Ilayaraja

Ilaiyaraaja, born Gnanathesigan on June 2, 1943, in Pannaipuram, Theni district, Tamil Nadu, is a legendary Indian composer, singer, songwriter, and lyricist. Revered as “Isaignani” (The Musical Genius), he is widely regarded as one of the greatest composers in Indian cinema history, having composed over 7,000 songs and scored music for more than 1,000 films across multiple languages.

Born into a humble family, Ilaiyaraaja learned music from his elder brother Pavalar Varadarajan and later studied at the Trinity College of Music, London. He made his debut as a film composer with “Annakkili” (1976), which became a massive hit. Through the late 1970s and 1980s, he dominated Tamil film music with revolutionary compositions in films like “Moondram Pirai” (1982), “Sagara Sangamam” (1983), “Sindhu Bhairavi” (1985), and “Nayakan” (1987).

Ilaiyaraaja was the first Asian to compose a full symphony orchestrated by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, London — “Nothing but Wind” (1988). He has won five National Film Awards, the Padma Bhushan (2010), and the Padma Vibhushan (2018), India’s second-highest civilian honour. In 2022, he was nominated to the Rajya Sabha. His music continues to inspire generations of musicians worldwide.