Veteran music composer Ilaiyaraaja paid a visit to the mortal remains of senior filmmaker Bharathiraja on Wednesday. Following his visit, the musician became emotional as he was asked to speak about his bond with Bharathiraja. Ilaiyaraaja and Bharathiraja were known to be very close friends, even before they came into the film industry.

Addressing the press, Ilaiyaraaja asked emotionally, "What's there to say? There's nothing to say. There's literally nothing to say; we've lost the man. This is not the place for an interview. I pray to God for his soul to rest in peace. I am always respectful of this country, its people and its artists. The bond I share with you, my audience, is the bond I share with him too."

Bharathiraja and Ilaiyaraaja’s association began long before either became giants of Tamil cinema. During his time working as a health inspector, Bharathiraja visited Pannaipuram, where he met Ilaiyaraaja and his brothers Gangai Amaran and Bhaskar, who were then involved in music performances. What started as a friendship soon became a creative partnership.

The brothers, who had earlier travelled with their elder brother Pavalar Varadarajan to perform at Communist Party stages, later joined Bharathiraja in Madurai to compose music for his theatre productions. Bharathiraja’s plays, including Oor Sirikkiradhu and Summa Oru Kadhai, became a space where their artistic ambitions grew together.

Sharing dreams of making it in cinema, they eventually moved to Chennai, though success did not come immediately. During those difficult years, they stayed connected through theatre, concerts and collaborations.

Ilaiyaraaja’s journey into the film industry also helped open doors for Bharathiraja. After joining composer GK Venkatesh as a guitarist, Ilaiyaraaja played a role in connecting Bharathiraja with director Puttanna Kanagal, where he got his first opportunity as an assistant director – laying the foundation for one of Tamil cinema’s most iconic director-composer partnerships.

Bharathiraja has predominantly only worked with Ilaiyaraaja for his directorials, of which some of their popular collaborations include 16 Vayathinile, Kizhakke Pogum Rail, Sigappu Rojakkal, Puthiya Vaarpugal, Niram Maratha Pookal, Kotha Jeevithalu, Nizhalgal, and Alaigal Oivathillai, among others.

Bharathiraja breathed his last on Wednesday at his Chennai residence after suffering from age-related ailments. The filmmaker was 85. He is survived by his wife, daughter and grandchildren.