ask us to get ready for a retake even if he finds a slightest slip in our performance". When offered to act in the film by Balachander, Suhasini agreed after knowing that he would enact and explain every scene. Suhasini and Sulakshana's characters were named after the two parts of the name of the Carnatic raga, Sindhu Bhairavi. Delhi Ganesh was asked by Balachander to portray a mridangam player, and though he did not know how to play the instrument, he had a sense of rhythm and soon became "engrossed in the role". Themes and influences The film's theme is based on extramarital affairs interwoven with Carnatic music. Ajayan Bala stated: "most compatible minds in Sindhu Bhairavi, the singer and his fan, were not allowed to live together, even after the wife reconciled herself to that". Kandhasamy, Balachander's son-in-law, stated, "Sindhu Bhairavi established the sanctity of the institution of marriage and the dignity of the concubine". Sowmya Rajendran compared the film to another Sivakumar starrer Rosappu Ravikkaikari (1979) due to adultery being the mutual theme, the difference being that Sivakumar's character in Sindhu Bhairavi is the adulterous one, unlike Rosappu Ravikkaikari where it is his wife. Soundtrack The soundtrack was composed by Ilaiyaraaja. Sindhu Bhairavi is Balachander's first collaboration with Ilaiyaraaja. Balachander recalled that, after doing several films with M. S. Viswanathan, he wanted a different composer for Sindhu Bhairavi, so he approached Ilaiyaraaja after seeking permission from Viswanathan. When the song "Paadariyen" was to be set to tune, Ilaiyaraaja asked Balachander for a day's time. The next day he was ready with the tune, which Balachander described as a "folk song with a blend of Carnatic music". Many of the songs are set in Carnatic ragas; "Naanoru Sindhu" is in Sindhu Bhairavi, "Kalaivaniye" in Kalyani, "Poomaalai" in Kanada, "Paadariyen" in Saramati, "Aanantha Nadanam" in Rathipatipriya, and "Thanni Thotti Thedi Vantha" in Kapi. Ilaiyaraaja composed "Kalaivaniye" entirely in Arohana without Avarohana, which he considers practically impossible. "Mahaganapathim" is based on the composition of the same name by Muthuswami Dikshitar. "Moham Ennum" and "Manadhil Urudhi Vendum" were taken from the verses of poet Subramania Bharati. Historian G. Dhananjayan considers Sindhu Bhairavi a film where Balachander was successful in reflecting the thoughts of Ilaiyaraaja. Innovatively, there is no use of mridangam in "Mahaganapathim". "Mari Mari Ninne" by the Carnatic musician Tyagaraja, was reused in this film. Ilaiyaraaja faced staunch opposition from classical