The music maestro of Tamil cinema Ilayaraja has recently completed a 1,000 film scores. True to his nature, he brushes off the unprecedented achievement, saying it’s all God’s will.
However, one has learnt that Ilayaraja’s admirers and supporters have major plans to celebrate his triumph. Filmmaker R. Balki, in whose three films so far — Cheeni Kum, Paa and Shamitabh — Ilayaraja has composed the music, plans an event on January 20 in Mumbai where the most prominent among those who have accompanied the music maestro on his 1000-film journey, will be invited to honour their ‘Raja Sir’.
Says a source, “The idea is to invite all those filmmakers, singers, lyricists and actors who have accompanied Raja Sir in his 1000-film journey. Obviously it wouldn’t be possible to invite everyone. But Balki will select the people who were important in Raja Sir’s musical odyssey. From S. Janaki and P. Susheela who sang in Raja
Sir’s first soundtrack Annakili to Big B, who has sung in Raja Sir’s latest Shamitabh,they will all be there.” Interestingly, Lata Mangeshkar has sung only one song for Ilayaraja, in Raj Kumar Santoshi’s film Lajja. She is also expected to attend. Says Balki, “Yes, we’re planning something very special for Raja Sir on 20 January."
