Ilaiyaraja

ilayaraja

Original Name Gnanadhesikan(at birth), Rasaiya(from school)
Other Names/Titles Rasaiyya-By friends
Raja-By Music tutor Dhanraj
Ilayaraja-By film director Panju Arunachalam
Isaignani-by Kalaingar
Date of Birth 2,June,1943
Address Ilayaraaja
38, Murugesan Street, Theagaraya Nagar
Chennai, Tamil Nadu
India 600 017
Phone No 828 3209
Place of birth Pannaipuram, Madurai District, Tamil Nadu, India
Family Father -Ramasamy
Mother-Chinnaththayi
Brothers and sisters-Pavalar Varadharajan,
Kamala, Padma, Baskar and Amarsingh(Gangai Amaran)
Wife-Jeeva
Sons-Karthik raja, Yuvan shankar Raja(Music Directors)
Daughter-Bhavatharini(Playback Singer)
Education School drop out.
Carnatic Music and western music, Gold medalist in classical guitar (Higher Local) examination conducted by the Trinity College of Music, London
Career Music Composer,Lyricist
Before becoming a music director With brother and mentor Mr Pavalar Varadarajan and two more brothers, performed 20,000 music concerts in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Mumbai.
Assistant Music Director with Mr G K Venkatesh
Songs composed About 4000 songs and background music for more than 750 films
Albums And other Works Albums “How To Name It?” and “Nothing But Wind ”
Composed musical score for

  • the television docu-feature film ‘India  24 hours’ appreciated by   Director Mr. Micheal Tobiaz
  • the ‘Miss World 1996 Pageantry’
  • devotional albums like “Ilayaraajavin Geethanjali”, “Meenakshi sthothram”, “Moogaambigai” “keerthanas and ‘varnams” titled ‘Raja Lahari’,’Raajavin Ramana Malai’ and Vedic Chants
Other Facts Author of the books
“Sangeetha Kanavugal”
(His feelings and impressions during the concert tour to the Europe.)“vetta velythanil koti kidakkuthu” (His spiritual experiences.)
“vazhiththunai”
Awards Best Film Music Composer Award, an annual award, by the Government of India in the years 1984, 1986 and1988.
‘Kalaimamani Award’, an annual award for excellence in the field of arts, by the Government of the State of Tamil Nadu, India
Lata Mangeshkar Award For Excellence in Music in 1988
Conferred the Degree of Doctor of Letter, by the Annamalai University, Tamil Nadu, India in March 1994 and by the Madurai kamraj University in 1996
and many more.
First Musical Instrument a talc box and a string that resembled a classical Indian instrument – “thambura”
Favourite playback singers Rafi,Jesudas,Balu
Favourite Music Directors C.Ramachandra,Naushath,S.D.Burman,Madan Mohan,Roshan,Subburaman,Ramanathan,S.N.Venkatraman,M.S.V
Favourite proverb “Theethum nandrum pirar thara vaara”-Tamil Proverb
Favourite world leader Mahatma Gandhiji
Most read book “Arunmozhi Thoguppu”-by Ramanar
Hobbies is bringing out a book “Through My Eyes Only” which contains the photographs he has captured since early days
Favourite Camera LIECA
Charities orphanages, temples, and has performed on stage for the benefit of charities

About The Author