# Chandramukhi (2005 soundtrack)
**Chandramukhi** (சந்திரமுகி) is the soundtrack album of the 2005 Tamil film of the same name, written and directed by [P. Vasu](https://www.edgepedia.org/p-vasu) and starring [Rajinikanth](https://www.edgepedia.org/rajinikanth). The six-song album and the film's background score were composed by Vidyasagar, marking his first assignment for a Rajinikanth film, with lyrics written by Vaali, Yugabharathi, and Pa. The album was released on 5 March 2005 at the film's music launch at the Taj Connemara hotel in Chennai, weeks before the film itself reached theaters on 14 April 2005.[1](https://www.behindwoods.com/News/13-4-05/chandra_pre.htm)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Album | Six songs, about 30 minutes; music rights sold to AnAK audio (later AP International) for 11 million[2](https://music.apple.com/us/album/chandramukhi-original-motion-picture-soundtrack/1495008685) |
| Release | Music launch on 5 March 2005 at the Taj Connemara hotel, Chennai; the film opened 14 April 2005[1](https://www.behindwoods.com/News/13-4-05/chandra_pre.htm) • [3](https://www.tamilnow.com/Chandramukhi-807.html) |
| Chart performance | Topped Tamil music charts before the film's release and marked the peak of Vidyasagar's popularity[1](https://www.behindwoods.com/News/13-4-05/chandra_pre.htm) • [4](https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movie-articles/movies-05/17-11-06-vidyasagar.html) |
| Background score | Released separately on 27 September 2005, described as the first time in India that a film's background music was brought out as an album[5](https://rajinifans.com/detailview.php?title=52) |
## The songs
The album contains six songs with these credited singers:[6](https://wiki1.tamilar.wiki/w/%E0%AE%9A%E0%AE%A8%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%A4%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%B0%E0%AE%AE%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%BF)
1. **Devuda Devuda**, the Rajinikanth opener, sung by [S. P. Balasubrahmanyam](https://www.edgepedia.org/s-p-balasubrahmanyam).
2. **Kokku Para Para**, sung by Tipu, Manikka Vinayagam, and Rajalakshmi.
3. **Athinthom**, sung by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and Vaishali.
4. **Konjam Neram**, a duet by [Asha Bhosle](https://www.edgepedia.org/asha-bhosle) and Madhu Balakrishnan.
5. **Raa Raa**, sung by Binny Krishnakumar and Tipu.
6. **Annanoda Pattu**, sung by K. K., Karthik, Sujatha Mohan, and Chinnaponnu.
"Raa Raa" stands apart musically. The plot has the [Chandramukhi](https://www.edgepedia.org/chandramukhi) character ask Rajinikanth to sing in Sudhadhanyasi raga, but the Tamil song itself is set in [F minor](https://www.edgepedia.org/f-minor), a half note away from that scale, and later shifts its tonal center in an experiment with *shruthibedham* (mode shifting); the corresponding song in the Kannada original *Aapthamithra* is in Sudhadhanyasi.[7](https://rameshonmusic.blogspot.com/2005/12/raa-raa.html) Most of the song's lyrics are in Telugu, and Vidyasagar later recalled Rajinikanth telling him that two songs had to be hits; after release, "Raa Raa" became the one Telugu song that spread across [Tamil Nadu](https://www.edgepedia.org/tamil-nadu).[8](https://www.ap7am.com/tn/847801/vidyasagar-interview)
## Context and composition
Composing for a Rajinikanth film carried a particular weight after the failure of *Baba*, whose music had disappointed the actor's fans; Vidyasagar took the assignment at the height of a hit streak that included *Dhil*, *Dhool*, *Run*, *Anbae Sivam*, *Thirumalai*, *Ghilli*, *Madhurey*, and *Ji*.[9](https://in.rediff.com/movies/report/rajni/20050309.htm) • [4](https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movie-articles/movies-05/17-11-06-vidyasagar.html) Reviewers noted the constraints of the genre: the songs had to fit the star's established image, which limited experimentation.[9](https://in.rediff.com/movies/report/rajni/20050309.htm) Vidyasagar recorded the album's first song in Chennai with Rajinikanth present for the entire session.[3](https://www.tamilnow.com/Chandramukhi-807.html) The film's background score, which Vidyasagar called his career best, took him about 31 days to complete and involved an orchestra of about 80 artistes.[5](https://rajinifans.com/detailview.php?title=52)
## Release and sales
The audio launch was a subdued affair, but the songs were already topping the charts by mid-April, when the film released.[1](https://www.behindwoods.com/News/13-4-05/chandra_pre.htm) Apple Music's listing dates the album March 15, 2005, with six songs totaling 30 minutes under the Anak Audio label.[2](https://music.apple.com/us/album/chandramukhi-original-motion-picture-soundtrack/1495008685)
## The background-score album
After the film's success, the producers released a separate original soundtrack containing the background score and the film's dialogues on 27 September 2005, at a function at GRT Grand Days in T Nagar held around the film's silver jubilee, in the presence of Ramkumar, Prabhu, Vidyasagar, and Vasu.[5](https://rajinifans.com/detailview.php?title=52) This was presented at the time as the first instance in India of a film's background music being issued as a commercial album, and it was packaged with a video CD, "The Making of Chandramukhi", a roughly hour-long documentary with interviews and behind-the-scenes footage.[5](https://rajinifans.com/detailview.php?title=52) • [10](https://ursmusically.blogspot.com/2005/10/making-of-chandramukhi.html)
## Critical reception
Siddhu Warrier of Rediff.com wrote that "Devuda Devuda" found S. P. Balasubrahmanyam in top form, called "Konjam Neram" melodious in a forgettable way, judged "Athinthom" a soft, melodious song whose mridangam backing recalled Malayalam film songs, found "Kokku Para Para" insipid, and described "Raa Raa" as a rather listenable track that did not match the menace of "Orumurai vandhu paathaaya" from the Malayalam source film *Manichitrathazhu*.[9](https://in.rediff.com/movies/report/rajni/20050309.htm)
The album marked the peak of Vidyasagar's commercial standing in [Tamil cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/tamil-cinema); his run of form afterward was described by [Behindwoods](https://www.edgepedia.org/behindwoods) as mediocre at best, with later albums for *Majaa*, *Paramasivan*, and *Aadhi* failing in the audio market.[4](https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movie-articles/movies-05/17-11-06-vidyasagar.html) "Raa Raa" in particular retained a long afterlife, cited years later as an example of a Tamil film song with a strong Carnatic flavor.[7](https://rameshonmusic.blogspot.com/2005/12/raa-raa.html)
## References
1. [Movie Preview: Chandramukhi, Behindwoods (13 April 2005)](https://www.behindwoods.com/News/13-4-05/chandra_pre.htm)
2. [Chandramukhi (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack), Apple Music](https://music.apple.com/us/album/chandramukhi-original-motion-picture-soundtrack/1495008685)
3. [Official Site of the Tamil movie Chandramukhi, Tamilnow.com](https://www.tamilnow.com/Chandramukhi-807.html)
4. [The biggest musical rivalry in Tamil cinema, Behindwoods (17 November 2006)](https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movie-articles/movies-05/17-11-06-vidyasagar.html)
5. [Chandramukhi is the first film in India that a film's background music is being brought out as an album, Rajinifans.com (28 September 2005)](https://rajinifans.com/detailview.php?title=52)
6. [சந்திரமுகி (திரைப்படம்), தமிழர்விக்கி](https://wiki1.tamilar.wiki/w/%E0%AE%9A%E0%AE%A8%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%A4%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%B0%E0%AE%AE%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%BF)
7. [Ramesh on Music: Raa Raa (December 2005)](https://rameshonmusic.blogspot.com/2005/12/raa-raa.html)
8. [Vidyasagar interview on the Chandramukhi songs, AP7am](https://www.ap7am.com/tn/847801/vidyasagar-interview)
9. [Chandramukhi: Rajni fans will love it!, Rediff.com (9 March 2005)](https://in.rediff.com/movies/report/rajni/20050309.htm)
10. [Yours Musically: Making of Chandramukhi (5 October 2005)](https://ursmusically.blogspot.com/2005/10/making-of-chandramukhi.html)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Music › Musical works and recordings › Albums and recorded releases › Soundtrack albums (film, TV, games, and screen media) › Live-action film soundtracks › Indian film soundtracks*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 19, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Sep 19, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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