Why Ilaiyaraaja's music still feels like home to every generation

Some composers create melodies, and then there is Ilaiyaraaja, who built universes out of sound.

- By Nivetha Dayanand Assistant Business Editor

For nearly five decades, the maestro has been the pulse of South Indian cinema, a legend whose music transcended language and geography. From Tamil to Telugu, Malayalam to Hindi, Ilaiyaraaja scored the emotions of generations.

For those of us who belong to Gen Z, calling him the "OG" feels natural because his music has always felt timeless. I grew up listening to En iniya Pon Nilavae and Nilaave Vaa playing softly in the background of family dinners and Sunday mornings. His songs were more than just melodies, they were moments of stillness, nostalgia, and quiet understanding.