The golden jubilee celebration of music maestro Ilaiyaraaja in Chennai turned into a memorable evening when superstar Rajinikanth shared a hilarious memory from their early years in cinema. The veteran actor recalled a night during the filming of the 1980 movie Johnny, when he and director Mahendran were drinking and invited Ilaiyaraaja to join them. According to Rajinikanth, the usually reserved composer surprised everyone by dancing until 3 AM after just half a bottle of beer.
Ilaiyaraaja himself had earlier teased the audience by revealing that Rajinikanth had called him before the event, jokingly threatening to “reveal everything they had done” over the years. When the composer mentioned the drinking incident on stage, Rajinikanth rushed to add his own version, describing how Ilaiyaraaja even chatted about heroines when Mahendran tried to ask him about the film’s music.
The lighthearted exchange drew laughter from the packed hall and highlighted the long friendship between the two legends. Rajinikanth also used the occasion to speak about Ilaiyaraaja’s timeless contribution to Indian cinema, calling him “Swami” and praising his ability to create music that remains evergreen. He remarked that even the songs composed by Ilaiyaraaja in the 70s, 80s, and 90s would still become hits if released today.
Over the decades, Ilaiyaraaja has composed numerous unforgettable tracks for Rajinikanth’s films, and the actor described him as “an extraordinary person” whose greatness continues to inspire.