The movie titled ‘Ilaiyaraaja The King Of Music’ with actor Dhanush playing the musician and Arun Matheshwaran as director was announced by actor Kamal Haasan at a function in Chennai on Wednesday. The movie will be produced by Connekkt Media – PK Prime Production and Mercuri Movies.
The first look of the living legend of music, composer Ilaiyaraaja’s biopic has officially been unveiled on 20th March 2024. The movie titled ‘Ilaiyaraaja The King Of Music’ with actor Dhanush playing the musician and Arun Matheshwaran as director was announced by actor Kamal Haasan at a function in Chennai on Wednesday. The movie will be produced by Connekkt Media – PK Prime Production and Mercuri Movies.
The talented actor Dhanush is set to take on the lead role in this cinematic tribute, directed by Arun Matheswaran. Notable figures including Kamal Haasan, Bharathiraja, Vetri Maaran, and Gangai Amaren graced the launch event. What sets this project apart is that Ilaiyaraaja himself will be crafting the musical score for his own life story, adding an extra layer of authenticity and depth. With cinematography handled by Nirav Shah, the film promises to capture the essence of the legendary musician’s journey. This exciting venture was inaugurated amidst the presence of esteemed personalities from the industry, signaling the commencement of a promising cinematic endeavor.
The actor Dhanush took to X to share the first look of the poster and expressed his gratitude stating “Honoured @ilaiyaraaja Sir”
Honoured @ilaiyaraaja sir 🙏🙏🙏 pic.twitter.com/UvMnWRuh9X
— Dhanush (@dhanushkraja) March 20, 2024
At the launch event, he talked about his lifelong dream of acting in a biopic of Ilaiyaraaja and said “I always say ‘what you think is what you become’. Most of us listen to Ilaiyaraaja’s songs at night to sleep. But, I had sleepless nights thinking how I’d act like Ilaiyaraaja. I manifested it. I’ve always dreamt of acting in two biopics – one is Ilaiyaraaja’s and one is Thalaivar Rajinikanth. And one of them is coming true. It’s a matter of pride for me. I’m a fan and a devotee of Ilaiyaraaja. His music is my companion and it suits everyone. More than that, his music is my acting teacher. I used to listen to a song or BGM before a scene – and his music tells me how to act in the scene. That’s how I act. Vetri Maaran has seen that. Many say that it’s a huge challenge and responsibility. But, I don’t think so. I know his music will guide me. He’s been there with me and will always be there with me.” On a parting note, he said, “As an artist, it’s an honor to be part of this project. I’m immensely happy that the invite came from Isaignani himself. I’m blessed.”
Dhanush also had a few words for director Arun Matheswaran, with whom he had worked for ‘Captain Miller’. “Arun, don’t take too much pressure. We should enjoy working on this biopic. I don’t think we should consider this as a huge challenge, but to approach it with joy,” he said.
Kamal Haasan said, “I don’t know where to begin about Ilaiyaraaja. My relationship started as a fan, then became a brother and now we are equals. I become happy whenever he achieves anything and it’s the same for me as well. Everyone thinks ‘Kanmani Anbodu’ is a love song for Guna and Abirami. But, no, it was a song for us.”
BRIEF HISTORY
Born in Pannaipuram, the biopic takes audiences through the 81-year-old musical journey of the living legend Ilaiyaraaja. With an exposure to Tamil folk music, the 14-year-old musician and his brother Pavalar Varadharajan became part of a traveling musical troupe named the Pavalar Brothers. They traveled and performed for several years across South India.
Ilaiyaraaja made an early move to Chennai to pursue a career in cinema. His breakthrough came in 1975 when producer Panchu Arunachalam, impressed by a song Ilaiyaraaja sang casually, commissioned him to compose for the film “Annakili” in 1976. The movie was a massive success, propelling Ilaiyaraaja into stardom. Over the next four decades, he composed music for over 1,500 films in multiple languages, including Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi. In 1986, he became the first Indian composer to record a soundtrack with a computer for the film “Vikram,” starring Kamal Haasan. Additionally, he composed “Thiruvasagam in Symphony” in 2006, marking the first Indian oratorio. The biopic throws light on the journey of the stalwart, who’s globally recognized for having composed 7,000+ songs for 1,000 films and performed in over 20,000 concerts worldwide.
All information sourced from various sources purely for factual reporting purpose only.
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