Ilaiyaraja’s singing advice to Kamal Haasan

Ilaiyarja and Kamal Haasan have churned out some classical melodies in the past including Thenpaandi Cheemaiyile, Ninaivo Oru Paravai etc. In fact, Kamal Haasan considers Ilaiyaraja as one of his gurus and he proved it further by roping him as composer for this first two directorial ventures Hey Ram and Virumaandi. 

“As with acting, there can be posturing in singing. He doesn’t like that. He’ll say, ‘Do what suits your voice. Don’t try to sing like others.’ Above all, he taught me how to sing with abandon. ‘Just relax,’ he’ll say. He taught me how to relax over the about 50 recordings I’ve done for him,” says Kamal Haasan to a daily about his recording experience with Ilaiyaraja.