Subhakeerthana

Ilaiyaraaja, who turns 76, talks about his early years as a music director and why his tunes hold a unique place in the hearts of both commoners and connoisseurs.  Asia’s first symphony writer. 1,000 films. 8,000 songs. 20,000 concerts—and still counting.  Ilaiyaraaja’s game-changing journey began after the 1970s, and each of his compositions is a journey into eternity. Take Janani… Janani from Thaai Mookambikai (1982), for example. Could anyone other than the maestro have brought out its nuances so effectively? I doubt it.  His obsession with perfection is legendary, and singers who have performed his compositions would vouch for it. The genius transformed the soundscape of film music forever, without compromising on the pronunciation of Tamil words.  In fact, no other composer’s career symbolises the popularity of film music as his does. Ilaiyaraaja’s music defies classification and never follows a predictable format. It charms everyone. It would not be an exagger...