‘Drank half a bottle of beer and danced like an artiste’: Rajinikanth’s hilarious memory of Ilaiyaraaja

Chennai: Superstar Rajinikanth recently attended the Tamil Nadu government’s felicitation event for legendary composer Ilaiyaraaja, where he shared a lighthearted memory from their long association.

When Ilaiyaraaja took the stage, he revealed that Rajinikanth had teased him ahead of the event, saying he would disclose all their past escapades.

“He called me two days ago and said, I am going to reveal what we have done. Once, we sat down to drink. He asked me later if I remembered anything I did. Then he said, you drank half a bottle of beer and danced like an artiste,” Ilaiyaraaja told the audience.

Coolie actor soon joined in to elaborate on the incident, taking listeners back to the shooting of his 1980 film Johnny.

“The performance he gave after drinking half a bottle will never be forgotten. He danced until 3 AM. Then, when Mahendran asked about the film's music, he said, just sit still and shared gossip about the heroines,” the actor said.

Ilaiyaraaja has composed some of Rajinikanth’s most memorable songs over the decades. The Tamil star also reflected on his decades-long bond with Ilaiyaraaja, calling him “Swami” and praising his timeless music. “He is an amazing and extraordinary person. Even if the songs he composed in the 70s, 80s, or 90s are put into a film today, they will become hits. I see him as a great man. I have worked with him many times in these 50 years,” Rajinikanth said.