Tamil film Annakili celebrates 44 years since release (May 14, 1976) today and the film is being remembered by Tamil netizens for introducing one of the most iconic musicians of his generation, maestro Ilayaraja. The Isaignani made his musical debut with Annakili and has since become a favourite name in Tamil households.

Annakili ran for beyond 100 days in movie theaters, a feat beyond remarkable for a movie of its time and it has often been recalled that the theater audience would whistle and clap for Ilayaraja's name in the title card as the days went by for the movie. This was due to the 5 chart-busters Ilayaraja produced for this film and songs like Machaana Pathingala holding relevance even today.

Other songs like Annakili Unnai, Muththu Muththa (Adi Raakayee) and Sontham Illai were written by the film's writer Panchu Arunachalam; It is also said that when he met Ilayaraja for the first time with the intent of introducing him as a music composer, Ilayaraja sang Annakkili Unnai Theduthe, which prompted the writer to title his film Annakili.