The Genius Mind

In the grand orchestra of Indian cinema, one name stands tall like a timeless melody—Isaignani Ilaiyaraaja. A maestro, a visionary, and an enigma, he holds the record for being one of the most prolific film composers in the world. With a career spanning over four decades, he has continuously reinvented his musical style, shaping the soundscape of Indian cinema in ways that remain unparalleled.

Having composed music for over 1,400 films across Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, and Hindi, his repertoire boasts over 7,000 songs and numerous background scores. Each note he crafts is not just a composition; it is an emotion, a heartbeat in the vast symphony of storytelling.

My high school junior, now an editor in the television industry, often marvels at Ilaiyaraaja’s genius. He speaks of the maestro’s uncanny ability to fuse genres—seamlessly blending Indian classical, folk, and Western symphonic elements into a single masterpiece. A true innovator, Ilaiyaraaja was one of the pioneers of computer-generated music in Indian cinema, while also preserving the grandeur of live orchestration. His Western classical expertise was recognized on an international stage when he became the first Asian to compose a full symphony for the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, London.

Beyond film scores, his music breathes life into silence. His revolutionary background scores add depth, emotion, and an invisible narrative to the silver screen. His mastery over Carnatic and Hindustani ragas is nothing short of legendary, and his influence resonates with modern musicians—icons like A.R. Rahman and countless others acknowledge his impact on their craft.

Within our high school and middle school alumni network, singers and musicians who have had the privilege of working with Ilaiyaraaja Sir often share glimpses of his creative process. They reveal the sacred rituals behind his compositions—his unwavering devotion to Kollur Mookambika Devi. It is said that many of his most innovative tunes were born on the banks of temple rivers, where he would meditate in the stillness of dawn. His mornings were sacred, dedicated to silent prayer and deep meditation—connecting with the divine energy before the first note ever graced the keys of his harmonium.

I recall an interview where a television anchor asked him how he conjures such an endless stream of melodies. With his characteristic humility, Ilaiyaraaja attributed it all to Sri Devi, the goddess of music. He spoke of her as the cosmic force that governs the universe through harmony.

“The Veena that Devi holds is a symbol of the universe, and its music represents the order that binds all within. The instrument itself is lifeless, but it is the player who breathes music into it. In the same way, it is Devi who orchestrates harmony among all things. Without her, there would be only chaos.”

Drawing from ancient yogic wisdom, he described the Veena’s stem as the Meru Danda, the spiritual axis of the human spine. The strings symbolize the nadis—the subtle energy channels that run through us. Each part of the Veena, he explained, represents divine forces—the stem as Shiva, the strings as Uma, the shoulder as Vishnu, the tailpiece as Lakshmi, the gourd as Brahma, the midpoint as Saraswati, and the binding threads as Vasuki, the celestial serpent.

For Ilaiyaraaja, music is more than just sound—it is a divine connection, a cosmic dance where every note is infused with spiritual energy. His melodies do not merely entertain; they elevate, heal, and transcend the boundaries of language and culture. The Devi -mother goddess he believes, is the silent muse behind his every composition, the unseen force that grants him the ability to create magic through music.

Even as decades pass, Ilaiyaraaja’s compositions remain immortal—living echoes of a divine force channeled through one extraordinary musician. In the world of music, he is not just a composer. He is a legend, a mystic, and a conduit of celestial sound.