Music director Ilaiyaraaja was asked to name his favourite singers in a recent interview. In a conversation with Billboard India, the legendary composer was asked to choose between SP Balasubrahmanyam and S Janaki. The music director redirected the question, saying, it has to be about his favourite Indian singers and should not be about specific artists. "There are so many singers in India. You should not ask about a particular one. Because I don't want to say lies," Ilaiyaraaja said.
Then, he revealed that Asha Bhosle is the only singer from India whom he likes to a great extent. "Asha ji and in male singers, Yesudas," the composer said.
Ilaiyaraaja also reminisced about a recording session with KJ Yesudas that stayed with him for all these years. The music director revealed that he was composing a track for a film in the Kanakangi ragam at the time.
When Yesudas did not show up in time, he asked the former's assistant about the reason for the delay. The assistant informed him that Yesudas would be come in a while, and the singer turned up for the session soon. Interestingly, Yesudas told the music director that he was practicing the song in the same raaga. "When he finally came, he told me, 'Raja, what should I tell you? Same raag I was practicing, and you are giving the piece in it. I escaped.'"
Memorable tracks sung by Yesudas that feature music by Ilaiyaraaja include 'En Iniya Pon Nilave' from Moodu Pani (1980), 'Pottu Vaitha Oru Vatta Nila' from Idhayam (1991), 'Kanne Kalaimaane' from Moondram Pirai (1982), 'Senthazham Poovil' from Mullum Malarum (1978), and 'Raja Raja Chozhan' from Rettai Vaal Kuruvi (1987).
