After "Nizhalgal", Vairamuthu and Ilaiyaraaja kicked off a successful collaboration which would last a little more than half a decade. Their joint association with director Bharathiraja, led to some of the most critically acclaimed soundtracks such as "Alaigal Oivathillai" (which won Vairamuthu his first Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Lyricist), "Kaadhal Oviyam", "Mann Vasanai", "Pudhumai Penn", "Oru Kaidhiyin Diary", "Muthal Mariyathai" (which won Vairamuthu his first National Award for Best Lyricist) and "Kadalora Kavithaigal". During the period he was working with Ilaiyaraaja, Vairamuthu collaborated with director Mani Ratnam for the first time in "Idhaya Kovil" in 1985, penning the song "Naan Padum Mouna Ragam" (which inspired the title of Ratnam's breakthrough "Mouna Ragam", which was released in the following year).