Personal details
- Birth Date: 1943-06-02
- Birth Location: Pannaipuram, Theni, Madras Presidency, British India
- Children: (her death, 3 children) Yuvan Shankar Raja
- Professions: Music Artist, Composer, Music Department
Born in a tiny village near Kambam in southern Tamil Nadu, Ilayaraja’s story is wild – the guy went from playing harmonium for street shows to becoming the first Asian to compose a symphony for the London Philharmonic. His roots run deep in music, with his mom packing a treasure chest of Tamil folk songs and his siblings forming a traveling band that played for theater troupes all over the state. That’s where he picked up the knack for reading a crowd and giving them what they want. By 25, he took a gamble and moved to Madras, chasing a shot in film music. He learned Western styles under Dhanraj Master, jamming on guitar and piano, but never really lost that folksy flavor. When he debuted with Annakili in 1976, he shook things up – those songs blended earthy village charm with lush orchestration, and Tamil audiences instantly fell for it. He kept that momentum, pumping out hit after hit for films set in real, gritty villages, not those glossy, fake ones. Songs like "Senthoorappove" and "Aatukkutti Mutaiyittu" pretty much became everyone’s soundtrack. Raja wasn’t just a one-trick pony, though – he slipped in Carnatic ragas and Western classical swells, showing off his chops with everything from string ensembles to wild piano riffs. Tracks like "Pon malai Pozhudu" and "Poongadhave" blasted out of radios everywhere. The man was a machine, writing up to three songs a day, sometimes scribbling out full scores from memory. Over the years, he even composed for international films, recorded experimental albums, and picked up the nickname Isaignani – Musical Genius. The legend just kept getting bigger.
This guy snagged a gold medal in guitar from London’s Trinity College—yeah, that’s not your average backyard achievement. Flip through his career and you’ll find absolute gems like Nayakan in 1987 (yep, his 400th film, not a typo) and Anjali in 1990, which marked number 500 for him. That’s some wild output. He didn’t just stop at movie soundtracks, either. He’s got these offbeat albums—“Nothing But the Wind,” “How to Name It,” and “Singing Skylarks”—that showcase his knack for blending Western and Indian styles. Oh, and if that wasn’t enough, he straight-up created a new Carnatic raga called Panchamukhi. Who does that? The man’s basically a legend in modern Indian music, always mixing things up and never sticking to the same old routine. Even if you’re not a music nerd, it’s tough not to be impressed by the sheer range and creativity on display here.
So, about a decade back, I got it in my head to build the main towers for the Siva temple at Thiruvanamalai and the Vaishnavite temple at Srirangam. Didn’t ask for a single rupee from anyone – it was all outta my own pocket. Could’ve handled Thiruvasagam the same way, honestly, but I held off. The thing is, I remembered something the old Kanchi Senior Acharya once said. Back in the day, even kings wouldn’t just use their own cash for temple towers. Nope, they’d get the people involved, collect funds from everyone. It was about community, everyone pitching in. That stuck with me. I wanted this project to be something everyone felt part of, not just my solo show. So, I made sure folks could chip in, let it be our thing, not just mine. Feels more real that way, you know?
June 2, 1943
Konidela Ram Charan
Pannaipuram, Theni, Madras Presidency, British India
Yes, Yuvan Shankar Raja
82 years old