Film composer Ilaiyaraaja and filmmaker Vijayendra Prasad have been nominated for Rajya Sabha seats. After this announcement, PM Narendra Modi congratulated the veterans of the film industry on social media.
“Ilaiyaraaja ji’s creative brilliance has mesmerized people from generation to generation. His creations beautifully reflect many emotions. His life journey is equally inspiring – he rose from a humble background and achieved so much. Glad to know that He has been nominated for state assembly (sic),” Modi’s tweet read for Ilaiyaraaja.
Congratulating Prasad, Modi wrote, “Shri V. Vijayendra Prasad Garu has been associated with the creative world for decades. His works reflect the glorious culture of India and have made a mark on the world stage. He has been nominated to the Rajya Sabha. Congratulations on.”
There were vacancies in the nominated category in the Rajya Sabha. Veteran music director Ilaiyaraaja has composed over 8,500 songs, performed in nearly 1,500 films in nine languages and performed over 20,000 concerts in his career spanning five decades. He is the recipient of five National Film Awards—three for Best Music Direction and two for Best Background Score. In 2010, he was awarded the Padma Bhushan, the third highest civilian honor in India, and in 2018 the Padma Vibhushan, the second highest civilian award by the Government of India.
Meanwhile, Vijayendra Prasad’s most notable work as a screenwriter includes the Baahubali franchise, RRR, Bajrangi Bhaijaan, Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi, Magadheera and Mersal. He has confirmed working on the sequel Salman Khan Also Bajrangi Bhaijaan.