Government Considering Ilaiyaraja To Be Conferred With Bharat Ratna

Ilaiyaraaja, a name synonymous with Indian cinema's musical landscape, has left an indelible mark on generations of music lovers. His melodies and background scores are an integral part of many people's daily lives, with his music being the first thing they listen to in the morning and the last thing they hear at night. This legendary composer has been bestowed with numerous honors, including the Padma Bhushan in 2010 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2018, by the Government of India. Recently, in 2022, he was nominated to the Rajya Sabha by President Ramnath Kovind.

Despite his numerous accolades, Ilaiyaraaja continues to actively compose music for films, earning him widespread appreciation. His tireless contributions to Indian cinema and his global reach through his compositions have led the Government to consider conferring the Bharat Ratna upon him. As an apolitical figure, Ilaiyaraaja's potential recognition is expected to be met with widespread approval. If confirmed, this would be a monumental honor for Indian cinema, recognizing Ilaiyaraaja's excellence in Arts and Humanities alongside other legendary recipients like M. G. Ramachandran, Satyajit Ray, and Lata Mangeshkar.

Ilaiyaraaja's musical prowess has been widely recognized, with the American international cinema portal "Taste of Cinema" ranking him ninth among the top 25 film composers in history. His soundtrack for the 1991 film Thalapathi was included in The Guardian's 100 Albums to Hear Before You Die. The composer has also won several National Film Awards and has been awarded honorary doctorates by Annamalai University and the World University Round Table.

The potential conferment of the Bharat Ratna upon Ilaiyaraaja has been welcomed by many, including the Tamil Nadu unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), who have urged the Government to bestow this honor upon the legendary composer. With his contributions to Indian cinema and music being widely recognized, Ilaiyaraaja's potential Bharat Ratna recognition is a testament to his enduring legacy.