Director Karthik Subbaraj has worked with composer Santhosh Narayanan for most of his films. His upcoming film, Dorothy, meanwhile, has music by none other than Ilaiyaraaja. Starring Keerthy Suresh, Rishikanth, and Sananth, the film marks the first collaboration between Karthik and Ilaiyaraaja.

Karthik Subbaraj has been expressing his excitement over the collaboration with the legendary music director over the last few weeks, ever since the release of the film's title. In a recent event, the filmmaker asked the composer as to why he works with such young directors, having collaborated with legends such as K Balachander and Bharathiraja. In response, Ilaiyaraaja said that new filmmakers are similar to "empty vessels" for him.

"When other filmmakers have their vessel full of liquid, what can I pour into it? The vessel must be empty; only then can something be poured into it," the composer said.

He added that new filmmakers approach him with their stories and ask him to compose music in particular ways, but he does not listen to them because they have "the knowledge to judge music" only because of his work. "Your knowledge of good and bad music comes through my music. You take my music as the reference," the composer explained. He expressed full confidence in his work as a composer, saying new filmmakers cannot think beyond it as God has gifted him with it. "You have every music in your fingertips, but is it like my music? You test me with everyone else's work," he asserted before reiterating that there is no music quite like his in the whole world.

"Don't think I am saying this out of arrogance, because that is exactly what I am doing," the composer said to big applause from the audience. He also highlighted his skill to produce such music with no formal training in the field.

Coming back to Dorothy, the film is slated for a September 25 release in theatres.