Ilayaraja is basically from Tamil Nadu Ilayaraja, the great music director was born on June 2nd in the year1943 at Pannaipuram in the district of Theni in Tamil Nadu. Since childhood he was interested in music. In his childhood he was exposed to the village folk songs. He got interest in music through his mother, He learnt to play harmonium in his childhood.
He got married to Jeeva. They have three children ‘Karthik Raja’. ‘Yuvan Shankar Raja’ and ‘Bhavatharini’ all the three are also music composers. His brother ‘Gangai Amaran’ is also a music director in the Tamil Film Industry.
He joined as the music assistant for the music director G K Venkatesh in Kannada films. He worked as the music assistant for nearly 200 movies.
While working as the assistant music director, he started writing his own tunes and sometimes he used to ask the musicians (G K Venkatesh’s Orchestra) to play his composed tunes to hear them during the break times. He used to hire the musical instruments from the music composer R K Shekar, father of the music director A R Rehaman to listen to the tunes composed by him.
He composed music for all the four South Indian Films . He even composed music in Marathi and Hindi Movies. He was one of the music directors to add the western music in the Indian Film Industry. Later on he became a ‘Maestro’ in Indian Film Music. He composed music for 950 films in various languages in the span of thirty years. He composed nearly 4500 songs.
He started his career in Telugu with the movie ‘Vayasu Pilichindi’ directed by C V Sridhar in the year 1978. He gave a melodious music in many Telugu films. Some songs are evergreen songs even remembered by the audience even today. In the movie “Chettu kinda Pleader” he used the mechanic tools and gave a melodious music out of it. Till today the Telugu audience remember those songs.
List of the Telugu Films of Illayaraja as Music Director:
- Vayasu Pilichindi (1978)
- Yugandhar (1979)
- Seetha Koka Chiluka (1981)
- Vasantha Kokila (1982)
- Nireekshana (1982)
- Abhilasha (1983)
- Sagaraa Sangamam (1983)
- Sitaraa (1984)
- Swathi Muthyam (1985)
- Raakshasudu (1986)
- Sri Shiridi Saibaba Mahatyam (1986)
- Rudra Veena (1987)
- Swarna Kamalam (1987)
- Abhinandana (1988)
- Gharshana (1988)
- Prema (1989)
- Geethanjali (1989)
- Siva (1989)
- Chettu Kinda Pleader (1989)
- Indrudu Chandrudu (1989)
- Bobbili Raja (1990)
- O Papa Laali (1990)
- Jagadekaveerudu Athiloka Sundari (1990)
- Aditya 369 (1991)
- Dalapathi (1991)
- Sri Rama Rajyam (2011)
- Yeto Velli Poyindi Manasu (2012)
List of the some of the lyrics of Popular Songs Composed by Music Director Ilayaraja:
- Muthyamalle Merisipoye Malemogga (Vayasu Pilichindi-1978)
- Mata Mantramam Manasebhandamau (Seetakokachiluka-1981)
- Kadaga Kalpanaga Kanipinchenu Nakoka Dorasani (Vasantha Kokila-1982)
- Akasam Enatido Abhimanam Aanatidi (Neerkshana-1982)
- Sadepoddulakada Sampengina Vendi (Abhilasha-1983)
- Takita Tadimi Takita Tadimi (Sagara Sangamam -1983)
- Jilibili Palukula Chlipiga Palekina (Sitaraa-1984)
- Laali Laali Laali Laali (Swathi Mutyam-1985)
- Suvvi Suvvi Suvalamma (Swathi Mutyan-1985)
- Malli Malli Idi Raani Roju (Raakshasudu-1986)
- Hey Pandurangaa Hey Pandarinaatha Saranam((Sri Shirdi Saibaba Mahathyam1986)
- Randi Randi Randi Dayacheyandi(Rudra Veena-1987)
- Kothagaa Rekkalocchenna Gutiloni Guvva Pillaki (Swarna Kamalam-1987)
- Prema Entha Madhuram Priyuraalu Anta Kathinam (Abhinandana-1988)
- Prema Ledani Premincharaadani (Abhinanadana-1988)
- Maata Raani Mounamidi (Maharshi-1988)
- Nennu Kori Varnam Varnam (Gharshana-1988)
- Priyatama Naa Hrudayama Premake Pratirupama (Prema-1989)
- O Papa Laali Janmake Laali (Geethanjali-1989)
- Botany Paatamundi Matinee Ataunidi (Siva-1989)
- Cheltikanaam Gaadi (Chettu Kinda Pleader-1989)
- Laali Jo Laaliijo (Indrudu Chandrudu-1989)
- Balapam Patti Bhama (Bobbili Raja-1990)
- Priyatama NanuPalakarinchu Pranayama (Jagadeka Veerudu Atiloka Sundari-1990)
- Maate Rani Chinnadani Kallu Palike (O Papa Laali-1990)
- Chilakamma Chitikeyanga (Dalapathi-1991)
- Jaanavule Varaveenavule (Aditya 369-1991)
- Priya Priyatama Raagaalu (Killer-1992)
- Anjali Anjali Chilike Navvula (Anjali-1992)
- Oosulaade Oka Jaabilata (Hrudayam-1992)
Awards for Ilayaraja:
National Film Awards:
- Best Music Director Award for the film ‘Sagara Sangamam’ in the year 1984.
- Best Music Director for the film ‘Rudra Veena’ in the year 1989.
Nandi Awards:
- Best Music Director for the film ‘Seetakoka Chiluka’ in the year 1981.
- Best Music Director Award for the film ‘Sagara Sangamam’ in the year 1984.
- Best Music Director Award for the Film ‘Rudra Veena’ in the year 1989.
Film Fare Award: Best Music Director Award for the Film ‘Bobbili Raja’ in the year 1989.
Honors:
The Government of India honored him with ‘Padma Bhusan’ in the year 2010.
He is a great Music Director of the era. He introduced the Disco type of music in the Telugu Film Industry. He is a great person and inspired by all.
This great Musician is completing 69 years and entering into his 70’s.
businessoftollywood.com wishes this great music composer a very happy birthday and wishes that he composes music for many more movies.
