The Tamil Nadu government, led by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, felicitated music maestro Ilaiyaraaja at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium. Actors Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan, both long-time collaborators with the composer, were present to celebrate the occasion.
Rajinikanth recalls Ilaiyaraaja’s faith
Speaking at the event, Rajinikanth said, “A film today can succeed if it features a song by Ilaiyaraaja,” citing his own experience in Coolie. He also recounted helping Ilaiyaraaja’s brother Bhaskar on the film Rajathi Raja, admitting he was anxious about the project. Ilaiyaraaja, however, expressed unwavering faith, stating the film had to run past the silver jubilee or he would never play the harmonium or sing again. In the end, the movie surpassed 25 weeks, leaving Rajinikanth deeply impressed by the composer’s belief.
Stalin urges Bharat Ratna recognition
During the ceremony, Stalin called on the Union government to award Ilaiyaraaja the Bharat Ratna for his five-decade-long contribution to music. He also announced a state award in the composer’s name to honour outstanding musical talent. Stalin encouraged Ilaiyaraaja to create compositions inspired by Tamil classical literature, aiming to preserve the richness of the language for future generations.
Ilaiyaraaja expresses gratitude
Ilaiyaraaja thanked Stalin and the state for the recognition, noting that it was the first time a government had organised a function specifically to honour a musician. He shared that composing his symphonies involved consciously avoiding the influence of Tamil folk traditions, film music, or previous compositions.
Legacy in Tamil cinema
Ilaiyaraaja has composed for numerous Rajinikanth films, including Thalapathi, Mullum Malarum, Johnny, and Aval Appadithan, cementing his place as one of India’s most influential music maestros.
