Legendary composer Ilaiyaraaja has been honoured at the Parliament of Australia with a ceremonial stamp commemorating his 50-year journey in the Indian film industry. The composer shared a video from the event on social media, in which he thanked Australian government officials and Members of Parliament for the recognition.
“I offer my sincere gratitude to the Honourable Enver Erdogan MP, Minister for Finance, Victorian Government, and the Members of Parliament for having my 50-year journey commemorated through a ceremonial stamp release,” Ilaiyaraaja wrote in the caption. “Being born in a small, remote village in Tamil Nadu and honoured in an Australian Parliament is truly touching.”
The composer also acknowledged the musicians and artists he has worked with over the years, as well as generations of listeners who have embraced his music. “I also take this opportunity to thank the countless people who gave life to my music, the artists who walked beside me, and generations of listeners who welcomed my compositions,” he added.
The Australian honour comes as Ilaiyaraaja continues a global concert tour marking his 50th anniversary as a film composer. The tour, which began in Europe in late July, has taken him to several venues across North America and other international locations. He is scheduled to perform in Sydney on September 26 and Brisbane on October 5.
The composer was also felicitated by the Government of Tamil Nadu last September at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai to mark five decades of his contribution to cinema.
Ilaiyaraaja has also recently been in the news following the Film Federation of India's selection of the Marathi thriller Gondhal as India's official entry for the Best International Feature Film category at the Academy Awards.
The latest recognition in Australia comes just days ahead of the release of Dorothy, directed by Karthik Subbaraj. Starring Keerthy Suresh, Rishikanth and Sananth, the upcoming film features music by Ilaiyaraaja.