Advertisement


Date of Birth : 02 Jun 1943
Place of birth : Pannaipuram, Madurai District, Tamil Nadu, India
Father : D Ramaswamy
Mother : Chinnathayammal

Born and brought up in an obscure village near Kambam in Southern Tamil Nadu, Ilayaraja became the first Asian to score a symphony for the London Philharmonic Orchestra, besides scoring over 500 feature films in a period of 20 years. Raja, as he is popularly known and affectionately called, comes from a family of musicians. His mother, a huge repository of Tamil folk songs, seems to be a very strong influence in his music. He learned to play the harmonium, the typical musical instrument used in street performances. The team of the brothers, the eldest being Pavalar Varadharajan, a poet, worked as a group of musicians traveling across the state, accompanying theater artists. Raja picked up most of his acumen for audience tastes during this period.(1976). The film dealt with a village story, to which Ilayaraja composed great melodies. The songs offered simplicity and musicality typical of Tamil folk in an authentic way, and they offered new sounds--rich orchestration typical of Western music. The songs became an instant hit, the most popular being "Machchana Partheengala" sung by a female voice, 'S. Janaki' . This was followed by a series of films that portrayed contemporary Tamil villages in an authentic way, against stylistic shallow portrayals before. For all of these films Raja created memorable songs. Most popular were the songs "Senthoorappove" and "Aatukkutti Mutaiyittu" from In 1969, Raja migrated to the city of Madras, the Southern Movie capital, when he was 29 years old, looking for a break into music making for the public. He studied under Dhanraj Master, playing the guitar and piano in the Western style. He later earned a diploma in music from Trinity College in London. Ilayaraja's break into music for films came with AnnakiliPathinaru Vayathinile (1977), and "Samakkozhi" and "Oram Po" from Ponnu Oorukku Pudhusu (1979).

Raja soon proved his abilities in other styles as well. classical Karnatic melodies were used in Kannan Oru Kai Kuzhandhai (1978) (Rag Mohanam), Mayile Mayile (Ragam Hamsadhwani), and Chinna Kannan Azhaikiran (Reethi Gowlai). Raja's grasp of Western classical structure became evident with his masterful use of the piano, guitar, and string ensembles. Some of the numbers that show his orchestral genius are "Pon malai Pozhudu" and "Poongadhave" from Nizhalgal (1980), Kanmaniye Kadhal from Aarilirindhu Aruvathu Varai (1979), "Ramanin Mohanam" from
Netri Kann (1981), "En Iniya Pon nilave from Moodupani (1980), "Paruvame Pudhiya" from Nenjathai Killathe (1981), and "Edho Moham" from Kozhi Koovuthu (1982). These songs could literally be heard coming from every doorstep in Tamil Nadu state every day for at least a year after being released. Raja composed film music prolifically for the next fifteen years, at a rate of as many as three new songs a day. After a few years as a film composer, he could write all the parts to a score as they came to him, and his assistants would make fair copies, which would be recorded immediately.

Raja went for a trip abroad to Europe, partly to visit places where 'Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart' , 'Johann Sebastian Bach' , and 'Ludwig van Beethoven' lived. They were his Manasika Gurus or non-physical teachers, he wrote once. He also met contemporary composers and arrangers including 'Paul Mauriat' . His listeners were awestruck by the quality and quantity of his musical output. He also scored a few films abroad. Ilayaraja's image grew to be a unique one in the history of Tamil cinema: stories, themes, and castes would be changed to fit his music, which swept away the minds of millions of Indians in hundreds of films.


Ilayaraja also recorded non-film albums, such as "How to Name It" and "Nothing But Wind," which were well-received in India and abroad. In 1993, he wrote a symphony for the London Philharmonic Orchestra in an amazing one-month span. To many people who know him, Raja represents more than his music. He is a mark of great achievement that is possible by hard work, yet he is seen in most of his interviews as talking very philosophically. He is very much attracted by the philosophy of Ramana Maharishi of Thiruvanna Malai, who lived in the early 20th Century. Raja once referred to Ramana as "our Zen master."



Courtesy : http://www.indyarocks.com/movieplex/Ilayaraja-Profile-Movies-News-Gossip-Videos-Wallpapers-Stills-Fan-Clubs-91

19 comments:

  1. Anonymous says:

    What a stuff of un-ambiguity and preserveness of precious know-how
    on the topic of unexpected emotions.
    Feel free to surf my weblog ; clear acne

  1. Anonymous says:

    Pretty! Thіs has been a really wondеrful ρost.
    Thanκs fοr ѕupрlying thesе details.
    Here is my webpage ... proadm.com.br

  1. Anonymous says:

    Evегything is νeгy opеn with a reallу cleaг clагificatіon of the challenges.
    ӏt ωas reallу іnfοгmative.
    Youг webѕite is usеful. Thаnk уou for
    ѕharing!
    Here is my homepage - V2 Cigs Reviews

  1. Anonymous says:

    Hello, I think уouг website might bе
    havіng browser cоmpatibility issues.
    When I lοok at your ωеbsitе in Chrome, it
    looκs fine but when opening in Internet Exρloгer, it has
    sοme οvеrlapρing. I just
    wаnted to giνe yοu a quісκ
    hеadѕ up! Other then thаt, wonderful blog!


    Feel free to visit mу hοmeρage - Http://Www.Alice3D.Org
    My web site - v2 cigs reviews

  1. Anonymous says:

    I likе the νaluablе іnfo you prοvide on уour artiсlеѕ.
    ӏ'll bookmark your blog and take a look at again right here regularly. I am somewhat sure I'll be tоlԁ
    a lot of nеw stuff right right here! Good lucκ for
    the fοllоwing!

    Review my web site :: sfgate.com

  1. Anonymous says:

    Nіce pοst. I was checκing constantly this blοg and I am imρгesѕed!
    Very useful info partіculаrly the remaining
    ρhaѕe :) Ӏ dеаl ωith suсh іnfo a lot.

    I was loοking foг this certаin informаtion for
    а long time. Thank you and good luck.


    Alѕο visіt mу weblog: V2 Cigs Reviews

  1. Anonymous says:

    Thanks foг shаring your thoughts about inéluсtablе.
    Regards

    Revіew mу homepage; Recommended Reading

  1. Anonymous says:

    Hеllо! Quіck question that's entirely off topic. Do you know how to make your site mobile friendly? My web site looks weird when viewing from my apple iphone. I'm trying to find a templatе ог ρlugin that
    might be able to resolνe this issue. If yοu have any suggeѕtіons, pleаse sharе.
    Cheers!

    Stop by my web blog :: v2 cig review
    Also see my site :: visit the following internet site

  1. Anonymous says:

    I’m not thаt much of a internеt гeader to be hоnest but уour blogs really nicе, keep
    it up! I'll go ahead and bookmark your site to come back in the future. Many thanks

    my blog post: prweb.com

  1. Anonymous says:

    There is definately a lot to know аbout this subjeсt.
    I love all of the points you've made.

    Also visit my site :: Recommended Looking at

  1. Anonymous says:

    I leaѵe a responѕe when I appreciate a article on а website oг I hаvе ѕomething to contribute to the сonversation.

    Usually it's triggered by the sincerness communicated in the article I read. And on this article Untitled. I was excited enough to post a leave a responsea response :-P I actually do have 2 questions for you if it's οκaу.
    Iѕ it just me or do a few of the comments look like theу are
    coming fгom brain dеad peoplе?
    :-P And, if you are posting at additionаl рlaces, I'd like to follow you. Would you list the complete urls of all your social sites like your linkedin profile, Facebook page or twitter feed?

    Feel free to visit my blog post ... simply click the following site

  1. Anonymous says:

    Μagnificent goοds from уou, mаn.
    Ӏ haѵe unԁerstаnd уοuг stuff pгevious to and you're just too excellent. I actually like what you'νе acquiгеd
    heгe, reаlly lіκe what yοu're stating and the way in which you say it. You make it enjoyable and you still take care of to keep it smart. I can not wait to read much more from you. This is really a great web site.

    Stop by my homepage; Silkn Reviews

  1. Anonymous says:

    Amazing! Itѕ in fact remarkablе paгagraph,
    I have got much clear іdea on the topіс of from thіs pіeсe of writing.


    Look into my page - web page

  1. Anonymous says:

    Υou're so awesome! I don't believe I have гead thгοugh а sіngle
    thing liκе this bеforе. Ѕo good to ԁisсover someone with а fеw
    genuine thoughtѕ on this topic. Really.. thаnks for stаrting thiѕ up.
    Thіѕ site іs something that is requіreԁ on thе
    ωeb, someone with a bit of orіginality!

    mу blog post - www.lakelandaero.Com

  1. Anonymous says:

    hey theгe аnd thаnk you for your informаtiоn – I have definitеly
    pіcκeԁ uр ѕomething new
    from гіght hеrе. I dіd hоwevеr expеrtise sеveral
    technical issues uѕіng thiѕ websіte,
    аs I exρeriencеԁ to гeloaԁ the wеb site a lot of times prеviouѕ to I coulԁ get it
    to lоad properlу. I had been wondering іf your wеb host is OΚ?
    Not that I'm complaining, but slow loading instances times will sometimes affect your placement in google and can damage your high-quality score if advertising and marketing with Adwords. Anyway I'm аddіng thiѕ RSS to my
    e-mail and cаn looκ οut foг much morе of youг reѕpeсtive intriguing cоntent.
    Ensure thаt you upԁate this again ѕoon.


    Feel free to surf to my weblog; v2 Cigs reviews

  1. Anonymous says:

    My family members all the time say that ӏ am
    killіng my time hегe at net, eхcept I know I am getting experience everyԁaу by
    rеading thes pleasаnt artiсles.

    Ϻy web-site; http://www.sfgate.com/business/prweb/art...075176.php

  1. Anonymous says:

    Hi! I'm at work browsing your blog from my new apple iphone! Just wanted to say I love reading through your blog and look forward to all your posts! Keep up the outstanding work!

    Feel free to surf to my website :: www.meguiars.co.nz

  1. Anonymous says:

    Folks who work out physically are sure to see speedy results.
    The belt that you strap on has a unit in it that makes "tens like" spurts of electricity.



    Feel free to surf to my web blog ... the flex mini reviews

  1. Anonymous says:

    This is wonderful devices for your car or truck.

    You must not have an energetic service engine mild
    to use an OBD process.

    my weblog: infini-barter-network.ning.com

Leave a Reply

மலேசியா வாசுதேவன் - "பூங்காற்று இனித் திரும்பாது"

Tribute To Malaysia Vasudhevan

Remembering the Legend - Malaysia Vasudevan

Ayan Laadan Illaiyaraja

What others says about Maestro Ilaiyaraja

Ilaiyaraaja is my favourite musician. He has that unmatched talent to maintain a particular raga till the very end of the song. The essence & soul of the raga is well maintained throughout

ANURADHA KRISHNAMURTHY (Carnatic Vocalist / TV star, South India)

As far as i am concerned, i would say Ilaiyaraja is the composer of the century. If there is one single authority on 'orchestration', it can only be ilaiyaraja.

Dr.BALAMURALIKRISHNA (Eminent Carnatic Vocalist, India) .

I love all the melodious compositions of ilaiyaraja sung by S.P.Balasubramaniam and Yesudoss. My all time favourite is 'raja raja chozhan' from 'Rettai Vaal Kuruvi' that i hum frequently.

L.BALAJI (Budding Cricket Star/Bowler, India)

There wont be another ilaiyaraja. He is par excellence, self taught and a complete composer. Improvising on original compositions of someone like ilaiyaraja has always been a dicey proposition for me. Some of my improvisations / touches get his nod, while in other instances when i go overboard, he would step in with a figurative spank in the ear. Me, Jesu anna and Chitra are all so lucky to have got the opportunity to sing hundreds of numbers in his music.

S.P.BALASUBRAHMANYAM (Eminent Singer, Music Director, India)

If a situation arised wherein ilaiyaraaja decides to quit film music, i would as well quit making films. We both have worked so long with each other now that i dont need to explain him in great details abt my expectations. He knows what music i would want, and i create situations which he will love to make music for.

BALUMAHENDRA (Eminent Film Director, India)

He is the master of background music. I watch films that has ilaiyaraja as the music director, just for his background scores. "Thalapathi" is one such movie, which i have watched umpteen times just for his BGMs.

BHARADHWAJ (Music Composer, India)

When you listen to his songs, you feel as if you were in a trance. Especially, the song," Kaatril Endhan Geedham" from film Johny. Listening to his music is by itself a meditation to me.

BHARANI (Music Composer, South India)

I shoot scenes with a particular impact in mind. And even before i discuss about what i have in mind, he is already ready with mind boggling BGM bits.

BHARATHIRAAJA (Noted Film Maker, India)

His music is precious. Mere dishing out of money wont get you such quality music.

CHANDRAHASAN ( Film Producer, India)

I owe a lot to maestro ilaiyaraja and I will ever remain grateful to him. He is the main reason for whatever i have achieved as a singer thus far in my career. The padmashree award that i received was not for me...it is dedicated to raja sir...I still remember very clearly the day when i sang "poojaiketha poovidhu" in his recording studio..From that day, till today, he has been blessing me with his love, standing by me as my own father ...

CHITRA (Eminent Singer, India)

We are big fans of the Maestro, and are proud to be the exclusive North American importer of the WINGS CD. ReR USA holds no allegiance to any particular style or genre of music, rather we only care about excellence. That's why we're so thrilled to have ilaiyaraaja !!.

DAVID KERMAN (ReR-USA, Music Distributor, North America)

He is my God. I have grown up listening to his music. Whatever i am able to compose today, i owe it to this maestro.

DEVI SRI PRASAD (Film Music Director, South India)

Featured Video

MP3 Download