Known as 'Isaignani'(all-knowing musician) or 'Ragadevan' (God of Raagas) and many more titles, Illayaraja has scored music for nearly 700 films and composed more than 3500 film songs.

Illayaraja is a music director who works at everything. From composing to orchestration to conducting. He also does recording and balancing of tracks.

Entering the Tamil film industry in 1976, his music for the film Annakkili became a runaway hit. He can conceive and write out the entire orchestration for a song, without having to play out each part. He has scored music for Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Hindi and one English film.

During his on-stage Carnatic vocal performance, he sang his own 'Kirthanas'(Songs in Carnatic music). He created the Raaga "Panchamukhi" explaining the five facets of music that included the colourful aspect of film music. Usually a song requires a minimum of five notes (swaras). He is the only music director to compose a song in just three notes.

He won the Indian National Film Music Award for his scores in the films Sagara Sangamam (1985), Sindhu Bhairavi (1987) and Rudhra Veena (1989). He is also the recipient of the prestigious Lata Mangeshkar award for the year 1998.

His first fusion music album 'How To Name It?' set a new trend in non-film-based music album making. This was followed by Nothing but the Wind and recently - India 24 hours.

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The undisputed No.1 in Indian Film Music direction today, A R Rahman, born Dilip Shekar, is the son of Malayalam Film Music Composer R K Shekar. At nine he converted to Islam after his father's death.

His plunge into music making was early. The keyboard was his chosen instrument. He played with bands and churned out jingles for Television and Radio Commercials.

Immediate fame came with his debut as Music Director for Mani Ratnam's Roja. This was followed by acclaimed work in films - Gentleman, Kadhalan, Thiruda Thiruda, Minsara Kanavu, Bombay, Indian, Kadhal Desam, Dil Se, Iruvar, Jeans, Alaipayuthey and Kandukondaen Kandukondaen.

A R Rahman successfully made that crossover from regional to national and international acceptance of his music. His music for Hindi films Rangeela, Taal, 1947 Earth and Pukar has established him as the hottest music making talent for the Indian tinsel world.

Also acclaimed are his deeply moving music albums on national integration - Vande Mataram and Jana Gana Mana 2000.

A R Rahman's style is characterised by a trend-setting techno-sound that blends diverse influences - Carnatic, Hindustani, Western Classical, even Jazz.

This scholarship holder from Trinity College of Music, London, is known for his willingness to introduce new voices and give them a winning platform through his music.

A R Rahman's contribution to film music making has been recognised through several State and National Awards and the special honour of a Padmashri.

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