It was a friendship that weathered hardship, poverty and adversity before each one of the buddies scaled great heights in the film world. The friendship between Bharathiraja, maestro Ilaiyaraaja, his brothers Gangai Amaran and the late Bhaskar spans more than half a century, though it had its share of ups and downs .
The Early Years: Before the Limelight
The association of Bharathiraja and Ilaiyaraaja started long before both became famous in the film world . During his time working as a health inspector, Bharathiraja visited Pannaipuram, where he met Ilaiyaraaja and his brothers Gangai Amaran and Bhaskar, who were then involved in music performances. What started as a friendship soon became a creative partnership .
Recalling the difficult days in a conversation with The Hindu in 2018, Ilaiyaraaja had said that in 1968, he, his brothers and a few friends boarded a bus to Chennai in search of a career in the film industry. The journey was anything but easy .
The brothers, who had earlier travelled with their elder brother Pavalar Varadarajan to perform at Communist Party stages, later joined Bharathiraja in Madurai to compose music for his theatre productions. Bharathiraja’s plays, including Oor Sirikkiradhu and Summa Oru Kadhai, became a space where their artistic ambitions grew together .
Sharing dreams of making it in cinema, they eventually moved to Chennai, though success did not come immediately. During those difficult years, they stayed connected through theatre, concerts and collaborations .
The Golden Era of Collaboration
Ilaiyaraaja’s journey into the film industry also helped open doors for Bharathiraja. After joining composer GK Venkatesh as a guitarist, Ilaiyaraaja played a role in connecting Bharathiraja with director Puttanna Kanagal, where he got his first opportunity as an assistant director – laying the foundation for one of Tamil cinema’s most iconic director-composer partnerships .
The duo first came together for the film 16 Vayathinile (1977), which was Bharathiraja’s directorial debut. The soundtrack and background score for the film was composed by Ilaiyaraaja, featuring lyrics written by Kannadasan, Gangai Amaran and Alangudi Somu . The film bagged the National Award for playback singer S. Janaki and won four State awards, including the best director award for Bharathiraja .
One of the most productive collaborations in Tamil cinema commenced from that point. They churned out several fantastic films including Kizhakke Pogum Rail, Sigappu Rojakkal, Puthiya Vaarpugal, Alaigal Oivathillai, Mudhal Mariyadhai, and Kadalora Kavithaigal . Both were instrumental in making their films and music legendary for future generations of cineastes . Bharathiraja has predominantly only worked with Ilaiyaraaja for his directorials .
Creative Differences and Separation
Despite their brilliant run together, difference of opinion between them led to Bharathiraja roping in music director Devendran for the film Vedam Puthithu. Bharathiraja also used another music director Hamsaleka for the Rajinikanth-starrer Kodi Parakkuthu .
They again worked together for Ennuir Thozhan, Puthunellu Puthunaathu and Nadodi Thendral (1992). Once again differences cropped up between them and A.R. Rahman worked as a music director for Bharathiraja’s film Kizhakku Seemaiyile . Nadodi Thendral remained their last collaborative effort for several decades, with Bharathiraja later admitting, “There was a misunderstanding between me and him once. That was the reason for our professional separation. But I never allowed this to happen in our friendship, and it will last till death separates us” .
Bharathiraja almost lost his rhythm due to this separation. His only hit film after parting ways with Ilaiyaraaja was Kizhakku Seemaiyile. After that, he gave several flop movies continuously. He often realised this fact and openly acknowledged the same when on stage, though Ilaiyaraaja always maintained a silence on this issue .
Despite the professional divergence, their admiration for one another never ceased .
The Reunion: After 28-31 Years
In 2020, it was announced that the legendary duo would work together again after 28 years for a film titled Aatha . However, this project did not materialise immediately.
The actual reunion on screen happened with Margazhi Thingal, directed by Manoj Bharathiraja, the filmmaker’s son. This film marked the reunion of Bharathiraja and Ilaiyaraaja after 31 years (since 1992’s Nadodi Thendral) . A video from the recording session, where Ilaiyaraaja is seen composing a tune and singing it aloud to Bharathiraja, went viral on social media, much to the delight of fans who had long awaited their coming together .
They also worked together on a TV project in between, with Ilaiyaraaja composing the title song of the TV serial Thekathi Ponnu directed by Bharathiraja in 2008 .
The Final Farewell
Bharathiraja breathed his last on June 10, 2026, at his Chennai residence. He was 85 . Ilaiyaraaja visited the mortal remains of his longtime friend. The legendary composer appeared visibly emotional as he stood before his friend.
Addressing the press, Ilaiyaraaja asked emotionally, “What’s there to say? There’s nothing to say. There’s literally nothing to say; we’ve lost the man. This is not the place for an interview. I pray to God for his soul to rest in peace” .
Through half a century of struggle, stardom, separation, and reunion, the bond between the two legends remained intact. As Bharathiraja once said, despite the professional separation, their friendship lasted “till death separates us” . Their story remains one of the most enduring and heartwarming tales of friendship in Indian cinema.
