I am still where I had begun: Maestro Ilaiyaraaja on completing 50 years as film music director

Maestro Ilaiyaraaja on Thursday said he was still where he had begun and did not feel that 50 years had passed since the release of the Tamil movie ‘Annakili’ on May 14, 1976, which launched his career as a music director.

“I am still recording for Balki’s film. Years have passed. But I am still where I had begun, and I do not know anything other than that,” he told reporters in Chennai.

Asked about people revering him as the God of music, he said, “God never sees himself as God. If people see me as the God of music, it shows the respect and love they have for me,” he said.

His music gave solace to people. “Many say that a child in the womb kicks while listening to my songs. People say my songs evoke a lot of feelings in them. But I have nothing to do with that. It is like the wind. My mind will be empty when I compose. The song ‘Janani Janani’ controls the mind, which travels to all places even while praying to God in a temple,” he said.

According to him, even though he had worked in 250 films as assistant to music directors, his role as a music director for ‘Annakili’ posed a challenge to him. He then recalled how he composed the humming for the song “Annakili Unnai Theduthey” to express the emotions of a love-stricken woman.

“I walked on the road opposite All India Radio, giving shape to the humming,” he said.