Early Life and Education

Ilaiyaraaja was born as R. Gnanathesikan on June 2, 1943, in Pannaipuram, a small village in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. His father, Ramaswamy, was a musician who played the nagaswaram, a traditional South Indian wind instrument. Ilaiyaraaja grew up in a musically-rich environment and began learning music from his father at a young age.

Ilaiyaraaja completed his early education in Pannaipuram and later moved to Madurai to pursue his studies. He began learning the harmonium and other musical instruments during this time and also started composing music.

Career

Ilaiyaraaja began his career in the Tamil film industry in the early 1970s. He worked as an assistant to the famous Indian composer G. K. Venkatesh before branching out on his own. His breakthrough came in 1976 with the film "Annakili," for which he composed the music. The songs in the film became popular and helped to establish Ilaiyaraaja as a leading composer in the Tamil film industry.

Over the course of his career, Ilaiyaraaja has composed music for over 1,000 films in various Indian languages, including Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and Hindi. He is known for his distinctive style of composing music, which often blends Indian classical music with Western classical music and other genres. He has also written lyrics for many of his songs.

Ilaiyaraaja has won numerous awards for his work, including five National Film Awards, six Tamil Nadu State Film Awards, and two Filmfare Awards. He has also been recognized for his contributions to Indian music by various organizations, including the Government of India, which honored him with the Padma Bhushan, one of India's highest civilian awards.

In addition to his work in film, Ilaiyaraaja has also composed music for ballets, operas, and other stage productions. He has also released several albums of devotional music, which are popular among his fans.

Personal Life

Ilaiyaraaja is married to Jeeva, and the couple has three children. His son, Yuvan Shankar Raja, is also a composer and singer in the Indian film industry.

Ilaiyaraaja is known for his love of nature and has been involved in various environmental conservation efforts. He is also a devotee of the Indian spiritual leader Mata Amritanandamayi and has composed music for her charitable organization, the Mata Amritanandamayi Math.

Legacy

Ilaiyaraaja's contributions to Indian film music have earned him a dedicated following of fans and admirers. His distinctive style of composing music, which blends Indian classical music with Western classical music and other genres, has influenced many other composers in the Indian film industry.

Ilaiyaraaja's work has also been recognized internationally. In 2010, he was invited to compose the music for the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India. He has also performed in various concerts around the world, including in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

Ilaiyaraaja's legacy continues to inspire new generations of composers and musicians in India and around the world.