Ilaiyaraaja
Also known as: R. Gnanathesikan
Biography
R. Gnanathesikan, known as Ilaiyaraaja, is an Indian film composer, conductor-arranger, singer and lyricist who works in the Indian film industry, predominantly in Tamil. Widely regarded as one of the greatest Indian music composers, he is often credited for introducing Western musical sensibilities in the South Indian film musical mainstream He is known for integrating Indian folk music and traditional Indian instrumentation with western classical music techniques. He was one of the earliest Indian film composers to use Western classical music harmonies and string arrangements in Tamil film music, and the first South Asian to compose a full symphony. Ilaiyaraaja…
