Sharjah | The legendary Indian music composer Ilaiyaraaja shared insights into his profound five-decade musical journey at the 43rd Sharjah International Book Fair. Speaking in a session titled “The Maestro’s Journey: Ilaiyaraaja’s Musical Odyssey,” Ilaiyaraaja emphasized that music was more than a career; it encompassed his entire life. “I have lived each moment in music,” he remarked.
The Happiness of First Applause
Born in a small village in Tamil Nadu, Ilaiyaraaja’s passion for music was evident from a young age. His elder brother, Bhaskaran, performed at local events, while Ilaiyaraaja himself was initially not allowed to touch the harmonium at home. Yet, he grasped his first chance to play in public during a concert in Kambam when the scheduled harmonium player failed to show up.And this is where he received his first round of applause—a moment that resonated with the audience in Sharjah, who responded with matching enthusiasm.
Ilaiyaraaja went on to complete his guitar studies with a gold medal. In 1976, prior to composing for his debut film “Annakili”, Ilaiyaraaja served as an assistant music producer for a Kannada film featuring the iconic actor Rajkumar. Recounting this early experience, Ilaiyaraaja described how he was asked to prepare musical notes for ten compositions crafted by the lead composer. However, being unfamiliar with formal notation at the time, Ilaiyaraaja memorized the tunes instead. When the producer and director arrived to review the music, they were amazed to see him flawlessly perform each piece from memory, demonstrating his remarkable auditory skill.
52 Weeks in a Year and Composing for 58 Films in a Year
Ilaiyaraaja’s astonishing productivity includes composing for up to 58 films within a single year. In one day, he managed to create music for three separate films in three different theaters. He recalled working on the film “Kaaki Sattai” produced by Panju Arunachalam and starring Kamal Haasan, where he composed additional six songs intended for future projects. But the contract required that all songs be used.Ultimately, these pieces were incorporated into “Vaidehi Kathirunthal”, which remains beloved for tracks such as “Rasaathi Unnai Kaanathe” and “Azhagu Malaraada.”
Songwriting for Cinema
In a film directed by Mani Ratnam, Ilaiyaraaja contributed to the songwriting by penning a song where romance and devotion blend harmoniously. The resulting song, “Idhayam Oru Kovil,” was well-received.Beyond film songs,Ilaiyaraaja also contributed to Tamil devotional music by writing for “Thiruvempavai keerthana”,a revered collection of devotional Tamil music.
Complexity of Symphony
Ilaiyaraaja described the intricate nature of symphonic composition, noting that it involves numerous layers and a variety of instruments, each with unique notes. Even minor errors can disrupt a symphony’s foundation, and he suggested that even a hundred lifetimes wouldn’t be enough to fully experience every symphony. He noted that the song “Sundari” from the film “Thalapathi” contains symphonic elements.He also said that understanding different cultures enriches his approach while composing music in different languages, though his inspiration is always organic.
The session, moderated by renowned Carnatic musician Sanjay Subrahmanyan, included live performances by Ilaiyaraaja and Sanjay, creating a memorable experience for the audience. Amrita, a Malayali singer, performed “Yedhedho” from “Punnagai Mannan”.Journalist Asif Meeran asked Ilaiyaraaja how he maintains such energy and enthusiasm often exceeding that of younger generations, to which he responded simply, “That’s Raja.” The event concluded with a vote of thanks by Govind DC, and RJ Keerthana served as the session’s presenter.