On Yuvan Shankar Raja's birthday, Ilaiyaraaja reveals the composer's connection with Superstar Rajinikanth

Ace composer Yuvan Shankar Raja is ringing in his 43rd birthday today. And to wish the musician, his father, ace composer Isaignani Ilaiyaaraja took to his social media page and dropped a video in which he revealed a secret of Yuvan Shankar. In the video, Ilaiyaraaja revealed what he was doing on the day Yuvan was born. "There was a time when I used to head to the Aliyar Dam near Coimbatore to compose music for films. I would stay at a guesthouse there for two-three days, work on my films and head back to Chennai. My pakka vaadyam (accompanists) would also come along with me."

He later shared that it was during one such trip that he heard the news about Yuvan's birth. "For one such trip, I was accompanied by director Mahendran and producer KRG. KRG had a house in Coimbatore and he would go and come back. One day he came to me and said that my wife had delivered a baby boy. Look at me, even when my wife was in labour pain, I couldn't be near her. The song I was composing for then was Senorita, I Love You and it was for the film Johnny that starred Superstar Rajinikanth. That baby was Yuvan. Happy birthday, Yuvan," he said.  

Senorita was sung by the late singer SP Balasubrahmanyam and had lyrics by Ilaiyaraaja’s younger brother Gangai Amaran. The entire album comprised chartbusters like En Vaaniley, Kaatril Enthan, Aasaiya Kaathule and Oru Iniya Manathu. Johnny (1989) starred Rajinikanth, Sridevi, Deepa, Balaji, Suruli Rajan, Samikannu, Prabhakar Reddy.

Yuvan Shankar Raja is the youngest son of Ilaiyaraaja. He has an elder brother, composer Karthik Raja and sister, singer Bhavatharini. Yuvan made his debut as a composer with Aravindhan (1997). He shot to fame with Poovellam Kettuppar (1999) and Thulluvadho Ilamai (2001) became his breakthrough work. The composer has completed 25 years as a composer in the film industry,