Ilaiyaraaja records symphony in UK, announces release date

Award-winning composer Ilaiyaraaja announced that he recorded his symphony in United Kingdom. It's the first-ever full symphony by an Indian.

In Short

• Ilaiyaraaja recorded his first symphony in the United Kingdom
• He announced the release date with a special video
• The music director had composed the symphony in just 35 days

Music maestro Ilaiyaraaja informed his followers that he had recorded his first-ever symphony in the United Kingdom. He shared a video on X announcing the release date of the symphony. The composer had earlier shared a video announcing the completion of the symphony in just 35 days. For the unversed, Ilaiyaraaja has composed music for over 1,000 films in nine languages.

Sharing a video on X, Ilaiyaraaja wrote, "Wishing you all a very happy deepavali. On this auspicious day, I'm happy to inform music lovers all over the world that I have recorded by Symphony No 1 in the United Kingdom, and it will be released on January 26, 2025 (sic)." The video recognised his work as the first-ever full symphony recorded by an Indian.

Here's the video:

In May, Ilaiyaraaja shared a video message stating that he had composed the symphony in 35 days. He said, "I am clear in the path that I am taking. During this time that you have been wishing me well, I have written a symphony with four movements, while also attending function and composing film songs."

Here's the video:

He further explained the difference between background music and symphony.

On the work front, Ilaiyaraaja's upcoming projects include Vetri Maaran's long-pending Viduthalai Part 2 and Vishal's Thupparivaalan 2. Meanwhile, a biopic on the life of Ilaiyaaraja, starring Dhanush is currently in the works. The film is directed by Arun Matheswaran of Rocky and Saani Kaayidham fame.