MAESTRO ILAIYARAAJA NEWS & TITBITS VER.2010-2011

[KV]

Happened to watch 'Hrudaya Raga' today noon on Suvarna TV, a felicitation to KJY for his contribution to Kannada film music, that IR also attended.
This happened sometime last month in Bangalore I think and I'd seen IR's picture in one of the posters.
IR's speech was nice with his usual philosophical and historical anecdotes. He copiously showered praise on KJY (whom he referred as anna), and sat through the program with a warm bright smile on his face.
He spoke in Kannada (broken, but fairly decent). Here's a jist (in first-person narrative) of what he said (not verbatim):
One of the ways to find peace in our stressful lives is to listen to this man's voice. Just two minutes of listening to his singing can relax the mind.
I generally dont attend many functions, but I am here just for KJY.
I've played the guitar, organ and electronic instruments for many songs sung by KJY under several MDs like Dakshinamurthy, Devarajan, Baburaj and GKV.
He's always been friendly with all instrumentalists and that is how I got to know him early on.
After I became a composer, we have collaborated on many songs, all of which are beautiful ones.
When I wasn't able to get KJY, I chose to sing instead and that is how and why I started singing myself, though I didn't really prefer to.
What can we give him in return to what he has given us all these years? Nothing. All we can do is give him a big round of applause.
Like anna told earlier (KJY had spoken about listening to good music and practising rigoursly to succeed as a singer) we need to choose and listen to the right music.
There are many busy people here today doing different things, like Manohar (conductor?) and Vijay Prakash (who was the compere). You just cant catch hold of this guy nowadays! (to which Vijay quickly bowed down and touched IR's feet).

KJY performed a handful of songs (his voice sounded less aged compared to how it has been off late). Do give it a watch if there are any links around.