‘Naanthaan Ungappanda’ by Ilaiyaraaja

Featured prominently in the Olympic opening ceremony, Ilaiyaraaja’s bombastic score to the 1981 film Ram Lakshman was a novel choice for Danny Boyle to open the games with. It practically hammers its way into the psyche through relentless, thudding rhythms and oddball whip-cracking samples, while bursts of trumpets jut ceremoniously throughout like jubilant releases of energy. It’s seeing its renewed release on Finders Keepers, but you can also watch the super fun choreographed action sequence that goes along with the song here.