Why did it take long time for Ilayaraja?

‘Laya Raja’ Ilayaraja has been conferred with Padmabhushan award, as per this year’s Government of India’s press release. But this is no big surprise, taken the fact that as to why it took the government so long to honour a man who’s achieved so much in the field of music.

Ilayaraja, the calm and quite man with brilliant mind proclaims that this is an award presented to Tamilians and Tamil music. When media asked a question on whether he thought that the award had come a little too late? Ilayaraja replied, ‘Whatever is to happen is happening at the appropriate time. Padma Bhushan is not recognition. It is a token of appreciation that is given to artistes to encourage them to give more to society.”