Karthik Ilaiyaraaja speaks on his legendary fathers illness

The iconic prolific legendary music composer Ilaiyaraaja, regarded as a Guru even by A R Rahman, suffered a mild heart attack on Monday. He was rushed to the Apollo hospital in Chennai where an Angioplasty was performed on the Maestro on Monday evening by a team of doctors.

Speaking from outside the hospital's ICU, the Maestro's son and composer Karthik Ilaiyaraaja says, "He is fine, and recovering. He should be back home by the end of the week. It came as a shock to us, as my father leads a very disciplined regimented life. He eats, sleeps and exercises properly. We would have never expected him to have a heart problem. But then such things cannot be predicted. I am holding vigil by his bedside constantly. It is a trying time. And I want to thank all those friends and admirers of my father who are praying for him."

There was a constant stream of anxious visitors at the hospital. Producer Sheetal Talwar and his director-wife Bhavna Talwar who have worked with Ilaiyaraaja in the forthcoming Happi were expected to fly down to Chennai on Thursday.

Interestingly Ilaiyaraaja, his son Karthik and the Maestro's entire family was schedule to perform live in Malaysia on December 28. However, the show now stands cancelled.

Karthik who composed music for Shashilal Nair's Grahan in 2001 made little headway in Bollywood.

Article written by staff at Bollywood Hungama. Read more