MUSIC MAESTRO ILAIYARAJA

From Sampath’s Desk:

  

MUSIC MAESTRO ILAIYARAJA

 

Music lovers all over the world in general and those in India particularly Tamil Nadu feel euphoric and elated at Music Maestro Ilaiyaraja being conferred with the ‘Padma Vibhushan’ for his rich contributions to the world of music. He received the second-highest civilian award from President Ram Nath Kovind on 20.3.2018 (Tuesday). I join our countrymen in congratulating the Music Master on his earning this laurel.

 

The iconic music director-cum-singer Ilaiyaraaja (Gnanathesikan), also fondly and affectionately called Raja Sir or Isai Gnani in the film/music world (born on 3 June 1943), has been enthralling lakhs people for decades together and inspiring generations of existing and upcoming musicians, learners, and listeners with his ever-green scintillating high-class song compositions. Many a time, he had taken music listeners to a crescendo of joy, delight, excitement, and ecstasy through his beautiful compositions and also melodious singing. The very songs that he composed made many films a great hit at the box-office. His versatility is well known. He has overly earned name and fame in the music world. He combined modernity with traditions as could be seen in many of his songs. 

 

Generations are being trained by him who got benefited out of his rich experiences and expertise in music. He took his soulful music especially rural-based ones including folk-songs from their native environs to the national and international horizons besides proving his mastery over the western genres. His melodies couched in devotional, philosophical, entertainment, and even symphonious tinge were in fact spirit-uplifters. He is indeed elegant, not flamboyant, and believed in music with a message. Being an avant-garde composer his oeuvre is a lesson for generations of music aspirants to come.

 

The prestigious Music Academy, Chennai recently honoured the living Music legend and Maestro par excellence by inviting him to inaugurate its 91^st annual music conference and concerts in December 2019. Some of the highlights of his achievement are - he is a gold medalist from Trinity College of Music, London, having composed over 4500 songs and provided film scores for more than 900 Indian films in various languages in a a career spanning for more than 30 years including non-film music, religious and devotional hymns – in short, an encyclopedia of music. Ilayaraja and SPB were very close friends and mention of one’s life without making a reference to the other will only be incomplete.

 

Chennai-based Music Icon has to his credit National Film Awards for Best Music direction for many films. He integrated folk lyricism and introduced broader Western musical sensibilities into the South Indian musical mainstream. He was conferred with the title ‘Isaignani’ (savant of music) in 1988 and received the ‘Kalaimamani Award’, an annual award for excellence in the field of fine arts and music, both from the Tamil Nadu government. He has also received awards from other state governments like Kerala (1995), Andhra Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh (The Lata Mangeshkar Award-1998) for his excellence in music besides honorary doctorates from many universities in India and abroad. Accolades and encomia were heaped on him by one and all. Salutes to this great music maestro!

 

As desired by Sri Kanchi Maha Periyavaa, Ilayaraja took care of the expenditure of the 6^th tier of the Sri Rangam Rajagopuram that was consecrated on 25.3.1985.

 

Ilayaraja’s first two non-film albums were explorations in the fusion of Indian and Western classical music. The first, ‘How to Name it?’ (1986) was dedicated to the Carnatic master Thyagaraja and JS Bach. The second was ‘Nothing But Wind’ (1988) performed by flutist Hariprasad Chaurasia and the 50-piece orchestra, the theme being ‘music is a natural phenomenon akin to various forms of air currents’. His other musical works were – Carnatic Kritis recorded by electric mandolinist U Srinivas (1994) and Guru Ramana Geetham (2004). Thiruvasakam: A crossover (2005) was said to be his first Indian oratorio ever performed by the Budapest Symphony Orchestra. He had many such masterpieces to his credit. Only a few would have scaled the high peaks in the music world as he did! He had given his marvelous music performances in different parts of the world.

President of India has recently (2022) appointed him as a nominated M.P. of Rajya Sabha.

The Music Maestro gave his spectacular and splendid Western classical symphony christened ‘Valiant’ in London on 9 March 2025. That he is the first Indian to do so redoubles his credit, name, and fame. The symphony had four elements - the first and second were purely Western classical music, and the third and fourth had the influence of Indian classical music. This makes the performance still greater. Still heartening, moving, and inspirational is the fact that his fans not only from India but across the world hit the music event spot in thousands. He may give the same performance in other countries also shortly.

 

We wish him a long, healthy, and prosperous life, and for his continued service to the world of music reaching still further heights of fame.  

 

R.SAMPATH