Today, the world knows him as Isaignani Ilaiyaraaja, the legendary composer who transformed Indian film music with thousands of unforgettable melodies. But decades before he became a musical icon, a teenage Ilaiyaraaja was travelling through the mist-covered hills of Kerala, singing revolutionary songs to help elect a Communist candidate.

As Ilaiyaraaja celebrates his 83rd birthday on Tuesday, one of the lesser-known chapters of his extraordinary journey takes us back to the 1958 Devikulam Assembly by-election in Kerala, where a 14-year-old boy with a harmonium became part of a campaign that would enter Left political folklore.

The election that drew national attention

The by-election in Devikulam, in present-day Idukki district, was more than just a local contest. Kerala had elected the world's first democratically elected Communist government under EMS Namboodiripad in 1957, and the seat became a prestige battle between the undivided Communist Party of India and the Congress.

The CPI fielded Rosamma Punnoose, while Congress nominated BK Nair. With a large Tamil-speaking population in the constituency, both sides recognised the importance of reaching Tamil voters.

Congress deployed some of its biggest national leaders, including Indira Gandhi and K. Kamaraj, to campaign in the region. The Communists chose a different route.

A musical campaign led by Pavalar Varadarajan

The CPI entrusted much of the campaign responsibility to a young party organiser named VS Achuthanandan. Alongside political mobilisation, the party brought in a travelling cultural troupe from Tamil Nadu led by Leftist poet and singer Pavalar Varadarajan.

Among the troupe members was Varadarajan's younger brother, a shy teenager named Gnanathesikan, who would later become known to the world as Ilaiyaraaja.

The troupe travelled across plantations, labour settlements and remote hill villages, performing songs that celebrated workers, equality and social justice. The young Ilaiyaraaja sang and played musical instruments as part of the campaign performances, entertaining crowds while carrying the Communist message.

The campaign also featured an unexpected star attraction. While shooting in Munnar, actor MG Ramachandran was persuaded to campaign for Rosamma Punnoose. By then associated with the Dravidian movement in Tamil Nadu, MGR drew huge crowds wherever he appeared. It would reportedly remain the first and last time MGR campaigned for a candidate in a Kerala election.

Rosamma Punnoose eventually won the by-election, helping the Communist government secure a crucial political victory.

From political songs to musical greatness

Few among those listening to the teenager sing campaign songs in Devikulam could have imagined that he would one day compose music for more than a thousand films, redefine Indian film soundtracks and earn honours including the Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan.

Widely regarded as one of India's greatest music composers, Ilaiyaraaja has composed music for over a thousand films and created thousands of songs across multiple Indian languages. His unique blend of Indian classical music and Western orchestration has earned him immense acclaim both in India and internationally.

Recognised as one of the most prolific composers in India, Ilaiyaraaja is known for working in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, and Hindi films.