Ilaiyaraaja discography

Ilaiyaraaja is a composer, conductor, singer, lyricist, and producer who has composed for more than 1000 films in Indian cinema. He is widely rated as one of the greatest composers Indian Film Music has ever seen.^[1]

A graphical representation of Ilaiyaraaja's discography over the years with colours to represent languages

A graphical representation of the decadal split of a fairly accurate picture of the number of films Ilaiyaraaja has worked on vs the languages he has worked in

Discography

1970's

Main article: List of film scores by Ilaiyaraaja 1970s

1980's

Main article: List of film scores by Ilaiyaraaja 1980s

1990's

Main article: List of film scores by Ilaiyaraaja 1990s

2000's

Main article: List of film scores by Ilaiyaraaja 2000s

2010's

Main article: List of film scores by Ilaiyaraaja 2010s

2020's

Main article: List of film scores by Ilaiyaraaja 2020s

Upcoming projects

The below list gives the upcoming/announced films composed by Ilaiyaraaja.

Year	Film	Cast	Director	Language	Status	Notes
2025	Peranbum Perungobamum	Vijith, Shali Nivekas	Siva Prakash	Tamil	Post-Production [2]
	Shashtipoorthi	Rajendra Prasad, Archana	Pavan Prabha	Telugu	Post-Production [3]
	School	Yogi Babu, Bhoomika Chawla	RK Vidhyaadharan	Tamil	Post-Production [4]
	Mylanji	Sriram Karthik, Grisha Kurup	Ajayan Bala	Tamil	Post-Production [5]
2024	Gift		Alphonse Puthren	Tamil Malayalam	Delayed [6]
	Arisi	Ra Mutharasan, Samuthirakani	S A Vijaykumar	Tamil	Filming [7]
TBA
	Thupparivaalan 2	Vishal	Vishal	Tamil	Filming
	A Beautiful Breakup	Krish, Matylda	Ajithvasan Uggina	English	Post-Production
	Mareechika	Anupama, Regina, Viraj Ashwin	Satish Kasetty	Telugu	Filming[8]
	Kadhal Sei		K Ganeshan	Tamil	Audio released
	Venjam Theerthaayadaa		Susi Ganesan	Tamil	Announced[9]
	Munpadhivu		GM Durai Pandian	Tamil	Filming[10]
	Dhesiya thalaivar	JM Basheer	Aravindhraj	Tamil	Filming
	Chiranjeevi Ponniyin Selvan		Ajay Pratheeb	Tamil	Announced[11]	Web Series
	Kadavul 2		Velu Prabhakaran	Tamil	Announced[12]
Delayed projects
2020	Ammayi	Vinay Rai, Varalaxmi	G.Shankar	Tamil	Delayed
2016	Rajathandhiram 2	Veera	Senthil Veerasamy	Tamil	Delayed
2015	Porkalathil Oru Poo		K. Ganeshan	Tamil	Music released
2014	Raja Rajanin Porvaal	Snehan	R.S. Amudeshver	Tamil	Delayed/Songs recorded
2013	Naadi Thudikkuthadi		Selva	Tamil	Music released
2012	Mayamohitha Chandran	Kunchacko Boban		Malayalam	Delayed project
2011	Thaandavakone		Subbu Sujatha	Tamil	Music released
2011	Padithurai			Tamil	Delayed project
2009	SRK	Manoj Joshi, Vinay Pathak	Ajoy Varma	Hindi	Unreleased[13][14]	Remake of the Malayalam film Chinthavishtayaya Shyamala

Albums (instrumental, non-film)

Year	Album	Notes
1992	Honnina Therinali	First devotional album of Ilaiyaraaja in Kannada
1992	Geetha Vazhipaadu	First devotional album of Ilaiyaraaja in Tamil, also written by him, with 9 songs on the major Hindu deities
1981-82	Geethanjali	Devotional album on the major Hindu deities, written by Ilaiyaraaja and Vaali, with 9 songs
1986	How to Name It?	A crossover album fusing the sensibilities of Western classical music's Baroque music style, mastered by Johann Sebastian Bach and Carnatic classical music's raga virtuosity, mastered by Tyagaraja, into a collection of 10 mesmeric tracks
1988	Nothing but Wind	A crossover album featuring the famed Hindustani flautist Hariprasad Chaurasia playing the flute to Ilaiyaraaja's compositions combining the finer sensibilities of the Classical period of Western classical music mastered by Mozart and Indian folk, Hindustani, Carnatic and light music for some meditative, playful, reflective tracks
1992	Vedic Chanting	Produced by Ilaiyaraaja with selected hymns from the Rig Veda and Purusha Sukta
1992	The Secret of Ramayana	Select verses from Valmiki and Kamban's Ramayana tuned and produced by Ilaiyaraaja, in addition to verses from the Vedas and Upanishads
1993	Symphonic Work in 5 movements with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, London	Conducted by John Scott. Recorded by Tony Faulkner at the Walthomstow Town Hall, London in June 1993. Produced by Mike Townend.
1994	Ilaiyaraaja's Classicals on the Mandolin	Carnatic classical music album with four krithis and a varnam, all written and composed by Ilaiyaraaja, including one Sanskrit krithi in a raga discovered by Ilaiyaraaja himself, Raajalahiri, with a forward speech by the Carnatic music legend Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer, played on the Mandolin by the late Mandolin legend, U. Srinivas.[15]
1995	RAID-Music for dance production of Shobana Jeyasingh Dance Co., London	Based on the Indian game of kabaddi
1995	India 24 Hours	Documentary on India, filmed by 18 famed photojournalists, who selected a spot each across the length and breadth of India, and filmed the passions and dreams of Indians across 100 hours. The two-hour documentary has a musical score by Ilaiyaraaja.
2000	Raajavin Ramanamalai	First devotional album on Ramana Maharishi, also written by Ilaiyaraaja, with 10 songs
2002	Amma Paamaalai	Devotional album on the goddess Parvathi
2005	Thiruvasagam	Symphonic oratorio on Manickavasagar's Thiruvasagam, a crossover album that seeks to blend Thiruvasagam's bhakti with the finer elements of Western classical music's symphonic movements. Conducted by Laszlo Kovacs, performed by the Budapest Symphony Orchestra and recorded in Budapest.
2006	Guru Ramana Geetam	Second devotional album on Ramana Maharishi, with two krithis, one in Sanskrit and dedicated to Ramanar's mother, also written by Ilaiyaraaja, among 10 songs
2007	The Music Messiah	Collection of background scores from his landmark score for the Malayalam film Guru
2007	Sri Ramana Naadha Amudham	Third album on Ramana Maharishi, with 10 songs, with 6 songs written by Vaali (poet) and 4 songs written by Ilaiyaraaja, and composed by the veteran composer M.S. Viswanathan.
2008	Manikantan Geet Mala	Devotional album on Swami Ayyappa, in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam
2009	Annamalai Ramanaandi	Devotional album on Ramana Maharishi. Songs written by Muruganaar and Sadhu Om. Rendered by Ramananjali group led by Sulochana Natarajan and Ilaiyaraaja.
2009	Namratha Ke Sagar	Single song, composed by Ilaiyaraaja for a bhajan written by Mahatma Gandhi, sung by Pandit Bhimsen Joshi and Pandit Ajoy Chakraborty and recited on screen by Amitabh Bachchan[16]
2010	Ramana Saranam	Fourth devotional album on Ramana Maharishi, with a krithi in Telugu among 10 songs, all written and composed by Ilaiyaraaja
2010	Baba Pugazh Maalai	Devotional album on Shirdi Sai Baba
2011	Akkah	Short film in Kannada on the Kannada poetess-saint Akka Mahadevi[17] with songs rendered by Bombay Jayashri
2013	Ramana Aaram	Fifth devotional album (Volume 1 & Volume 2) on Ramana Maharishi, also written by Ilaiyaraaja, with 16 songs
2015	Swappnam	Classical album composed for a dance drama on Lord Shiva choreographed by dancer Krithika Subramaniam, with 10 songs on the CD, collected from Thiruvasagam, Thevaram, Nandanar Charitham, Adi Sankara's Ardhanarishwara Ashtakam among other devotional hymns dedicated to Shiva. Sudha Raghunathan, T. V. Gopalakrishnan, Rajhesh Vaidhya, Abhishek Raghuram, Bharath Sundar, composer Sharreth, A. K. Palanivel, Palaghat Sreeram, Embar Kannan were among the musicians who were part of the project.[18]
2016	Thaarai Thappattai (Original Background Score)	Collection of background scores from his National Award-winning score for his 1000th milestone film Tharai Thappattai. Contains 19 songs.
2017	Raaja's Ramanamalai	Sixth devotional album (new 2017 album) on Ramana Maharishi, brought by Sri Thenandal Films, also written by Ilaiyaraaja, with 10 songs
2020	Bharath Bhoomi	Tribute to COVID-19 warriors (Hindi & Tamil)[19]
2024	Divya Pasurams	Seventh devotional album, Eight pasurams have been chosen for the album from the 4,000 verses of the Nalayira Divya Prabhandham, written by the 12 Alwars.[20]

Television

• 1991 Penn
• 2008 Namma Kudumbam
• 2008 Thekkathi Ponnu

Books

• Sangeethakkanavukal
• Gyanaganga
• Yaarukku Yaar Ezhudhuvadhu
• Paal Nilaa Paadhai^[21]
• Enaku Ethuvo Unakum Athuve^[21]

Ad jingles

Hindustan Coca-Cola collaborated with Ilaiyaraaja for its ad jingles. This is the first time Raja has done a commercial jingle.^{[citation needed]}

Country Delight collaborated with Ilaiyaraaja for an ad.

• Idea Cellular (used "Naguva nayana" Kannada song from Pallavi Anupallavi)^[22]
• Malabar Gold and Diamonds^[23][24][25]

Many of Ilaiyaraaja's songs were used as jingles in advertisements. Filmmaker R Balki has used them in many of his ads either as a musical note or a jingle composed to the same tune.^[26]

Onscreen appearances

Year	Movie title	Notes
1980	Nizhalgal	Singer in the song "Madai Thiranthu"
1985	Dharmapathini	Guest appearance in the song "Naan Thedum[27]
1986	Saadhanai	Guest appearance in the song "O Vanambadi"[28]
1989	Pudhu Pudhu Arthangal	Guest appearance in the song "Kalyanamaalai"[29]
1989	Karagattakaran	Guest appearance in the title song "Paattaalae Buddhi"[30]
1991	Kumbakarai Thangaiah	Guest appearance in the song "Ennai Oruvan Paada Chonnaan"[31]
1992	Villu Pattukaran	Guest appearance in the temple donation screen between 11:50 and 14:50[32]
1998	Kannathal	Guest appearance in the song "Amman Pugazhai"
2009	Azhagar Malai	Guest appearance in the song "Ulagam Ippo"[33]
2013	Naadi Thudikkudhadi	Guest appearance in the song "Kadhale Illaadha Desam"[34]

Reused tracks

Remake films

Most are Telugu remakes of Tamil films.

• Bhadrakali (1977) from Bhadrakali (1976)
• Vayasu Pilichindi (1978) from Ilamai Oonjal Aadukirathu (1978)
• Kotha Jeevithalu (1981) from Puthiya Vaarpugal (1979)
• Pasidi Moggalu (1980) from Uthiripookkal (1979)
• Veerabhadrudu (1984) from Kozhi Koovuthu (1982)
• Kala Rudrudu (1985) from Komberi Mookan (1984)
• Mangalya Bandham (1985) from Naan Paadum Paadal (1984)
• Manchi Manasulu (1986) from Vaidehi Kathirunthal (1984)
• Aradhana (1987) from Kadalora Kavithaigal (1986)
• Asthulu Anthasthulu (1988) from Muthal Vasantham (1986)
• Unnal Mudiyum Thambi (1988; Tamil) from Rudraveena (1988; Telugu) (6 songs)
• Menamama (1988) from Kanni Rasi (1985)
• Mr. Bharath (1989) from Mr. Bharath (1986)
• Idem Pellam Baboi (1990) from Manamagale Vaa (1988)
• Guru Sishyulu (1990) from Guru Sishyan (1988) (4 songs reused)
• Chanti (1992) from Chinna Thambi (1991)
• Chinarayudu (1992) from Chinna Gounder (1992)
• Moratodu Naa Mogudu (1992) from En Rasavin Manasile (1991)
• Amma Koduku (1993) from Senthamizh Paattu (1992)
• Sathyavan (1994) from April 1 Vidudala (1991)
• Namma Preethiya Ramu (2003; Kannada) from Kasi (2001) (4 tunes reused)

Other films

Apart from remake films, Ilaiyaraaja has reused the following tracks:

• Agal Vilakku (1978; Tamil) from Maathu Thappida Maga (1979; Kannada) (1 song Bhaanu Bhoomiya reused as Edho Ninaivugal)
• Olangal (1982; Malayalam) from Auto Raja (1982; Tamil) (1 song Sangathil Paadatha reused as Thumbi Vaa) Raja later reused Sangathil Paadatha as Monday Tho Utkar for the film Aur Ek Prem Kahani and as Gumm Summ Gumm for Hindi film Paa (2009).^[35]
• Aayiram Nilave Vaa (1983; Tamil) from Geetha (1981; Kannada) (1 song Keladi Nimageega reused as Devathai Ilam Devi)
• Unnai Naan Sandhithen (1984; Tamil) from Geetha (1981; Kannada) (1 song Nanna Jeeva reused as Devan Thandha)
• Nooravathu Naal (1984; Tamil) from Geetha (1981; Kannada) (1 song Jotheyali reused as Vizhiyile Mani Vizhiyil) Raja later reused "Jotheyali" as "Jaane Do Na" for Hindi film Cheeni Kum (2007).
• Sitaara (1984) from Nizhalgal (1990) (1 song "Dhoorathil Naan Kanda" reused as "Vennello Godari")^[36]
• Thambikku Endha Ooru (1984; Tamil) from Sadma (1983; Hindi) (1 song Hey Zindagi reused as En Vaazhvile)
• Anveshana (1985; Telugu) from Anbin Mugavari (1985; Tamil) (1 song "Uyire Urave Ondru Naan" reused as "Ilalo")
• Aur Ek Prem Kahani (1986; Hindi) (3 songs Kaatril Endhan Geetham from Johnny reused as "Naina Bole", "Pothi Vacha Malliga" from Mann Vasanai reused as "Hona Hai Tho", "Kaadhal Oviyam" from Alaigal Oivathillai reused as "Meri Zindagi")
• Shenbagamae Shenbagamae (1988; Tamil) from Maharshi (1987; Telugu) (1 song Maatarani Mounamidi reused as "Manja Podi")
• Abhinandana (1988; Telugu) (4 songs "Ade Neevu" was reused from "Ore Raagam" from Amudha Gaanam, "Manchu Kurise" was reused from "Andharangam Yaavume" from Aayiram Nilave Vaa, "Eduta Neeve" was reused from "Uyire Urave Ondru Naan" from Anbin Mugavari, "Rangulalo Kalavu" was reused from "Velli Nila Padhumai" from Amudha Gaanam)
• Varasudochadu (1988; Telugu) from Enga Ooru Pattukaran (Tamil) (1 song Jinjinakku Janakku reused as Jamchakku)
• Mahaadev (1989; Hindi) from Mudhal Mariyadhai (1985; Tamil) (1 song Andha Nilava reused as Mujhe Baahon)
• Enkitta Modathe (1990; Tamil) from Adharvam (1989; Malayalam) (1 song Puzhoyarathil reused as Sariyo Sariyo)^[37]
• Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari (1990; Telugu) from Enga Ooru Pattukaran (1987; Tamil) (1 song Madurai Marikozhundhu reused as Yamaho Nee Yama)
• April 1 Vidudala (1991; Telugu) from Kaatrinile Varum Geetham (1978) (1 song Chithirai Sevvanam reused as Chukkalu Themanna)
• Aa Okkati Adakku (1993; Telugu) from Enga Ooru Pattukaran (1987; Tamil) (1 song Shenbagame reused as Paavurama) Raja later reused Shenbagame as Chand Hai Tu for Mahaadev
• Preminchedi Endukamma (1999; Telugu) from Kadhalukku Mariyadhai (1997; Tamil) (5 songs Ennai Thaalattu Varuvala reused as Chinni Paadala Chilukamma, Aanantha Kuyilin Paattu reused as Manasu Koila Paata, Oru Pattampoochi reused as O Sita Koka Chiluka, Oh Baby reused as Oh Baby, Ayya Veedu Therandhuthan reused as Chinthalapudi Chilakara)
• Ninu Choodaka Nenundalenu (2002; Telugu) from (2 songs Enna Solli from En Mana Vaanil reused as Jaaji Malli Thottalona, Kodamanjin Thaazhvarayil from Kochu Kochu Santhoshangal reused as Kondapalli)^[38]
• Anumanaspadam (2007; Telugu) from Naane Raja Naane Mandhiri (1985; Tamil) (1 song Mayanginen Solla Thayanginen reused as Prathidhinam Nee Dharshanam)
• Cheeni Kum (2007; Hindi) (2 songs "Mandram Vantha Thendralukku" from Mouna Ragam reused as "Cheeni Kum", "Kuzhal Ootham" from Mella Thirandhathu Kadhavu reused as "Baatein Hawa")
• Paa (2009; Hindi) (2 songs Putham Pudhu Kaalai reused as Halke Se Bole from Alaigal Oivathillai, Kaatru Vizhi from Adhu Oru Kana Kaalam reused as Mere Paa)
• Gundello Godari (2013; Telugu) from Johnny (1980; Tamil) (1 song Aasaiya Kaathula reused as Rathri) Raja reused Aasaiye Kaathule as Stereophonic Sannata for Hindi film Shamitabh (2015)
• Yevade Subramanyam (2015; Telugu) from Avatharam (1995; Tamil) (1 song Thendral Vanthu reused as Challa Galli)