Ilaiyaraaja Says He Can Not Celebrate His Birthday

Maestro Ilaiyaraaja celebrated his birthday on June 2nd. Many celebrities, numerous fans and well wishers wishes him on his birthday. Many fans came from long places to personally meet and wish him on his birthday. Despite the crowd at his office in Chennai, he openly shared with the press that he wasn’t in the mood to celebrate this year.

Ilaiyaraaja met the fans crowding his office and took pictures with them as requested. He spoke to the media and shared that his heart was not on it. He sorrowful said, “I am not celebrating my birthday today because I am grieving the loss of my daughter (Bhavatharini), and you are wishing me a happy birthday. This meet is only to acknowledge my fans.”

Ilaiyaraaja’s daughter Bhavatharini died at age 47 on January 25 this year. She was undergoing treatment for liver cancer in Sri Lanka when she succumbed to the disease. The news came as a shock for fans and well-wishers. Bhavatharini debuted with Prabhu Deva’s Raasiya and went on to sing for numerous films. She also frequently collaborated with her father and her brothers Yuvan Shankar Raja and Karthik Raja.

Dhanush and Kamal Haasan were among the many who wished Ilaiyaraaja on his birthday. Dhanush shared a poster from his upcoming film, a biopic on Ilaiyaraaja. The actor who will play the music maestro stood on stage in front of a sea of people. He was seen keeping one hand on the harmonium while several people sat with their musical instruments behind him. Arun Matheswaran is directing this flick.