:Ilaiyaraaja

Ilaiyaraaja was born as Gnanathesigan in a Dalit family{{cite news|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/controversy-ilayaraja-sanctum-entry-restrictions-temple-protocol-9727690/|title=Ilayaraja slams 'false rumours' after controversy over temple sanctum entry restrictions|work=Indian express|date=17 December 2024|access-date=7 April 2025}} in Pannaipuram in present-day Theni district, Tamil Nadu, India, on 3 June 1943.{{Cite web |date=21 May 2019 |title=Casteist message in Ilaiyaraaja's name is fake, composer's lawyer clarifies |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/casteist-message-ilaiayaraajas-name-fake-composers-lawyer-clarifies-102837 |access-date=4 January 2021 |website=The News Minute |language=en |archive-date=8 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210208152510/https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/casteist-message-ilaiayaraajas-name-fake-composers-lawyer-clarifies-102837 |url-status=live }} However, he celebrates his birthday on 2 June to honour M. Karunanidhi whose birthdate also falls on 3 June. It was Karunanidhi who gave Ilaiyaraaja the title "Isaignani".{{Cite web|date=2 June 2020|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/music/this-is-why-june-2-became-ilaiyaraajas-birthday/articleshow/76158934.cms|title=This is why June 2 became Ilaiyaraaja's birthday – The Times of India|website=The Times of India|access-date=3 June 2022|archive-date=3 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220603061207/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/music/this-is-why-june-2-became-ilaiyaraajas-birthday/articleshow/76158934.cms|url-status=live}}{{efn|Official date of birth of Ilaiyaraaja is June 3. As the birth dates of both Ilaiyaraaja and Karunanidhi fall on the same date i.e June 3, Ilaiyaraaja started celebrating it on June 2, so that people of Tamil Nadu can celebrate only that of Karunanidhi on June 3. This was done in honour of Karunanidhi who gave the title "Isaignani" to Ilaiyaraaja.|name="birthdate"}} At the time of joining school, his father, Ramasamy{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5g4lEc2gNc&t=521s |title=திமுகவில் இணையும்.. தமிழக பாஜகவின் கங்கை அமரன் -அதிரடி அரசியல் திருப்பம்{{!}}Gangai Amaran {{!}} Nerukku Ner |date=2023-01-14 |last=Sathiyam News |access-date=2024-12-23 |via=YouTube}} changed his name from Gnanathesigan{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=529&v=L5g4lEc2gNc&feature=youtu.be |title=திமுகவில் இணையும்.. தமிழக பாஜகவின் கங்கை அமரன் -அதிரடி அரசியல் திருப்பம்{{!}}Gangai Amaran {{!}} Nerukku Ner |date=2023-01-14 |last=Sathiyam News |access-date=2025-01-27 |via=YouTube}} to "Rajaiya", and the people in his village called him "Raasayya".{{cite web |url=http://www.maalaimalar.com/2013/02/01225356/Illayaraja-songs-created-on-th.html |title=திரை இசையில் திருப்பம் உண்டாக்கிய இளையராஜா கிராமிய இசைக்கு புத்துயிர் அளித்தார் |publisher=Maalai Malar |access-date=1 April 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150104182309/http://www.maalaimalar.com/2013/02/01225356/Illayaraja-songs-created-on-th.html |archive-date=4 January 2015}} When he joined Dhanraj Master as a student to learn musical instruments, the master changed his name to "Raaja".{{cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/fr/2008/08/08/stories/2008080850910200.htm |location=Chennai, India |title=Humorist springs a surprise |date=8 August 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120509031325/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2008/08/08/stories/2008080850910200.htm |work=The Hindu |archive-date=9 May 2012}} While working for his first film Annakili (1976), Tamil film producer Panchu Arunachalam added the prefix "Ilaiya" (meaning 'younger' in Tamil) to the name "Raaja", and renamed him as "Ilaiyaraaja", as in the 1970s there was another popular music director with the same suffix, namely A. M. Rajah.{{cite web |url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/322751/raja-his-rule.html |title=Raja and his rule |website=Deccan Herald |date=30 March 2013 |access-date=31 May 2017 |archive-date=28 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190528161251/https://www.deccanherald.com/content/322751/raja-his-rule.html |url-status=live }}

Ilaiyaraaja grew up in a rural area and was exposed to a range of Tamil folk music in his formative years.Mohan, A. 1994. Ilaiyaraja: composer as phenomenon in Tamil film culture. M.A. thesis, Wesleyan University (pp. 106–107). At the age of 14, he joined a travelling musical troupe named "Pavalar Brothers", headed by his elder brother Pavalar Varadharajan, and spent the next decade performing across South India.{{Cite book|last1=Rajadhyaksha|first1=Ashish|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rF8ABAAAQBAJ&q=pavalar+brothers&pg=PA1777|title=Encyclopedia of Indian Cinema|last2=Willemen|first2=Paul|date=10 July 2014|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-135-94325-7|language=en|access-date=22 October 2020|archive-date=25 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231025043130/https://books.google.com/books?id=rF8ABAAAQBAJ&q=pavalar+brothers&pg=PA1777#v=snippet&q=pavalar%20brothers&f=false|url-status=live}} While working with the troupe, he penned his first composition, a musical adaptation of an elegy written by the Tamil poet laureate, Kannadasan, for India's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru.Rangarajan, M. {{usurped|[https://web.archive.org/web/20070216034838/http://www.hinduonnet.com/fr/2004/07/09/stories/2004070902310400.htm "Memorable evening in many ways".]}} The Hindu. 9 July 2004. Retrieved 19 November 2006.{{Cite news|last1=Ananthakrishnan|first1=G.|url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/music/performance-is-an-important-component-of-a-musical-composition-ilaiyaraaja/article24080492.ece|title=Performance is an important component of a musical composition: Ilaiyaraaja|date=4 June 2018|work=The Hindu|access-date=8 April 2020|last2=Ramani|first2=Srinivasan|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X|archive-date=9 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109033030/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/music/performance-is-an-important-component-of-a-musical-composition-ilaiyaraaja/article24080492.ece|url-status=live}}

In 1968, he began a music course with Professor Dhanraj in Madras (now Chennai). The course included an overview of Western classical music, compositional training in techniques such as counterpoint, and study in instrumental performance. Ilaiyaraaja was a gold medalist in classical guitar after completing the course through a distance-learning channel from Trinity Laban, London.Author unknown. {{usurped|[https://web.archive.org/web/20071016115545/http://hinduonnet.com/2005/06/19/stories/2005061904010500.htm "No point in classifying music, says Ilayaraja".]}} The Hindu. 19 June 2005. Retrieved 1 February 2007.{{cite web|date=9 May 2008|title=MASTER OF MUSIC—"ISAI GNANI"—MR. ILAYARAJA|url=http://www.infoqueenbee.com/2008/05/master-of-music-isai-gnani-mr-ilayaraja.html|access-date=5 May 2018|archive-date=25 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201025015253/https://www.infoqueenbee.com/2008/05/master-of-music-isai-gnani-mr-ilayaraja.html|url-status=live}} He learnt Carnatic music from T. V. Gopalakrishnan.{{Cite book|first=Vijaya|last=Ramaswamy|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ALUvDwAAQBAJ&q=ilayaraja+communist&pg=PA155|title=Historical Dictionary of the Tamils|date=25 August 2017|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield|isbn=978-1-5381-0686-0|pages=155|language=en|access-date=22 October 2020|archive-date=25 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231025043130/https://books.google.com/books?id=ALUvDwAAQBAJ&q=ilayaraja+communist&pg=PA155#v=snippet&q=ilayaraja%20communist&f=false|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/T-V-Gopalakrishnan-gets-Sangita-Kalanidhi-award/articleshow/38767109.cms|title=T V Gopalakrishnan gets Sangita Kalanidhi award|date=21 July 2014|website=The Times of India|language=en|access-date=8 April 2020|archive-date=26 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126052309/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/City/Chennai/T-V-Gopalakrishnan-gets-Sangita-Kalanidhi-award/articleshow/38767109.cms|url-status=live}}

During the 1970s, Ilaiyaraaja played guitar in a band-for-hire, and worked as a session guitarist, keyboardist, and organist for film music composers and directors such as Salil Chowdhury from West Bengal.Gautam, S. {{usurped|[https://web.archive.org/web/20071016115625/http://hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2004/11/23/stories/2004112300580100.htm "'Suhana safar' with Salilda".]}} The Hindu. 13 November 2004. Retrieved 13 October 2006.Chennai, S. [http://www.hindu.com/mag/2005/11/20/stories/2005112000340500.htm "Looking back: flawless harmony in his music".] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107163412/http://www.hindu.com/mag/2005/11/20/stories/2005112000340500.htm |date= 7 November 2012}} The Hindu. 20 November 2005. Retrieved 15 November 2006.Choudhury, R. 2005. [http://www.salilda.com/filmsongs/films.asp The films of Salil Chowdhury: Introduction] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061117185255/http://www.salilda.com/filmsongs/films.asp |date=17 November 2006}}. Retrieved 16 November 2006.{{cite news |title=One of a kind |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/one-of-a-kind/article3752336.ece |work=The Hindu |date=11 August 2012 |access-date=11 August 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160117184421/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/one-of-a-kind/article3752336.ece |archive-date=17 January 2016|last1=Mujumdar |first1=Neha }} Chowdhury once remarked that "[Ilaiyaraaja] is going to become the best composer in India".{{cite news |title=One of a kind |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/one-of-a-kind/article3752336.ece |work=The Hindu |date=11 August 2012 |access-date=11 August 2012 |last1=Mujumdar |first1=Neha |archive-date=17 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160117184421/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/one-of-a-kind/article3752336.ece |url-status=live }} "Our main guitarist in Madras is the best composer in India", he said.{{cite news|title=Why many Ilaiyaraaja songs sound as if they emerged from a jam session with Salil Chowdhury|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/music/why-many-ilaiyaraaja-songs-sound-as-if-they-emerged-from-a-jam-session-with-salil-chowdhury/article23384713.ece|date=31 March 2018|access-date=22 September 2022|archive-date=19 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200919050422/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/music/why-many-ilaiyaraaja-songs-sound-as-if-they-emerged-from-a-jam-session-with-salil-chowdhury/article23384713.ece|url-status=live}} After being hired as musical assistant to Kannada film composer G. K. Venkatesh, he worked on 200 film projects, mostly in Kannada cinema.Vijayakar, R. [http://www.screenindia.com/fullstory.php?content_id=13039 "The prince in Mumbai".] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080201024013/http://www.screenindia.com/fullstory.php?content_id=13039 |date= 1 February 2008}} Screen. 21 July 2006. Retrieved 6 February 2007. As Venkatesh's assistant, Ilaiyaraaja would orchestrate the melodic outlines developed by Venkatesh, and learn about composing under Venkatesh's guidance. During this period, Ilaiyaraaja also began to write his own scores. To listen to his compositions, he used to persuade Venkatesh's session musicians to play excerpts from his scores during their leisure times.{{Cite web |title=Session musician and film orchestrator |url=https://www.tamilselvi.com/Ilaiyaraaja-Fame.html |access-date=2024-06-15 |website=www.tamilselvi.com}}

File:Ilaiyaraaja at the TFPC Press Meet Held Ahead Of The ‘Ilaiyaraaja 75’ Concert.jpg

At the start of his career, the music sensibility of Ilaiyaraaja was very different to the film music composed in those days. Even though he spent a lot of his time learning, he "wasn't able to grasp how music was being made for films." However, in 1975 when film producer Panchu Arunachalam was impressed by a song Ilaiyaraaja casually sung, he commissioned him to compose the songs and film score for the Tamil film Annakili (1976).{{cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/fr/2007/04/20/stories/2007042000230200.htm |location=Chennai, India |title=Let down by screenplay—Maayakkannaadi |date=20 April 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121109103504/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2007/04/20/stories/2007042000230200.htm |work=The Hindu |archive-date=9 November 2012}} For the soundtrack, Ilaiyaraaja applied techniques of modern popular film music orchestration to Tamil folk poetry and folk song melodies. This resulted in creation of a fusion of Western and Tamil idioms. Initially he was little apprehensive about how his work would be received, he thought musicians in the industry may write him off. However, when Annakili released in 1976, the music became a huge hit. For his following 12 films, Ilaiyaraaja based his compositions on the contemporary film music. Later, when a new wave of films started to come, they opened the space for the kind of music he wanted to explore.Greene, P.D. 2001. "Authoring the Folk: the crafting of a rural popular music in south India". Journal of Intercultural Studies 22 (2): 161–172.Sivanarayanan, A. 2004. Translating Tamil poetry. World Literature Today 78(2): 56–58.{{cite news |title=The Ilaiyaraaja interview: 'Why should filmmakers know about music creation?' |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/tamil-film-composer-ilayaraaja-interview-on-his-75th-birthday/article59851815.ece |date=4 June 2018 |access-date=2022-09-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220926210416/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/tamil-film-composer-ilayaraaja-interview-on-his-75th-birthday/article59851815.ece|archive-date=26 September 2022 |url-status=live

}}

Ilaiyaraaja's use of Tamil folk music in his film scores injected new life in the Indian film score milieu.Baskaran, S.T. {{usurped|[https://web.archive.org/web/20070204030750/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mag/2002/01/06/stories/2002010600150500.htm "Music for the people".]}} The Hindu. 6 January 2002. Retrieved 15 November 2006. By the mid-1980s, he started gaining increasing stature as a composer and music director in the South Indian film industries.Greene, P.D. 1997. Film music: Southern area. Pp. 542–546 in B. Nettl, R.M. Stone, J. Porter and T. Rice (eds.). The Garland Encyclopedia of World Music. Volume V: South Asia—The Indian Subcontinent. New York: Garland Pub. (p. 544). He worked with Indian poets and lyricists such as Kannadasan, Vaali, Vairamuthu, O. N. V. Kurup, Sreekumaran Thampi, Veturi, Acharya Aatreya, Sirivennela Seetharama Sastry, Chi. Udayashankar and Gulzar. Most of his compositions were sung by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki and K. S. Chithra.{{cite web|url=https://www.onmanorama.com/news/columns/straight-talk/2017/03/23/ilayaraja-royalty-ban-spb-tamil-songs-salim-kumar.html|title=Long Live Ilayaraja!' Salim Kumar's case for immortal music...|publisher=onmanorma|access-date=15 December 2023|archive-date=15 December 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231215052327/https://www.onmanorama.com/news/columns/straight-talk/2017/03/23/ilayaraja-royalty-ban-spb-tamil-songs-salim-kumar.html|url-status=live}}

File:Ilaiyaraaja and Vikram at the Nadigar Sangam Protest.jpg

Ilaiyaraaja's first two non-film albums were explorations in the fusion of Indian and Western classical music. The first, How to Name It? (1986), is dedicated to the Carnatic master Tyāgarāja and to J. S. Bach. It features a fusion of the Carnatic form and ragas with Bach partitas, fugues and Baroque musical textures.Greene, P.D. 1997. Film music: Southern area. Pp. 542–546 in B. Nettl, R.M. Stone, J. Porter and T. Rice (eds.). The Garland Encyclopedia of World Music. Volume V: South Asia—The Indian Subcontinent. New York: Garland Pub. (pp. 544–545). The second, Nothing But Wind (1988), was performed by flautist Hariprasad Chaurasia and a 50-piece orchestra and takes the conceptual approach suggested in the title—that music is a "natural phenomenon akin to various forms of air currents".Oriental Records. Undated. [http://www.orientalrecords.com/productdetails.php?id=123 Nothing But Wind] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061106094012/http://www.orientalrecords.com/productdetails.php?id=123 |date=6 November 2006}}. Retrieved 19 November 2006.

He has composed a set of Carnatic kritis which were recorded by electric mandolinist U. Srinivas for the album Ilayaraaja's Classicals on the Mandolin (1994). Ilaiyaraaja has also composed albums of religious/devotional songs. His Guru Ramana Geetam (2004) is a cycle of prayer songs inspired by the Hindu mystic Ramana Maharshi, and his Thiruvasakam: A crossover (2005) is an oratorio of ancient Tamil poems transcribed partially in English by American lyricist Stephen Schwartz and performed by the Budapest Symphony Orchestra.Viswanathan, S. 2005. {{usurped|[https://web.archive.org/web/20070707012650/http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl2215/stories/20050729004110200.htm A cultural crossover]}}. Frontline 22 (15), 16–29 July. Retrieved 13 October 2006.Parthasarathy, D. 2004. {{usurped|[https://web.archive.org/web/20071016115605/http://hinduonnet.com/thehindu/2004/11/26/stories/2004112603032000.htm Thiruvasagam in 'classical crossover']}}. The Hindu, Friday, 26 November. Retrieved 1 March 2007. His most recent release is a world music-oriented album called The Music Messiah (2006).Soman, S. 2006. [http://www.hindu.com/2006/12/30/stories/2006123006000200.htm 'The Music Messiah'] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070105090625/http://www.hindu.com/2006/12/30/stories/2006123006000200.htm |date=5 January 2007}}. The Hindu, Saturday, 30 December. Retrieved 27 February 2007. In 2025, he composed his first English classical symphony “Valiant”, performed by Royal Scottish National Orchestra.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tw0zz6SRVJk |title=Ilaiyaraaja Symphony No. 1 - (Valiant) - BTS Video - Maestro Ilaiyaraaja - Mercuri |date=2025-01-24 |last=Mercuri Live |access-date=2025-02-03 |via=YouTube}}

In May 2020, he composed a song titled Bharath Bhoomi, as tribute to the people working amid COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite news|author=The Hindu Net Desk|date=30 May 2020|title=Ilaiyaraaja and SPB join hands for 'Bharath Bhoomi'|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/ilaiyaraajas-tribute-song-on-covid-19/article31709650.ece|access-date=2 June 2020|issn=0971-751X|archive-date=29 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200629064035/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/ilaiyaraajas-tribute-song-on-covid-19/article31709650.ece|url-status=live}} The song was crooned by S. P Balasubrahmanyam and the video of the song was unveiled by Ilaiyaraaja on his YouTube channel on 30 May 2020, in Tamil and Hindi.{{Cite web|date=31 May 2020|title=A song of tribute: Ilayaraja's salute to COVID-19 warriors|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/kollywood/310520/a-song-of-tribute-ilayarajas-salute-to-covid-19-warriors.html|access-date=2 June 2020|website=Deccan Chronicle|language=en|archive-date=14 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200814093713/http://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/kollywood/310520/a-song-of-tribute-ilayarajas-salute-to-covid-19-warriors.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|title=Maestro Ilaiyaraaja pays tribute to COVID-19 warriors, releases song sung by SPB|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/2020/may/30/maestro-ilaiyaraaja-pays-tribute-to-covid-19-warriors-releases-song-sung-by-spb-2149984.html|access-date=2 June 2020|website=The New Indian Express|date=30 May 2020 |archive-date=19 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200819230248/https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/2020/may/30/maestro-ilaiyaraaja-pays-tribute-to-covid-19-warriors-releases-song-sung-by-spb-2149984.html|url-status=live}}

On his birthday in 2020, Ilaiyaraaja announced the upcoming launch of his 'Isai OTT' app. He stated that the app would contain much more than just his songs, like behind-the-scenes trivia about how each song was conceived, produced, and delivered, as well as collaborations with other musicians.{{Cite news|date=2 June 2020|title=Ilaiyaraaja to launch OTT app soon|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/ilaiyaraaja-to-launch-ott-app-soon/article31734573.ece|access-date=30 June 2020|issn=0971-751X|archive-date=2 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200702140910/https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/ilaiyaraaja-to-launch-ott-app-soon/article31734573.ece|url-status=live}}

Ilaiyaraaja's song 'Naanthaan Ungappanda' from the 1981 film Ram Lakshman was part of the playlist for the opening ceremony of the 2012 Summer Olympics.{{Cite news |date=2017-01-15 |title=Ilayaraja song for london Olympics |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/ilayaraja-song-for-london-olympics/articleshow/14319043.cms?from=mdr |access-date=2024-02-11 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}{{Cite news |date=2012-06-20 |title=Lesser-known Ilayaraja number at Olympics opener |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/lesserknown-ilayaraja-number-at-olympics-opener/article3547902.ece |access-date=2024-02-11 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X |archive-date=23 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220123133348/https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/lesserknown-ilayaraja-number-at-olympics-opener/article3547902.ece |url-status=live }}

His compositions Paayum Puli Title Music and Ilamai Itho were part of the soundtrack of Ashim Ahluwalia's 2012 Cannes Film Festival entry, Miss Lovely.{{cite web|url=http://sweetsoundtrack.com/Movies/Miss-Lovely-2012|title=Songs from Miss Lovely|website=sweetsoundtrack.com|access-date=31 May 2021|archive-date=2 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210602213326/http://sweetsoundtrack.com/Movies/Miss-Lovely-2012|url-status=live}} The Lovebirds (2020) incorporated a section of Ilaiyaraaja's "Oru kili" soundtrack composed for the movie Aanandha Kummi (1983) as background music in its official trailer.{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzPq8uVgLe8 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211218/YzPq8uVgLe8 |archive-date=2021-12-18 |url-status=live|title=The Lovebirds (2020) – Official Trailer|date=16 January 2020 |via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}

The Black Eyed Peas sampled the Ilaiyaraaja's composition "Unakkum Ennakum" from Sri Raghavendra (1985) for the song "The Elephunk Theme" in Elephunk (2003).Mehar, R. 2007. [http://www.hindu.com/2007/10/17/stories/2007101750530200.htm Hip-hopping around the world] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080316003456/http://www.hindu.com/2007/10/17/stories/2007101750530200.htm |date=16 March 2008}}. The Hindu, 17 October. Retrieved 14 March 2008.

Ilaiyaraaja's song "Mella Mella Ennaithottu" from Vaazhkai was sampled by Rabbit Mac in the song Sempoi.{{cite web|url=https://www.whosampled.com/Rabbit-Mac/Sempoi/|title=Sempoi by Rabbit Mac|website=WhoSampled|access-date=2022-09-21|archive-date=21 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220921125812/https://www.whosampled.com/Rabbit-Mac/Sempoi/|url-status=live}} Popular American rapper Meek Mill sampled one of Ilaiyaraaja's hit songs for Indian Bounce.

The alternative artist M.I.A. sampled "Kaatukuyilu" from the film Thalapathi (1991) for her song "Bamboo Banga" on the album Kala (2007).{{Cite magazine |last=Christgau |first=Robert |date=2007-08-23 |title=Kala |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/kala-248078/ |access-date=2024-05-17 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}}

Alphant sampled Ilaiyaraaja's music for his song An Indian Dream.{{cite web|url=https://m.soundcloud.com/alphant/an-indian-dream|title=Alphant – An Indian Dream (Original Mix)|access-date=2022-09-21|archive-date=21 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220921140800/https://m.soundcloud.com/alphant/an-indian-dream|url-status=live}} Gonjasufi sampled Ilaiyaraaja's "Yeh Hawa Yeh Fiza" from the movie Sadma.{{Cite web |title=GonjaSufi's 'Sheep' sample of Asha Bhosle and Suresh Wadkar's 'Yeh Hawa Yeh Fiza' |url=https://www.whosampled.com/sample/58292/GonjaSufi-Sheep-Asha-Bhosle-Suresh-Wadkar-Yeh-Hawa-Yeh-Fiza/ |access-date=18 May 2024 |website=WhoSampled}}

File:Maestro Ilayaraaja with fellow musicians.jpg

Ilaiyaraaja rarely performs his music live. His first major live performance since his debut was a four-hour concert held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium in Chennai, India, on 16 October 2005.Rangarajan, M. {{usurped|[https://web.archive.org/web/20060910163021/http://www.hinduonnet.com/fr/2005/10/21/stories/2005102100140200.htm "The Raja still reigns supreme".]}} The Hindu. 21 October 2005. Retrieved 13 October 2006. He performed in 2004 in Italy at the Teatro Comunale di Modena, an event-concert presented for the 14th edition of Angelica, Festival Internazionale Di Musica, co-produced with the L'Altro Suono Festival.Van Ryssen, S. [http://leonardo.info/reviews/dec2005/llaiy_ryssen.html "Ilaiyaraaja's Musical Journey".] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928022757/http://leonardo.info/reviews/dec2005/llaiy_ryssen.html |date=28 September 2007}} Leonardo Digital Review. December 2005. Retrieved 7 March 2007.

A television retrospective titled Ithu Ilaiyaraja ("This is Ilaiyaraja") was produced, chronicling his career.[http://www.hindu.com/fr/2005/07/01/stories/2005070102420400.htm "Ithu Ilaiyaraja".] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071001045314/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2005/07/01/stories/2005070102420400.htm |date= 1 October 2007}} The Hindu. 1 July 2005. Retrieved 13 October 2006. He last performed live at the audio release function of the film Dhoni and before that, he performed a programme that was conducted and telecasted by Jaya TV titled Enrendrum Raja ("Everlasting Raja") on 28 December 2011 at Jahawarlal Nehru Indoor Stadium, Chennai.

On 5 September 2012, Ilayaraja performed in a live concert in Chennai with the Hungarian National Philharmonic orchestra; during this event the music launch of his films Neethaane En Ponvasantham and Yeto Vellipoyindhi Manasu took place.{{Cite web|date=2012-09-05|url=https://www.idlebrain.com/news/functions/concert-ilayaraja2012.html|title=Ilayaraja concert and Yeto Velli Poyindi music launch – idle brain|website=idlebrain.com|access-date=2023-06-03|archive-date=3 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230603170445/https://www.idlebrain.com/news/functions/concert-ilayaraja2012.html|url-status=live}} On 23 September 2012, he performed live in Bangalore at National High School Grounds.

On 16 February 2013, Ilayaraja made his first appearance in North America performing at the Rogers Centre in Toronto, Canada.Trinity Events [http://www.trinityeventsonline.com] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130301134143/http://www.trinityeventsonline.com/|date=1 March 2013}} Retrieved 24 February 2013. The Toronto concert was promoted by Trinity Events for Vijay TV in India and produced by Sandy Audio Visual SAV Productions with PA+. Following his show at Toronto, Ilaiyaraaja also performed at the Prudential Center Newark, New Jersey, on 23 February 2013 and at the HP Pavilion at San Jose on 1{{nbsp}}March 2013. After his North America tour, he made a live performance at The O2 Arena in London on 24 August 2013, along with Kamal Haasan and his sons Yuvan Shankar Raja and Karthik Raja.{{cite web |url=http://www.theo2.co.uk/event/ilaiyaraaja-20130825.html |title=Ilaiyaraaja's live concert – Raja the Raja |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131213232218/http://www.theo2.co.uk/event/ilaiyaraaja-20130825.html |archive-date=13 December 2013 |access-date=7 June 2021}}

{{Quote box

| quote = "Only the film director will be with me when the situation and the story are narrated. Then, it's just me and my harmonium. I just think about the situation and touch my harmonium and music flows. If people consider it as an alternate world, so be it. To me, it is something that I can't explain."

| author = — Ilaiyaraaja on his creative process

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Ilaiyaraaja, once reflecting over his works after turning seventy-five said his "life experiences and learning" have been the fount from which his musical output poured, but sometimes felt that some of his compositions transcended them as if they were "the reflection of the efforts of past lives — mine, or those of other musical exponents." When enquired if it was anything mystical as in the case of mathematical genius Srinivasa Ramanujan who insisted he received math formula in dreams from a goddess, Ilaiyaraaja said that unlike Ramanujan who felt a supernatural being guiding him, he always felt a moment of clarity when a composition came to his mind — "It is as if I am the subject and the object of art at the same time when that happens," he said.{{cite web |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/music/ilaiyaraaja-the-maestro-who-hears-unheard-melodies/article24062128.ece

|title=Ilaiyaraaja, the maestro who hears unheard melodies |work=The Hindu |date=2 June 2018 |access-date=2022-09-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221005073013/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/music/ilaiyaraaja-the-maestro-who-hears-unheard-melodies/article24062128.ece |archive-date=5 October 2022 |url-status=live}}

Ilaiyaraaja uses the same harmonium, both in his studio and in concerts. He has scored with it throughout his career. When he was younger, he was never allowed to touch it by his brother who thought he would spoil it. However, Ilaiyaraaja would play with it whenever his brother was not there, "that's how I learnt how to play," he said, "the harmonium knows that it was made for me. It tells me that there is more music to be made." The harmonium was reportedly bought for eighty-five rupees.

Ilaiyaraaja's musical style is characterised by an orchestration which is a synthesis of Indian folk music and Western classical music, with traditional Indian instruments and modes. He uses electronic music technology that integrates synthesizers, electric guitars and keyboards, drum machines, rhythm boxes and MIDI with large orchestras that feature traditional instruments such as the veena, venu, nadaswaram, dholak, mridangam and tabla as well as Western lead instruments such as saxophones and flutes.

File:Music Maestro Ilayaraja speaking after receiving the centenary award at the inauguration of the 46th International Film Festival of India (IFFI-2015), in Panaji, Goa. The Union Minister for Finance.jpg (IFFI-2015), in Panaji, Goa|left]]

The basslines in his songs tend to be melodically dynamic, rising and falling in a dramatic fashion. Polyrhythms are also apparent, particularly in songs with Indian folk or Carnatic influences. The melodic structure of his songs demand considerable vocal virtuosity, and have found expressive platform amongst some of India's respected vocalists and playback singers, such as T. M. Soundararajan, S. Janaki, P. Susheela, K. J. Yesudas, K. S. Chithra, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, M. G. Sreekumar, Rajkumar, Asha Bhosle, Lata Mangeshkar, Jayachandran, Uma Ramanan, S. P. Sailaja, Jency, Swarnalatha, Minmini, Sujatha, Malaysia Vasudevan, Kavita Krishnamurti, Hariharan, Suresh Wadkar, Udit Narayan, Sadhana Sargam and Shreya Ghoshal.{{Overly detailed inline|date=July 2024}} Ilaiyaraaja has sung more than 400 of his own compositions for films, and is recognisable by his stark, deep voice. He has penned the lyrics for some of his songs in Tamil.Rangarajan, M. [http://www.hindu.com/fr/2004/10/15/stories/2004101502460500.htm "From Texas to tinsel town".] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071016101033/http://hindu.com/fr/2004/10/15/stories/2004101502460500.htm |date=16 October 2007}} The Hindu, 15 October 2004. Retrieved 1 February 2007.Ashok Kumar, S.R. {{usurped|[https://web.archive.org/web/20081226034633/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/fr/2004/01/09/index.htm "Variety fare for Pongal".]}} The Hindu. 9 January 2004. Retrieved 1 February 2007. He considers M. S. Viswanathan as an overwhelming influence on his music.

Ilaiyaraaja is nicknamed "Isaignani" (the musical genius), a title conferred by Kalaignar Karunanidhi. He is often referred to as "Maestro", the title conferred by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, London. He was one of the earliest Indian film composers to use Western classical music harmonies and string arrangements in Indian film music. This allowed him to craft a rich tapestry of sounds for films, and his themes and background score gained notice and appreciation among Indian film audiences.Venkatraman, S. 1995. "Film music: the new intercultural idiom of 20th century Indian music". pp. 107–112 in A. Euba and C.T. Kimberlin (eds.). Intercultural Music Vol. I. Bayreuth: Breitinger (p. 111). The range of expressive possibilities in Indian film music was broadened by his methodical approach to arranging, recording technique, and his drawing of ideas from a diversity of musical styles.

According to musicologist P. Greene,{{Clarify|reason=Is this Patrick Greene (composer) ?|date=April 2023}} Ilaiyaraaja's "deep understanding of so many different styles of music allowed him to create syncretic pieces of music combining very different musical idioms in unified, coherent musical statements". Ilaiyaraaja has composed Indian film songs that amalgamated elements of genres such as Afro-tribal, bossa nova, dance music (e.g., disco), doo-wop, flamenco, acoustic guitar-propelled Western folk, funk, Indian classical, Indian folk/traditional, jazz, march, pathos, pop, psychedelia and rock and roll.{{Cite web |last=Krishna |first=Murali |title=ILAYARAJA |url=http://earlytollywood.blogspot.com/2007/12/ilayaraja.html |access-date=2024-06-15}}

By virtue of this variety and his intermingling of Western, Indian folk and Carnatic elements, Ilaiyaraaja's compositions appeal to the Indian rural dweller for its rhythmic folk qualities, the Indian classical music enthusiast for the employment of Carnatic ragas, and the urbanite for its modern, Western-music sound.Greene, P.D. 1997. Film music: Southern area. Pp. 542–546 in B. Nettl, R.M. Stone, J. Porter and T. Rice (eds.). The Garland Encyclopedia of World Music. Volume V: South Asia—The Indian Subcontinent. New York: Garland Pub. (p. 545). His sense of visualisation for composing music is always to match up with the movie storyline and help the audience feel the emotions flavoured through his musical score. He mastered this art of blending music to the narration, which very few others managed to adapt themselves over a longer time.S. Theodore Baskaran [http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?231674 "Jnana To Gana: Consistent eclecticism has kept Tamil film music virile"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101116115029/http://outlookindia.com/article.aspx?231674 |date=16 November 2010}}. Outlookindia.com, 26 June 2006. Although Ilaiyaraaja uses a range of complex compositional techniques, he often sketches out the basic melodic ideas for films in a very spontaneous fashion.

{{Main|List of awards and nominations received by Ilaiyaraaja}}

File:He President, Shri Ram Nath Kovind presenting the Padma Vibhushan Award to Shri Illaiyaraja.JPG from President Ram Nath Kovind]]

In 2010, Ilaiyaraaja was awarded the Padma Bhushan, the third-highest civilian honour in India and the Padma Vibhushan in 2018, the second-highest civilian award by the government of India.{{cite news|date=25 January 2018|title=Ilaiyaraaja gets Padma Vibhushan|website=Behindwoods.com|url=https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-news-16/ilayaraja-gets-padma-vibhushan-award.html|access-date=25 January 2018|archive-date=26 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180126125652/https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-news-16/ilayaraja-gets-padma-vibhushan-award.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/award-shows-modi-govt-respects-tamil-people-a-lot-ilayaraja-on-getting-padma-vibhushan-1642129.html|title=Award Shows Modi Govt Respects Tamil People a Lot: Ilayaraja on Getting Padma Vibhushan|date=25 January 2018|website=news18.com|access-date=7 June 2021|archive-date=7 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210607184952/https://www.news18.com/news/india/award-shows-modi-govt-respects-tamil-people-a-lot-ilayaraja-on-getting-padma-vibhushan-1642129.html|url-status=live}} On 6 July 2022, Ilaiyaraaja was nominated to the Rajya Sabha as Member of Parliament by the President of India, Ram Nath Kovind.{{Cite web |last=Bhandari |first=Shashwat |date=6 July 2022 |title=Celebrated athlete PT Usha, Philanthropist Veerendra Heggade among 4 nominated for Rajya Sabha |url=https://www.indiatvnews.com/news/india/pt-usha-ilaiyaraaja-veerendra-heggade-vijayendra-prasad-garu-nominated-for-rajya-sabha-modi-congratulates-2022-07-06-790172 |access-date=2022-07-06 |website=www.indiatvnews.com |language=en |archive-date=6 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220706154659/https://www.indiatvnews.com/news/india/pt-usha-ilaiyaraaja-veerendra-heggade-vijayendra-prasad-garu-nominated-for-rajya-sabha-modi-congratulates-2022-07-06-790172 |url-status=live }} In November 2022, Prime Minister Narendra Modi conferred an honorary doctorate to Ilaiyaraaja during the 36th Convocation Ceremony of Gandhigram Rural Institute in Tamil Nadu's Dindigul.{{Cite web |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/tamil-nadu-pm-modi-presents-honorary-doctorate-to-music-maestro-ilaiyaraaja-2296175-2022-11-11 |title=PM Modi confers honorary doctorate to music maestro Ilaiyaraaja |date=11 November 2022 |access-date=15 December 2023 |archive-date=24 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221124115607/https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/tamil-nadu-pm-modi-presents-honorary-doctorate-to-music-maestro-ilaiyaraaja-2296175-2022-11-11 |url-status=live}}

Ilaiyaraaja has been awarded five National Film Awards—three for Best Music Direction and two for Best Background Score.Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, India. 2006. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070418174624/http://mib.nic.in/dff/welcome.html|date=18 April 2007|title=Directorate of Film Festivals}}. Archived from [http://mib.nic.in/dff/welcome.html the original] on 18 April 2007. Retrieved 22 November 2006. In 2012, he received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, the highest Indian recognition given to practising artists, for his creative and experimental works in the music field.{{cite web|agency=Press Trust of India|date=24 December 2012|title=Ilayaraja gets Sangeet Natak Akademi award|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/ilayaraja-gets-sangeet-natak-akademi-award/article4234942.ece|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130330161248/http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/ilayaraja-gets-sangeet-natak-akademi-award/article4234942.ece|archive-date=30 March 2013|access-date=12 April 2013|work=The Hindu}} He is a gold medalist in classical guitar from Trinity Laban, London, Distance Learning Channel. In 2013, when the Indian news channel CNN-IBN conducted a poll commemorating 100 years of Indian cinema, he secured 49% of the people's vote and was adjudged as the country's greatest music composer; A. R. Rahman stood second with 29% of the vote.

Ilaiyaraaja is reputed to be one of the world's most prolific composers.{{cite web |date=3 May 2016 |title=Award Winning Composer ilayaraja's Film Soundtrack Released : Love and Love Only Film Score Available Ahead of Indian-Australian Film Debut—The Indian Telegraph |url=http://theindiantelegraph.com.au/award-winning-composer-ilayarajas-film-soundtrack-released-love-and-love-only-film-score-available-ahead-of-indian-australian-film-debut/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180507003435/http://theindiantelegraph.com.au/award-winning-composer-ilayarajas-film-soundtrack-released-love-and-love-only-film-score-available-ahead-of-indian-australian-film-debut/ |archive-date=7 May 2018 |access-date=6 May 2018 |website=theindiantelegraph.com.au}} He composed more than 7,000 songs, provided film scores for over 1,000 movies and performed in over 20,000 concerts.{{cite web |date=13 March 2018 |title=Ilayaraja performs for the first time in Houston |work=Hindustan Times |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/music/ilayaraja-performs-for-the-first-time-in-houston/story-kP8qfMJIhlJEsiFxyLZMVM.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180412103314/https://www.hindustantimes.com/music/ilayaraja-performs-for-the-first-time-in-houston/story-kP8qfMJIhlJEsiFxyLZMVM.html |archive-date=12 April 2018 |access-date=12 April 2018}}{{cite book |last=Baskaran |first=Sundararaj Theodore |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fNgqAQAAIAAJ |title=History through the lens: perspectives on South Indian cinema |date=1 January 2009 |publisher=Orient Blackswan |isbn=978-81-250-3520-6 |page=82 |access-date=1 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140107175235/http://books.google.com/books?id=fNgqAQAAIAAJ |archive-date=7 January 2014 |url-status=live}}{{cite book |author=Emmanuel Anthony Das |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=05oSduutr-IC&pg=RA2-PA7 |title=The Bestconferred is Yet to Be |date=1 September 2010 |publisher=Pustak Mahal |isbn=978-81-223-1144-0 |page=7 |access-date=1 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130621193918/http://books.google.com/books?id=05oSduutr-IC&pg=RA2-PA7 |archive-date=21 June 2013 |url-status=live}} He was one of the earliest Indian film composers to use Western classical music harmonies and string arrangements in Tamil film music.

He composed the score and soundtrack for the 1984 Malayalam-language film My Dear Kuttichathan, the first stereoscopic 3D film made in India.{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/jijo-and-his-3d-dream-that-resulted-in-my-dear-kuttichathan/article23415321.ece|title=Jijo and his 3D dream that resulted in 'My Dear Kuttichathan|work=The Hindu|date=2 April 2018|access-date=21 September 2022|last1=Chelangad|first1=Saju|archive-date=14 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181114163829/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/jijo-and-his-3d-dream-that-resulted-in-my-dear-kuttichathan/article23415321.ece|url-status=live}} In 1986, he became the first Indian composer to record a soundtrack with computer for the film Vikram. He composed the soundtrack for the movie Nayakan (1987), an Indian film which was ranked by Time magazine as one of the all-time 100 best movies.TIME Magazine. 2005. [http://www.time.com/time/2005/100movies/0, 23220, nayakan, 00.html All-TIME 100 Movies]{{dead link|date=July 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}. Retrieved 13 October 2006. Director R. K. Selvamani said that for his film Chembaruthi (1992), Ilaiyaraaja composed nine songs in just 45 minutes which is a record.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/ilaiyaraaja-75-tribute-music-icon-be-held-feb-2-and-3-chennai-94684|title='Ilaiyaraaja 75': A tribute to the music icon to be held on Feb 2 and 3 in Chennai|date=8 January 2019|website=The News Minute|access-date=27 April 2019|archive-date=5 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190205034939/https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/ilaiyaraaja-75-tribute-music-icon-be-held-feb-2-and-3-chennai-94684|url-status=live}} Actor Rajnikanth stated that Ilaiyaraaja used to complete the re-recording of three films in a single day without any sleep, whereas the present-day generation composers take 30 days for a single film.{{cite web|title=Ilayaraja 75: AR Rahman, Kamal Haasan, Rajinikanth attend celebration of legendary composer's illustrious career|url=https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/ilayaraja-75-ar-rahman-kamal-haasan-rajinikanth-attend-celebration-of-legendary-composers-illustrious-career-6030541.html|publisher=Firstpost|date=5 February 2019|access-date=9 November 2020|archive-date=20 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201120134700/https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/ilayaraja-75-ar-rahman-kamal-haasan-rajinikanth-attend-celebration-of-legendary-composers-illustrious-career-6030541.html|url-status=live}}

In 1993, Ilaiyaraaja became the first Indian to compose a full symphony, performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, London, and is also known to have written the entire symphony in less than a month.{{cite web |date=19 October 2015 |title=Mr.Viji Manuel talks about Symphony by Isaignani Ilaiyaraaja |url=https://youtube.com/watch/fFPjQlXXaio |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210430182824/https://www.youtube.com/watch/fFPjQlXXaio |archive-date=30 April 2021 |access-date=20 October 2015 |via=YouTube}}{{cite web |title=The Hindu : Ilayaraja's books |url=http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/lf/2002/11/22/stories/2002112202280200.htm |website=The Hindu}} He also composed and orchestrated the critically acclaimed Thiruvasakam in Symphony (2006), the first Indian oratorio.

Achille Forler, board member of the Indian Performing Right Society, said in 2017, "the kind of stellar body of work that Ilaiyaraaja has created in the last 40 years should have placed him among the world's top 10 richest composers, somewhere between Andrew Lloyd Webber ($1.2 billion) and Mick Jagger (over $300 million)."{{cite web|last=Forler|first=Achille|date=28 March 2017|title=My songs, my royalties|url=http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/ilaiyaraaja-sp-balasubrahmanyan-royalty-issue-my-songs-my-royalties/article17682511.ece|work=The Hindu|access-date=7 April 2018|archive-date=27 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170327212414/http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/ilaiyaraaja-sp-balasubrahmanyan-royalty-issue-my-songs-my-royalties/article17682511.ece|url-status=live}}

British musician Andy Votel, described Ilaiyaraaja in an essay thus, "Whatever "genre" of music you choose to like/ love/ promote/ protect/ politicise/ over-intellectualize/ despise/ defend or pretend to enjoy, Ilaiyaraaja has done it." Carnatic vocalist T. M. Krishna stated that no other film composer has displayed the broad range of understanding music like the way Ilaiyaraaja did, and the way he adapts himself and creates music is "unfathomable" making him the "absolute master".{{cite web|title=An Artiste of the Millennium: Ilaiyaraaja at 75|url=https://m.thewire.in/article/the-arts/an-artiste-of-the-millennium-ilaiyaraaja-at-75|publisher=The Wire|date=10 September 2018|access-date=15 September 2022|archive-date=15 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220915113344/https://m.thewire.in/article/the-arts/an-artiste-of-the-millennium-ilaiyaraaja-at-75|url-status=live}}

Ilaiyaraaja's soundtrack for the 1991 film Thalapathi was included in The Guardian{{'}}s 100 Albums to Hear Before You Die.{{Cite web |title=100 Best Albums Ever |url=http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/guardian100.htm |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170813104430/http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/guardian100.htm |archive-date=13 August 2017 |access-date=3 February 2010 |website=The Guardian}} In 2003, according to an international poll conducted by BBC of more than half-a million people from 165 countries, his composition "Rakkamma Kaiya Thattu" from Thalapathi was voted fourth in the top 10 most popular songs of all time.{{cite web |title=THE WORLD'S TOP TEN |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/us/features/topten/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150330073900/http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/us/features/topten/ |archive-date=30 March 2015 |access-date=7 June 2021 |website=BBC World Service.com}} Cinematographer Santosh Sivan said that Ilaiyaraaja finished composing for the entire soundtrack of the film Thalapathi in less than "half a day".{{sfn|Ramachandran|2014|p=140}}

During the recording for the song "Sundari" from the movie Thalapathi in Mumbai with R.D. Burman's orchestra, when Ilaiyaraaja gave the notes, they were so moved and taken in by the composition that all the musicians put their hands together in awe and gave him a standing ovation as a mark of respect.{{Cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/fr/2005/10/21/stories/2005102100140200.htm |title=The Raja still reigns supreme |date=21 October 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150831055436/http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/fr/2005/10/21/stories/2005102100140200.htm |archive-date=31 August 2015 |url-status=dead |work=The Hindu |access-date=17 July 2015}}

Ilaiyaraaja was married to Jeeva, and the couple has three children—Karthik Raja, Bhavatharini and Yuvan Shankar Raja—all of them are film composers and singers.{{cite web |url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mp/2007/01/13/stories/2007011301591200.htm |title=Music from the past |website=The Hindu.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107163353/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mp/2007/01/13/stories/2007011301591200.htm |archive-date=7 November 2012 |url-status=dead |access-date=7 June 2021}}Staff reporter. [http://www.hindu.com/2005/08/05/stories/2005080501670200.htm "Ilaiyaraja's daughter gets engaged".] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070429073520/http://www.hindu.com/2005/08/05/stories/2005080501670200.htm |date=29 April 2007}} The Hindu. 5 August 2005. Retrieved 3 March 2007. Jeeva died on 31 October 2011.{{cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Chennai/article2587916.ece |location=Chennai, India |work=The Hindu |title=Music maestro Ilayaraja's wife passes away |date=1 November 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111210151421/http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Chennai/article2587916.ece |archive-date=10 December 2011}} His brother, Gangai Amaran, is also a music director and lyricist in the Tamil film industry, and both were not on talking terms for 13 years until they met in February 2022.{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/musical-brothers-ilaiyaraaja-and-gangai-amaren-reunite-after-13-years/articleshow/89633355.cms|title=Musical brothers Ilaiyaraaja and Gangai Amaren reunite after 13 years|website=The Times of India|access-date=4 May 2022|archive-date=4 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220504113825/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/musical-brothers-ilaiyaraaja-and-gangai-amaren-reunite-after-13-years/articleshow/89633355.cms|url-status=live}} His only daughter Bhavatharini died of liver cancer on 25 January 2024.{{Cite web |title=Ilaiyaraaja's daughter and playback singer Bhavatharini dies of cancer |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/regional-cinema/story/ilaiyaraajas-daughter-and-playback-singer-bhavatharini-dies-of-cancer-2493685-2024-01-25 |access-date=2024-01-25 |website=India Today |date=25 January 2024 |language=en |archive-date=25 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240125155226/https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/regional-cinema/story/ilaiyaraajas-daughter-and-playback-singer-bhavatharini-dies-of-cancer-2493685-2024-01-25 |url-status=live }}

File:Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan and Ilaiyaraaja At The Nadigar Sangam Protest.jpg (left) and Rajinikanth (right) at the Nadigar Sangam Protest in 2018]]

In 2017, claiming copyright violations, Ilaiyaraaja sent legal notices to singers, S. P Balasubrahmanyam, his son S. P. Charan and Chithra, prohibiting them from singing his compositions without his consent, and warned they would have to pay huge royalties and face legal action if they do so.{{cite web |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/music/illayaraja-s-legal-notice-to-spb-sp-balasubrahmanyam-says-he-will-obey-the-law/story-hulhkHFbDsrOBOu3kiu1EN.html |title=Illayaraja's legal notice to SPB: SP Balasubrahmanyam says he will obey the law |work=Hindustan Times |date=20 March 2017 |access-date=31 May 2017 |archive-date=24 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170524181700/http://www.hindustantimes.com/music/illayaraja-s-legal-notice-to-spb-sp-balasubrahmanyam-says-he-will-obey-the-law/story-hulhkHFbDsrOBOu3kiu1EN.html |url-status=live }} Ilaiyaraaja's brother Gangai Amaran criticized him, saying legal notice to SPB is 'foolishness'.{{cite web | url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/gangai-amaran-slams-brother-ilaiyaraaja-says-legal-notice-spb-foolishness-58886 | title=Gangai Amaran slams brother Ilaiyaraaja, says legal notice to SPB is 'foolishness' | date=20 March 2017 | access-date=4 May 2022 | archive-date=20 May 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220520140613/https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/gangai-amaran-slams-brother-ilaiyaraaja-says-legal-notice-spb-foolishness-58886 | url-status=live }}

In 2018, during a talk show in the US, Ilaiyaraaja expressed his doubts regarding the credibility of the Christian belief in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ and claimed that resurrection happened only in the case of the Hindu saint Ramana Maharshi. In protest, a Christian group lodged a complaint with the Police Commissioner of Trichy, demanding an apology or police action against Ilaiyaraaja for raising doubt about the "ultimate belief of Christians".{{cite news|title=Christ remark: Plaint filed against Ilayaraja|work=The Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/trichy/christ-remark-plaint-filed-against-ilayaraja/articleshow/63523573.cms|date=29 March 2018|access-date=22 September 2022|archive-date=15 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220315085146/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/trichy/christ-remark-plaint-filed-against-ilayaraja/articleshow/63523573.cms|url-status=live}}

In early 2022, talking about the state of music composers in industry, Ilaiyaraaja said, "There are no composers in the film industry today; there are only programmers."{{cite news|title=Ilaiyaraaja: 'There are no composers today, only programmers'|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/ilaiyaraaja-no-composers-today-only-programmers/article65230243.ece|date=16 March 2022|access-date=22 September 2022|archive-date=22 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922055454/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/ilaiyaraaja-no-composers-today-only-programmers/article65230243.ece|url-status=live}}

In April 2022, Ilaiyaraaja triggered a controversy by writing a foreword in the book titled, "Ambedkar & Modi—Reformer's Ideas", in which he praised the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and compared him to B.R. Ambedkar. When he received some criticism, leaders from BJP came to his support.{{cite news|title=The sound of criticism: How Ilaiyaraaja's comparison of Ambedkar and Modi triggered a political row|publisher=Firstpost|url=https://www.firstpost.com/india/the-sound-of-criticism-how-ilaiyaraajas-comparison-of-ambedkar-and-modi-triggered-a-political-row-10572601.html|date=19 April 2022|access-date=22 September 2022|archive-date=22 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922130557/https://www.firstpost.com/india/the-sound-of-criticism-how-ilaiyaraajas-comparison-of-ambedkar-and-modi-triggered-a-political-row-10572601.html|url-status=live}}

{{Main|Ilaiyaraaja discography}}

• List of songs recorded by Ilaiyaraaja

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• {{Cite book |last=Ramachandran |first=Naman |title=Rajinikanth: The Definitive Biography |title-link=Rajinikanth: The Definitive Biography |publisher=Penguin Books |year=2014 |isbn=978-0-14-342111-5 |location=New Delhi |author-link=Naman Ramachandran |orig-date=2012}}

{{Refend}}

{{refbegin|2}}

• Prem-Ramesh. 1998 Ilaiyaraja: Isaiyin Thathuvamum Alagiyalum (trans.: Ilaiyaraja: The Philosophy and Aesthetics of Music). Chennai: Sembulam.
• Ilaiyaraaja. 1998 Vettaveli Thanil Kotti Kidakkuthu (trans.: My Spiritual Experiences) (3rd ed.). Chennai: Kalaignan Pathipagam. → A collection of poems by Ilaiyaraaja
• Ilaiyaraaja. 1998 Vazhithunai. Chennai: Saral Veliyeedu.
• Ilaiyaraaja. 1999 Sangeetha Kanavugal (trans.: Musical Dreams) (2nd ed.). Chennai: Kalaignan Pathipagam. → An autobiography about Ilaiyaraaja's European tour and other musings.
• Ilaiyaraaja. 2000 Ilaiyaraajavin Sinthanaigal (trans.: Ilaiyaraaja's Thoughts). Chennai: Thiruvasu Puthaka Nilayam.
• {{cite web |url=http://movies.rediff.com/report/2010/sep/20/south-ilaiyaraja-bio.htm |title=Making Music, Raja-style |author=Srinivasan, Pavithra |date=20 September 2010 |work=Rediff.com |access-date=15 October 2010 |archive-date=26 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126153207/http://movies.rediff.com/report/2010/sep/20/south-ilaiyaraja-bio.htm |url-status=live }}

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