Quotes from Ilaiyaraaja

Music is a continuous process. You evolve with every song.

There is no guru like our own mistakes.

Music happens. It cannot be made.

The performance of a music director should be judged in a holistic manner, which includes songs as well as background score.

In India, most people are not aware or are unconcerned about copyright laws. This has proved disastrous for the music fraternity.

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.

I truly believe that music or art, in general, is the only thing that can unify a world that is plagued by war and violence, and I believe that it should be taken to more people.

Art is a unifying language for all of us from across the world, and it transcends boundaries.

Traditional musical forms like 'Parai Isai' and 'Villupattu' are unique, and they need to be protected and nurtured.

To me, music is that which connects human hearts. It is something that takes you to unknown levels.

To me, music is more like a spiritual seeking that takes one to unknown levels.

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.

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

In music, there is no country; there is no time.

A director should concentrate on his storyline and his characters.

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

Can someone do music for 24 hours at a stretch and never get tired? It's me. Because I don't 'work'. I enjoy what am doing. It's not like a regular job.

Right from the 17th century, composers who have taken up music as their means of livelihood went through a hard time financially. They were paid only for commissioned works and public performances. And, when their music became famous, orchestras in other cities and countries would pay a small amount to copy the music.

Music is nothing but sound, and there is no place for value judgement among various sounds.

Music is as vast as the sky, the oceans, the universe.

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

My parents were simpletons. Everyday living was a big thing in that small village where I was born. They had no clue about music.

I come from a small village and have had no formal training in music or any classes from the masters of Indian classical music.

Music has the power to divert the violent minds.