Comparing and contrasting two music stalwarts from different eras can be quite challenging, especially when it comes to Ilayaraja and A.R. Rahman, who have brought international fame to Tamil music. It is interesting to note that Ilayaraja is the master, and A.R. Rahman is his protégé. While Ilayaraja remained focused on the Tamil music scene, Rahman ventured into Hindi films, which served as a launch pad for his music career, capturing the imagination of music lovers across the country. Both composers are living legends in their own right, and this article aims to highlight some differences in their musical journeys.
Key Takeaways
- Ilayaraja and Rahman belong to two different eras in Tamil music.
- While Ilayaraja is known for his melodious compositions, Rahman is credited with bringing technology into music.
- Ilayaraja remained focused on Tamil music, whereas Rahman expanded his horizons to Bollywood and Hollywood through his modern, beat-driven music.
Ilayaraja
Music maestro Ilayaraja is a composer revered not just by Tamil music lovers, but by music enthusiasts regardless of language. His music transcends geographical boundaries, and he is also a talented singer and lyricist. For the past 30 years, Ilayaraja has provided high-quality music for Tamil films, with over 5,000 compositions to his name and music contributions to nearly a thousand films. Generations of Tamils have enjoyed his melodious creations.
Ilayaraja was born on June 2, 1943, and began his musical journey by serving in a traveling musical troupe. A gold medalist from Trinity College of Music, Ilayaraja has the distinction of being the first Asian to have a full symphony performed in London by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. He gained prominence in the 1980s for his melodious compositions in Tamil films, and his music became a guarantee of a film’s success. His composition “Rakkama Kaiya Thattu” was ranked among the top ten compositions in a worldwide poll conducted by BBC.
Throughout his career, Ilayaraja has won numerous music awards, including the National Award for Best Music Direction and Best Background Music. He has also received the prestigious Padma Bhushan Award from the Government of India.
A.R. Rahman
A.R. Rahman was born as Dilip Kumar in Chennai in 1966 and had the advantage of a musical background. At the age of 9, he formed a rock band called Nemesis Avenue. This marked the beginning of his journey to Trinity College, where he learned and performed in concerts with other greats such as Zakir Hussain and L. Shankar. Rahman also worked as a keyboardist for some time in Ilayaraja’s traveling troupe.
Rahman’s genius was evident from his childhood, and he proved his talent in his debut film, Roja, directed by Mani Ratnam. For his music in the film, he received the Best Music Director Award at the National Film Awards. Rahman continued to deliver melodious compositions in his subsequent films, such as Bombay, Taal, Yuva, Ravana, and Delhi-6. For his music in Slumdog Millionaire, Rahman won two Academy Awards, a first for any composer from India.
