Setting new milestones

It all started with Annakkili in 1975. And with director Bala’s Thaarai Thappattai, Ilayaraja will touch the magical 1,000 film mark.

But wait, there is more in store for the music maestro’s fans.

For, recently, the ‘Isaignani’, as he is called by his admirers, floated his official fan club, at a grand gala function in Madurai.

If one is to go by what circles close to him and his family sources say, an interesting phase has just started and music lovers in general, and Ilayaraja fans in particular, will be in for more surprises in the coming days.

Ilayaraja’s daughter, singer Bhavatharini, who is the president of the club, says, “His fans are all over the world and we needed something formal to co-ordinate them.

Isaignani Fan Club Global is started with a vision of bringing all his fans together and binding them with musical love and affection.”

The club’s list of objectives say it will organise regular meetings of fans, meetings with celebrities and honouring them, initiate research in Ilayaraja’s music, organise seminars and workshops on music, bringing out other dimensions and creations of Ilayaraja. IFCG will also nurture young talents.

On how they convinced the maestro to get his consent for the club, a person close to the developments says, “Raja sir was initially not ready when he was briefed about the idea. However, after we explained about the objectives and future plans, he gave the green signal.”

The IFCG will also organise programmes and schemes for social and environment benefits like charity services to needy people, medical camps, tree planting, awareness on solid waste management, health and hygienic awareness etc.

The club will have celebrities as honorary members and all fans as members with district-wise or location-wise executive co-ordinators.

(A complete list of office-bearers and other details can be viewed at www.isaignanifanclub.com).

Coming to his 1,000th film Thaarai Thappattai, it is helmed by National Award winner Bala, who had earlier collaborated with Raja in movies including Sethu, Nanda, Pithamagan and Naan Kadavul. The film will have actor-director M Sasikumar and Varalaxmi Sarathkumar in lead roles. Interestingly or incidentally, it is a musical story that revolves around the lives of folk artistes.

As Ilayaraja has touched the magical mark, wishes have been pouring on him from all over.

Popular singer K S Chithra says she feels fortunate to have sung many songs composed by the legendary musician in the past 30 years.

Even at this age, Ilayaraja has been working like a youngster.

In fact, his recent heart ailment, which was followed by treatment and brief rest, has only added to his vim and vigour.

Sources say that the maestro has composed more than a dozen songs in a record time for Thaarai Thappattai.

Apart from this project, he is occupied with a string of films in Tamil, Telugu and Hindi with Un Samayal Araiyil, Rudrama Devi and Balki’s Amitabh Bachchan-Dhanush starrer project to name a few, respectively.