Ilaiyaraaja Says Learning Keeps Him Going

Ilaiyaraaja is one of the greatest music composers with a career that started in 1968 and is still going great. Even after working on over 1,500 films he says he is still learning music.

Speaking at the 11th Ajanta Ellora International Film Festival and Ilaiyaraaja said learning is what keeps him motivated.

He surprised many by saying, “I don’t know music”, explaining that if he ever felt he knew everything, he would have stopped working. He shared that he attended the event after completing his 1,541st film.

He said music has changed a lot over the long years especially with new technology but he still prefers recording with a live orchestra.

He believes true emotion in music comes only from live instruments. At the event, he was honoured with the Padmapani Award.

మిస్సమ్మ2 చేయాలి అనే ఆలోచన ఉంది కానీ.. అందులో భూమిక ఉండదు – శివాజీ#Sivaji #Laya #SampradayiniSuppiniSuddapoosani pic.twitter.com/M3c3JyTWDp

— Filmy Focus (@FilmyFocus) January 31, 2026