much more simpler form than it is currently.

Jonny (Illayaraja Music) reachead more audience than Sindhu Bhairavi (Illayaraja Music with Carnatic touch) did, Priya, Pudhu Pudhu Arthangal (Illayaraja Music) reached more than Salangai Oli (Illayaraja Music with Carnatic touch) did, I love both Sindhu Bhairavi and Salangai Oli, I don't care if its "Ezhu Kattai" or "Ettu Kattai", I am a "pamaran" who wants to listen to heart warming music. If you can recall this song sequence from Sindhu Bhairavi - Mari Mari Niney sung by Yesudas it's a pure form of music (classic Carnatic with Telegu(?) lyrics) . Sindhu (Suhasini) will raise her voice and say she loved the song but it will be much better if its apprehended by everyone. Then she herself sings the song "Paadraiyen Padipariyen" (sung by Chitra). I am sure I have hummed "Paadariyen more times than I did "Mari Mari Niney" even though songs came right after the other.

Thiruvasagam is truly a great effort from Illayaraja, its difficult to take such a subject and do something like this. Kudos! to Illayaraja for thinking of something like this and succeeding. I also feel that Illayaraja did this for the passion he had in Music and belief in God, I dont see a commercial agenda behind this venture. Great effort from Illayaraja and Team!

Verdict:

• Fans who love illayaraja would still like Thiruvasagam
• Fans who love Music would still like Thiruvasagam
• Fans who expect something different other than film music would like Thiruvasagam
• Fans who have read till this point would definitely like Thiruvasagam.
  - Just Kidding ;)