Ilaiyaraaja receives special tribute in Australia marking five decades of music
Legendary composer Ilaiyaraaja has received a ceremonial stamp at the Parliament of Australia to commemorate his 50-year career in the film industry.
The veteran composer shared a video announcing the honour and expressed his gratitude to Australian government representatives and members of Parliament.
In his message, Ilaiyaraaja reflected on his journey from a remote village in Tamil Nadu to receiving recognition at an Australian Parliament. He also thanked the musicians, artists and generations of listeners who contributed to the journey of his music.
The recognition comes as Ilaiyaraaja continues a global concert tour marking five decades as a film composer. He is scheduled to perform in Sydney on September 26 and Brisbane on October 5. The tour has also taken him to several venues in North America.
The composer was felicitated by the Tamil Nadu government at Chennai’s Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium last September as part of celebrations marking his 50-year milestone in cinema.
Ilaiyaraaja’s name has also recently been in the spotlight following the selection of the Marathi thriller Gondhal as India’s official entry for the International Feature Film category at next year’s Oscars. His music has been among the aspects highlighted by fans and media following the announcement.
The Australian honour arrives just days before the release of Dorothy, directed by Karthik Subbaraj. The film stars Keerthy Suresh, Rishikanth and Sananth, with music composed by Ilaiyaraaja.