Deepavali with A.R. Rahman

I still remember seeing the movie poster of "Muthu" in the Broadway cinema in Johor Bahru, Malaysia during Deepavali of 1995. Ever since "Thiruda Thiruda" was released during Deepavali of 1993, I always look forward to a movie with music by A.R. Rahman being released for that special occasion of the year. I was going through the New Straits Times's archives from 1993, and I read the movie review for "Thiruda Thiruda" by K. Vijiyan that was published on 13 December 1993 (Deepavali fell on 13 November in 1993). The headline for the movie review was "Rahman's songs the main draw in this tale of thieves". Below are some highlights from the movie review:

The hordes of people making their way to see the movie since its opening three weeks ago will testify to this.

So why are Malaysians flocking to see it? There can be no doubt about it; it is Rahman's songs.

When the songs were released (in the same package with Rahman's other songs from his other hit movie Puthiya Mugam) in July, it was reported that 200,000 cassettes and CDs were sold on the launching date itself.

Every Deepavali programme over TV3 and RTM had songs from Thiruda Thiruda and Gentleman (another movie that made its producer rich with Rahman's songs). 

See this one to find out what your friends are raving about.

I still remember the Deepavali special that was aired on TV2 that had almost all the songs from "Thiruda Thiruda" recreated with local artistes. It was one of the best Deepavali specials that I've seen until today. I was so captured by "Thiruda Thiruda" that I was not aware that there was 2 additional movies from A.R. Rahman that were also released during Deepavali of 1993 - Kizhakku Cheemaielea, and Uzhavan. Below is the list of Tamil movies with music by A.R. Rahman that were released during Deepavali (as far as I can recall) - I've seen all the movies from "Ratchagan" onwards in theaters during Deepavali. 

Deepavali Releases
13/11/1993 - Thiruda Thiruda, Kizhakku Cheemaielea, Uzhavan

03/11/1994 - Karuthamma, Pavithra
23/10/1995 - Muthu

10/10/1996 - Mr. Romeo

30/10/1997 - Ratchagan

07/11/1999 - Mudhalvan, Taj Mahal

26/10/2000 - Thenali

14/11/2001 - Paarthale Paravasam
21/10/2006 - Godfather (Varalaru)
09/11/2007 - Azhagiya Tamil Magan
17/10/2009 - Blue

13/11/2012 - Jab Tak Hai Jaan

Tamil New Year Releases
14/04/1994 - Vandi Solai Chinraasu
24/04/1998 - Jeans
14/04/1999 - Padaiyappa
13/04/2000 - Alai Payuthey
14/04/2002 - Alli Arjuna
17/04/2015 - O Kadhal Kanmani 

Pongal Releases
14/01/1996 - Love Birds (The audio was released in December 1995)
14/01/1997 - Iruvar, Minsara Kanavu (The audios were released in December 1996)
14/01/2015 - I (The audio was released in September 2014)