(From left) Actor Kamal Haasan, composer Ilaiyaraja, chief Minister Tamil Nadu MK Stalin and actor Rajinikanth during the felicitation event of Mr. Ilaiyaraja organized by the state government in Jawaharl Nezru in Chennai in Chennai. | Photo Credit: PTI
Main Minister Tamil Nadu, MK Stalin, got a point. By taking himself and the state government in honor of Maestro Ilaiyaraaaaaa, on a mass scale, after the completion of 50 years in the film industry and the composition of the symphony, Mr. Stalin focused on what Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) failed to earn. Instead of bending Ilaiyaraja, a typical icon of the Tamil icon and shows that if it can be a supporter of BJP and a follower of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the average Tamil, which is devoted and religious, can also be pious and religious, based on ILAIYAAAAAJ popularity and acceptability.
It is not as if BJP did not admit Ilaiyaraja due. The party nominated him for Rajya Sabha, invited him to perform at Kashi Tamil Sangamam (2022), and at the Cholapuram gangaikonda (July 2025), which Modi visited for 1,000 years since Conquest King Rajendra I was north. However, BJP inertia in felicitation or announcement of Bharat Ratna to Ilaiyaraja, however, gave Mr. Stalin a leg and strengthened the point that Maestro exceeds narrow barriers and belongs to the world of music. In Chennai 13. September Mr. Stalin dismissed the BJP government to grant Bharat Ratna ilaiyaraaaaaaa. It is an appeal that BJP cannot ignore.
Ilaiyaraja said, “I am amazed and enthusiastic about the scope of the event … Why such love? Maybe it is because of my music. Only he (Mr. Stalin) can answer … Maybe he considered my symphony (being) a great success.
It was Mr. Stalin’s championship. In March this year, Ilaiyaraja traveled to London to release her new song – a symphony, which was to be carried out by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. The moment it became known, Mr. Stalin visited Maestro to offer his greetings. The government also organized a reception for music Maestro when returning. Ilaiyaraja revealed that he expressed his desire to Mr. Stalin to bring the royal philharmonic orchestra Tamil Nadu and remember Mr. Stalin’s reaction – “Yes, you can do it.”
Mr. Stalin is aware that Ilaiyaraja is a source of Tamil pride despite his political tendencies and represents cultural capital. When Ilaiyaraaaaaaaa was trolls on social media supporters DMK after describing the initiation of the RAM temple as a “historical day” and appreciated Mr. Modi, Mr. Stalin hit the campaign to stop. All his fans may not share their political ideology, but they will not tolerate any criticism against Ilaiyaraaaaa. He was the late father of Mr. Stalin and the longest serving main Minister Tamil Nadu, M. Karunanidhi, who awarded the title “Isaignani” Ilaiyaraaaaaa. A musician whose birthday falls 3 June – on the same day as Karunanidhi – was cunning to move the day to June 2.
At the ceremony of the felicitation, Ilaiyaraaaaaa, who usually started his concert by calling the goddess Mookambiga, portrayed Janananani, instead chose a film song, Amuthe Tamiley Azhagiye Mozhiye Enathuriyre (“Nectar-like Tamil). His colleagues from the cabinet and officials.
A day later, Ilaiyaraaaaaaaa approached Mr. Stalin – that he should compose music for period literature Sangam. ILAIYARAAAJA announcements were well appreciated.
After his close connection with the Communist movement – his older brother, Pavallar Varadharajan was a singer popularizing ideology and politics, with Ilaiyaraaaaa and their other brothers as instrumentalists – Ilaiyaraja was politically neutral, but retained the identity that he was devoted to Ramana Maharshi of Tiruvanalai.
Ilyiyaraaaaa and his brothers are admirers of the writer and communist -reversed congress Jayakanthan, other icons of Tamil. Jayakanthan was a bitter critic of the predatian movement, but Karunanidhi managed to win, stunning Jayakanthan’s admirers.
It seems that Mr. Stalin has taken the allusion from his father and did the same with Ilaiyaraja, living after the dictum of CN Annadurai, the founder of DMK that “Jasmine smells sweet, even when they bloom in another garden.”
KAPPAN.B@THINDA.CO.IN
Published – September 18 2025 12:40
