In his forthcoming yet-to-be-titled movie, South Indian superstar Dhanush is poised to portray the renowned musician Ilaiyaraaja. The principal photography for the film, dubbed Ilaiyaraaja, is set to commence imminently. During the unveiling ceremony held in Chennai on Wednesday, Dhanush was visibly moved as he reflected on the opportunity to embody the legendary composer on screen.
At the film’s inauguration, Dhanush expressed his thoughts on the role with heartfelt sincerity, becoming emotional as he contemplated the prospect of portraying Ilaiyaraaja. Speaking in Tamil, he conveyed, “Ilaiyaraaja’s melodies serve as a tranquilizer for many individuals. Yet, I’ve spent countless sleepless nights pondering the experience of depicting Ilaiyaraaja. I aspired to participate in two biographical films during my lifetime, one centered on Rajinikanth and the other on Ilaiyaraaja. One endeavor has been fulfilled, filling me with immense pride.”
The actor’s emotional discourse centered on the upcoming film where he assumes the pivotal role of the music maestro Ilaiyaraaja. The project was officially announced last year and is slated for release in May 2025. Notably, this marks Dhanush’s second collaboration with director Arun Matheswaran, following their previous venture, Captain Miller. Intriguingly, Ilaiyaraaja had previously collaborated with Dhanush on the musical composition for Adhu Oru Kana Kaalam, with Dhanush lending his vocals to the track “Onnoda Nadandhaa” from the album Viduthalai – Part 1.
Apart from the cast and crew of the film, screen luminary Kamal Haasan graced the event commemorating the launch of the Ilaiyaraaja biopic. Following the ceremony, Dhanush revealed the inaugural poster of the film, sharing it on social media with the caption, “Honored @ilaiyaraaja sir.”
Ilaiyaraaja, renowned as Isaignani or the musical sage, boasts a distinguished career spanning over 47 years, comprising more than 7,000 songs and 1,000 film compositions, as well as over 20,000 concerts. For those unfamiliar, Ilaiyaraaja mentored A. R. Rahman, the acclaimed composer who went on to achieve Oscar and Grammy awards, at the onset of his career in 1986.
Returning to Dhanush, in addition to his involvement in the Ilaiyaraaja biopic, the actor is engaged in several other captivating projects, including “Kubera,” helmed by Sekhar Kammula and featuring Nagarjuna Akkineni and Rashmika Mandanna. Furthermore, he is presently immersed in two directorial endeavors, “Nilavuku En Mel Ennadi Kobam” and “Raayan.” Dhanush is also attached to “Tere Ishk Mein,” announced in June 2023 but yet to commence production. Notably, “Tere Ishk Mein” marks the third collaboration between Dhanush and Aanand L Rai, following “Raanjhanaa” (2013) and “Arrangi Re” (2021).
