Ilayaraja deserves a pat on the shoulder.

Was listening to Ninaivellam Nithya, a 1982 movie. Typical 1982 movie situation: hero and heroine have their first night of passion, with a lewd tribal dance of nilgiri tribals as the backdrop.

What struck however was that Ilayaraja had composed this tribal song Kanni Ponnu in Hamsanadam... was mesmerised. Not because it is classical, not because iti is tribal, but because it is tribal, yet carnatic, and both at the same time.

You can get the song(kanni ponnu) here.
Another classic in Hamsanadam: here(thendral vanthu)