Music director Ilayaraja and director Gnanarajasekaran always shared an excellent rapport. Ilayaraja's works in Moga Mul and Bharathy, both directed by Gnanarajasekaran, won several accolades.

Obviously Gnanarajasekaran approached Ilayaraja for his current directorial venture Periyar, a movie based on the life of the revolutionary thinker in Tamilnadu.

Interestingly Ilayaraja has declined to work in the movie. Eventually the baton has been passed to Vidyasagar.

According to Ilayaraja, ' I have a great respect for Periyar. Certain ideas of Periyar still holds relevant. However he was a known atheist. But my life is total contrast to the ideas and thoughts of Periyar. Hence I thought it would not be appropriate for me to work in the movie and more over I though I cannot do justice to my job'.

Just right. Even in life's ideas there is symphony in the maestro's methods.