(born
Gnanathesikan) is an Indian
film composer who works predominantly in the
South Indian cinema since the late 1970s. Regarded as one of the finest music composers in India, Ilaiyaraaja is also an instrumentalist,
conductor, singer, and
songwriter. He has composed more than 5000 songs and provided film scores for more than 1000 films, particularly being acclaimed for his
background scores.