Ilaiyaraaja
Composer, arranger, singer, screenwriter, and multi-instrumentalist R. Gnanathesikan – born on June 2, 1943, in Pannaipuram, Tamil Nadu, India – is better known as Ilaiyaraaja. One of the most popular composers in the Indian film industry, he is best-known for his work in Tamil cinema (Kollywood) and Telugu cinema (Tollywood). He is also known for blending traditional Indian folk music with modern film orchestration. Throughout his career, he has smoothly mixed other genres into his music including afro-tribal, bossa nova, disco, doo-wop, flamenco, western folk, funk, Indian classical, jazz, rock'n'roll and even psychedelic rock. Ilaiyaraaja’s musical journey began at the age of 14 when he joined his older brother's group, Pavalar Brothers, and performed thousands of concerts throughout Southern India for the next decade. Although a busy performer, Ilaiyaraaja spent his free time focused on composing music. By the 1970s, he was a popular session musician, performing either guitar or keyboards on film scores for directors such as Salil Chowdhury. Ilaiyaraaja then became the music assistant to G.K. Venkatesh, the composer best-known for his work in Kannada cinema (Sandalwood). Ilaiyaraaja worked on 200 film projects with Venkatesh before deciding to focus on his own compositions. In 1975, he composed music for director Devaraj Mohan’s film Anakkili, which opened the door to working on films by directors such as Bharathiraja, S. P. Muthuraman, Mahendran, Balu Mahendra, K. Balachander, Mani Ratnam, Sathyan Anthikkad, Priyadarshan, Fazil, Vamsy, K. Vishwanath, Singeetam Srinivasa Rao, Bala, Shankar Nag, and R. Balki. Ilaiyaraaja is acknowledged as one of the most prolific composers in the world, with more than 7,000 songs to his credit in over 1,000 films. In 1993, he became the first Indian to compose a complete symphony performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in London, England. In 2005, Ilaiyaraaja composed the critically acclaimed Thiruvasakam in Symphony, which incorporated a selection of ancient Tamil poems written by ninth century saint Manikkavacakar. Ilaiyaraaja has recorded thousands of songs for films, but he has also released many non-film instrumental albums Including How to Name It? (1986), The Secret of Ramayana (1992), Manikantan Geet Mala (2008), and Bharath Bhoomi (2020). In 2022, he released Ilaiyaraaja Reimagined, a collaboration with Kirk Spencer, which features "Kanne Kalaimane".
©Copyright Music Story Stephen Schnee 2023
Similar artists
-
Mounam Sammadham (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
World - Released by IMM on 20 Aug 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Azhagi (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
World - Released by Roja - Mass Audio on 13 Dec 2017
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Sindhu Bhairavi (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
World - Released by IMM on 16 Feb 2024
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Gopura Vasalile (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
World - Released by Imm on 22 Mar 1991
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Unna Nenachu ") (From "Psycho (Tamil)")
Film Soundtracks - Released by Sony Music Entertainment India Pvt. Ltd. on 18 Nov 2019
24-Bit 48.0 kHz - Stereo -
Karakattakkaran (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
World - Released by IMM on 13 Mar 2024
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Amman Kovil Kizhakale (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
World - Released by Imm on 29 Jul 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Payanangal Mudivathillai (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
World - Released by Imm on 1 Jan 1982
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
My Dear Marthandan (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Film Soundtracks - Released by Echo Recording Co. Pvt. Ltd. on 25 Nov 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Chinna Thambi (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
World - Released by Imm on 21 Apr 1991
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Thaarai Thappattai (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Indian Music - Released by Think Music on 25 Dec 2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Coolie No 1
Miscellaneous - Released by Aditya Music on 8 Jan 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
My Playlist: Ilaiyaraaja
Film Soundtracks - Released by Sony Music Entertainment India Pvt. Ltd. on 6 Jun 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Puthu Paatu (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Film Soundtracks - Released by Echo Recording Co. Pvt. Ltd. on 29 Nov 2021
24-Bit 88.2 kHz - Stereo -
Ellame En Rasathan (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
World - Released by Saregama on 1 Dec 1995
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Anjali (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
World - Released by Imm on 28 Jul 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mella Thirandhathu Kadhavu (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Ilaiyaraaja, Vaali, Gangai Amaran
World - Released by Imm on 12 Sep 1986
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Michel Madana Kamarajan (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Film Soundtracks - Released by Echo Recording Co. Pvt. Ltd. on 1 Jan 1990
24-Bit 88.2 kHz - Stereo -
Apoorva Sagodharargal (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
World - Released by IMM on 14 Apr 1989
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
En Rasavin Manasile (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
World - Released by Imm on 12 Aug 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
How to Name It?
Indian Music - Released by Echo Recording Co. Pvt. Ltd. on 1 Jan 1986
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo