Contents
Ilaiyaraaja
The film composer who fused Tamil folk melodies, Indian classical music and Western orchestration.
Annakili · How to Name It?
- Born
- 3 June 1943
- Birthplace
- India
More people
Ilaiyaraaja
Ilaiyaraaja reshaped the sound of South Indian cinema through songs and background scores. He also writes instrumental and concert music beyond film.
Early life
Pannaipuram roots
Grew up in rural Tamil Nadu, surrounded by folk music.
Family troupe
Travelled and performed with his elder brother’s musical troupe.
Career
- 1960s
Musical study
Moved to Madras and studied with Dhanraj.
- 1970s
Studio apprenticeship
Worked as a session musician and assistant to composer G. K. Venkatesh.
- 1976
Film debut
Became a film composer with Annakili.
- 1980s
Wider recognition
National Film Awards recognised scores including Sagara Sangamam and Sindhu Bhairavi.
Selected work
Annakili
A soundtrack rooted in Tamil folk idioms.
How to Name It?
An instrumental album connecting Indian and Western classical ideas.
Nayakan
Songs and score for Mani Ratnam’s crime drama.
Beyond music
Public service
Nominated to India’s Rajya Sabha in 2022.
Musical family
His children include composers Karthik Raja and Yuvan Shankar Raja.
Sources & photo credit
Life, career and references ↗Rajya Sabha: nominated member ↗Birth date and birthday observance ↗How to Name It? album ↗Sony / Echo Recording: album release and track listing ↗Photo: Sriram Narasimhan Silverscreen Media Inc. (https://silverscreen.in). CC BY-SA 3.0 · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
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