Music composer Ilaiyaraaja has shared a touching memory of his early days in Chennai, recalling how he and his friends would go from place to place during Navaratri to find something to eat. The veteran composer, who now hosts Navaratri Golu celebrations at his residence in T Nagar, spoke about the difficult times that shaped the tradition. His memories offer a glimpse into his life before he became one of Indian cinema’s most celebrated music composers. What began as a simple effort to ensure that nobody went hungry during the festival has now grown into a celebration featuring musical performances.
Ilaiyaraaja recalls Navaratri days with Bharathiraja and brother Bhaskar
In a video message, Ilaiyaraaja recalled the days after he arrived in Chennai in 1968. He said he spent those Navaratri days with his brother Bhaskar and filmmaker Bharathiraja, often struggling to find food. Remembering those times, he said, “When we came to Chennai in 1968, during Navaratri in October, my brother Bhaskar, Bharathiraja and I would remain hungry. Near the Vadapalani temple, people would distribute puffed rice and sundal.” The composer said the three of them would stand in queues to collect the food wherever it was being offered, making the most of the festival season despite their difficult circumstances.
How Ilaiyaraaja’s personal memories inspired his Navaratri Golu
Ilaiyaraaja also explained how the three friends would gather the food they received and share it after returning to their room. “We would visit every place where food was being distributed, stand in the queue and collect it. Then we would return to our room, spread a large sheet of paper and pour everything we had collected onto it. We would eat together, drink water and go to sleep,” he recalled. The composer said he had shared these memories with his wife. Moved by his experiences, she wanted to celebrate Navaratri on a grand scale so that nobody would have to remain hungry during the festival. This idea eventually led to the family starting its own Golu celebrations.
Ilaiyaraaja’s Navaratri celebrations grow into a musical gathering
Recalling how the tradition began, Ilaiyaraaja said the family initially arranged a small Golu and distributed packets of cooked rice to visitors. Over the years, the celebration grew beyond its modest beginnings and began featuring musical concerts. This year, the Navaratri gathering at his T Nagar residence included a performance by Aishwarya and Soundarya, great-granddaughters of the legendary Carnatic vocalist MS Subbulakshmi. The annual event now combines music and tradition. What started from Ilaiyaraaja’s memories of difficult days has grown into a family celebration. The festival reminds him of the kindness people showed him when he had very little.