Today is the 74th birthday of Isaignani Ilaiayraja.

Ilaiyaraja is one of the senior most and much respected music directors of Indian cinema who is still active working in multiple films. The illustrious career started in 1976 with the super hit black and white film 'Annakili' is still continuing over four decades with more than 1000 films to his credit. Ilaiyaraja is the first ever Indian music composer to have worked in 1000 films and he is also the composer with most number of south Indian films. He is equally popular in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada film industries.

Ilaiyaraja's songs under various genres which encompasses all forms of classical, western and folk numbers have been a part of life for Tamil people for generations. He is a renowned genius who is considered as a Guru by many of his successors in the industry. His contribution to film music industry has made him the most respected person in film industry. And the role his music has played in the lives of Tamil people has made him the most respected and loved person on Tamil Nadu as well as other states.

Apart from thousands of super hit immortal songs, Ilaiyaraja is also a master of background music. He needs to be credited for changing the perspective of music score and make everyone understand that how music can be no less a contributor to a scene vis a vis camera, performances, dialogues and sets. In fact many average scenes have been lifted by Ilaiyaraja's music score in many Tamil films. Sadly the articles praising and researching the contribution of film music composers have been limited to songs and those pieces may at best have a mention in a line or two about bgm work of a composer.

We dearly hope that film music critics and researchers learn and write more about the role played by background score in cinema and also how Ilaiyaraja the master has contributed to it. Only then the preciousness of the septuagenarian composer will be known to its full potential. That would be one of the fitting tributes to Raja.

As time passes by everything becomes outdated or the new ones become more attractive than the older ones. It is true that Ilaiyaraja is not a decisive factor in deciding the business of films like it used to be in the 1980s and 90s. But that doesn't mean he has lost his charm like his haters say. Still there are a large number of people belonging to all age groups to celebrate his music. The legend he is, Ilaiayraja is never concerned about any of these. Music is something which he loves and worships. He continues to do that forever Even today he spends long hours in his music studio working on film music. That's how he is and that's how he will be for years to come.

The prayers and wishes of his fans and admirers will keep him hale and healthy to continue his music journey and contribute more and more precious gems to the Indian film music industry.

IndiaGlitz joins the fans and admirers in wishing the unparalleled legend a Happy Birthday and pray the almighty to keep him in good health and happiness for years to come.