Ilaiyaraaja

“For musical compositions to reach a high level and to derive from spontaneity, of course, one has to do the necessary steps to learn the rules and regulations of composing high quality music.”

“Mere recording of an event will not make it a historical document. It will become obsolete with time. Only those that emotionally connect with the audience will stand the test of time.”

“Any form of classical music is made for youth.”

“Good music is made with the help of many musicians who express their joy in the swaras.”

“Music is not a subject to be discussed. It has to be experienced.”

“One could work on a lot of albums such as 'Thiruvasagam in Symphony,' but with issues such as illegal downloading from the Internet and piracy, it is difficult.”

“Life is not what you expect: it is made up of the most unexpected twists and turns.”

“For me, my music is part of me, and which is why it seems second nature, and my compositions are instinctive.”

“When you listen to a song, it should make you sit up and wonder, 'Hey, what is this!' or give you an inexplicable feeling of joy or relate beautifully to the music in you.”

“You may go to the temple for mental peace. But you may be distracted there and forget the purpose of your visit. But this does not happen when you hear good music.”

“Many ask me why I work with debutants, but I always tell them that there's space for every one in the industry, and if my music helps him, then I'm glad to be of some help. I will never say no to deserving newcomers.”

“A good mind should tell the difference between noise and music.”

“When you see the ocean and the infinite, it empties your mind.”

“Genuine music, to me, is the one which has no purpose. It should be as natural and as purposeless as the flow of the river.”

“My music is religion, and my religion is music. They are one.”

“A mother cooking exclusively for her child might be preparing just rice and buttermilk, but it will be immensely tasty. Fast food, on the other hand, may be very tasty, but it has not been prepared exclusively for you, you see.”

“I think of the Tamil poet Subrahmanya Bharati every day, and he is an inspiration in my musical creations.”

“Government should take necessary steps to add music into school syllabus and impart knowledge to the students.”

“My perception is that there is no distinction in music as many people perceive. The difference lies in the way you hear the music.”

“People forget themselves in my music. It's amazing.”