The launching of tickets for Ilaiyaraaja 75, a tribute planned by the Tamil Film Producers’ Council, was done on Sunday evening. The event that saw the participation of the Council members was organised on the last day of 5th Tamil Nadu International Hotair Balloon Festival that was held at Mahindra City.
The event, which has been planned for February 2 and 3 at Chennai’s YMCA grounds in Nandanam, will celebrate 75 years of the legendary music composer. The 2-day event will have singers from across the country performing on day one with Ilaiyaraaja himself performing on day 2 for the grand finale.
Vishal, President of TFPC, while addressing the press, stated that artists from Budapest, Hungary have been invited to perform for the event. He also said that Ilaiyaraaja has now announced that a percentage from his royalty earnings would be split between the Music Union and the Producers’ Union. “Ilaiyaraaja sir has now announced this himself. We will shortly distribute the official press release with more details in it,” he said.
Vishal added that all film personalities from Kollywood are being invited for the show. February 2 and 3 have also been announced as holidays for the industry and no shoots will be scheduled in this period.
Speaking at the event, producer and director RK Selvamani, who is the present President of FEFSI, praised Ilaiyaraaja by saying, “In 1992, Ilaiyaraaja had recorded 9 songs for my film Chembaruthi in just 45 minutes. Producers and directors would line up outside his studio and he’d compose tune after tune.”
Actor Nassar, President of Nadigar Sangam, too was full of praise for Isaignani Ilaiyaraaja saying, “I have two initials - one is from my father’s name, Mehaboob Basha, and the other I got in cinema from Ilaiyaraaja’s ‘Thendral Vandhu Theendum Bothu’ song. This song has become my identity. Ilaiyaraaja is Tamil music’s identity as well. He is the biggest treasure 20th century will be leaving behind for its future generations.”
Vishal, who came up next, added that Ilaiyaraaja’s music has travelled with him always, “In fact when they took me in the van after we tried to break open the lock that was put at TFPC’s T Nagar office, this was the song that I played.”
The first two tickets for the event were bought by Nassar and his wife, following which Microplex director Albert, producer and treasurer of TFPC SR Prabhu and Vishal bought ten tickets for Rs 2.5 lakhs each.
Ilaiyaraaja who came up on stage in the end, wondered out loud why people compared him to god. “People have brought down god to my level. Can he be compared to me? I’m a mere mortal like everyone else,” he said to loud cheering that immediately died down when he began singing lines from one of his own compositions - ‘Idhayam Oru Kovil’.
This particular song was allusive to his thoughts on music and his love for his fans. Lines like ‘Paadalgal oru kodi / Yedhuvum pudhidhillai / Raagangal kodi kodi / Yedhuvum pudhidhillai / Yenadhu jeevan nee dhaan’ that translate into ‘There are a million songs, none of which is new; there are a million ragas, none of which is new; but you’re my life…’ reveal how the music icon looks at his creations and his fans.
TFPC has made several promo videos for the tribute, 16 as of January 16.
The event ended with Ilaiyaraaja and Vishal flying in a hot air balloon, taking in the expanse of the ground. Tickets for the event are priced from Rs 885 onward on BookMyShow.