Ilaiyaraaja’s music is set to be heard in the Oscar race through another film, following the recent announcement that the Marathi movie Gondhal will represent India in the 2027 Academy Awards international feature category.
According to the report, a second Ilaiyaraaja-composed film titled Anthony has also entered the Oscars journey. The film is being sent by the Sri Lankan government for the 2027 international feature film category.
The film’s team said Anthony is a Sri Lankan (Eelam) Tamil film featuring Ilaiyaraaja’s music, calling it a first of its kind in their history. They noted that the film was made in three languages and has recently been released worldwide.
The cast includes Kayal Vincent, DJ Banu, Sudharshan Ravindran, Saumi Munasinghe, Nizhalgal Ravi and Aruldas. The film is directed by Sugirthan Christhuraja and Jenosan Rajeshwar.
The development is being seen as a milestone, as it marks the first time two Ilaiyaraaja-scored films are heading into the Oscars race in the same year. The report also recalled that Kamal Haasan–Ilaiyaraaja collaborations Thevar Magan and Hey Ram had previously participated in the Oscars race.
