#Ilayaraja birthday full#
He was one of the earliest Indian film composers to use Western classical music harmonies and string arrangements in Tamil film music, and the first South Asian to compose a full symphony. In 1986, he was the first Indian composer to record film songs through computer for Tamil films for Vikram. He is known for integrating Indian folk music and traditional Indian instrumentation with western classical music techniques. Ilaiyaraaja is nicknamed "Isaignani" (musical genius) and is often referred to as " Maestro", amongst others by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, London. He has composed more than 7,000 songs, provided film scores for more than 1,000 movies and performed in more than 20,000 concerts. Widely regarded as one of the greatest Indian music composers, he is often cred for introducing Western musical sensibilities in the South Indian film musical mainstream. Gnanathesikan (born 2 June 1943), known as Ilaiyaraaja, is an Indian film composer, conductor-arranger, singer and lyricist who works in the Indian film industry, predominantly in Tamil.