MUMBAI: Last Sunday we celebrated Ilaiyaraaja’s 76^th Birthday, however, every Indian celebrates his music every day. What makes him the legend that he is? Out of his 76 years, he has spent over four decades as a revered composer. While his life is decorated with many firsts and many more benchmarks and awards, below are eight facts about the genius which explain his status as a legend!

1.       Ilaiyaraaja golden run in music was flagged off with a gold medal in classical guitar at the Trinity College of Music in London.

2.       Ilaiyaraaja is not the first Indian but the first Asian to compose a full symphony with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. While the best of musicians take nothing less than two-three months to compose a melodious symphony, it is said the maestro completed it in less than one month-a record by itself

3.       Ilaiyaraaja was a session musician with G K Venkatesh, a stalwart of South India music composer. Another legendary music composer, Salil Chowdhary, had once made a prophecy that Ilaiyaraaja would be a name to reckon with. Well, his prophecy came true in no time!

4.        His first movie was in Tamil called Annakil. The movie was released in 1975 post which Ilaiyaraaja kept consolidating his position as a brilliant music composer.

5.       The hallmark of Ilaiyaraaja’s music is known to be the smooth blending of Western harmonies and Indian Classical and Folk Music

6.       While he started his career with stalwarts like GK Venkatesh and Salil Choudhary, one upcoming talent started his career with Ilaiyaraaja as a pianist. The musician’s name is A R Rahman.

7.       He is possibly the composer accredited to the maximum number of movies as official entries to the Academy Awards.

8.       According to a poll conducted by BBC in 2003 with samples from 165 countries, voted: Ilaiyaraaja’s composition for the movie Thalapathi (1991) as the fourth most loved song in the world in Top Ten list.