'Fans see me as music god,' says proud Ilaiyaraaja; 'Annakili' composer reflects on 50-year journey

Ilaiyaraaja recently looked back at the journey of his first film, 'Annakili,' which has now completed 50 years. Speaking emotionally at an event, the legendary composer shared how writer-producer Panchu Arunachalam gave him his first opportunity in cinema. Ilaiyaraaja revealed that he did not know much about film music composition at that time. When Panchu Arunachalam asked if he had any tunes, he tapped on a table and sang a few songs without any instruments. Impressed by the tunes, Panchu reportedly decided to build the screenplay around them. That moment later became the start of a historic musical journey in Tamil cinema.

Ilaiyaraaja shares why fans treat him like a music god

One statement from Ilaiyaraaja’s speech quickly became viral among fans and music lovers. “People see me as a music god; let them see me that way,” he said proudly. As reported by Thanthi TV, the composer added that even after spending more than five decades in cinema, he still feels unchanged inside and continues to live only through music. According to him, he never creates songs thinking about fame or recognition. “Music brings peace, and I simply do that honestly,” he shared during the interaction.

Ilaiyaraaja recalls feeling lost during his debut days

Ilaiyaraaja also spoke about the fear and confusion he faced at the beginning of his career. Before entering Tamil cinema, he worked under Kannada composer G. K. Venkatesh and contributed to over 200 films as an assistant. Despite that experience, he admitted feeling nervous when he composed independently for the first time. “It felt like I was left alone in a forest,” he recalled. Initially, 'Annakili' did not receive a strong response in theatres, and one song was even removed from the film. However, the songs later became huge hits and changed the sound of Tamil cinema music forever.

Ilaiyaraaja believes his music will continue forever

Ending his speech on an emotional note, Ilaiyaraaja spoke about the timeless bond people have with his music. “Even if I am not here tomorrow, my music will continue forever,” he said confidently. He feels that the emotional connection that his songs have with the listeners persists even today because they are written with sincerity and feeling. The accomplished composer also stated that he is composing music for a Tamil movie being directed by R. Balki.Get the latest entertainment updates from the Times of India, along with the latest Hindi movies, upcoming Hindi movies in 2026 , and Telugu movies.”