KTR urges Ilaiyaraaja to set up music university in Telangana, maestro agrees

HYDERABAD: Minister K T Rama Rao has urged music maestro Ilaiyaraaja to set up a music university in Telangana.

Addressing an audio launch and pre-release event of a movie named ‘Music School’ here on Saturday, KTR made this appeal to Ilaiyaraaja while referring to the latter himself as a university.

KTR lauded producer of the movie and former advisor to Telangana Government on culture Biyyapu Papa Rao, a retired IAS officer, for taking up story, screenplay, direction and production of a movie, completely away from the long years of work he had done.

Responding to the appeal of KTR, the music maestro readily agreed to establish the music university in Telangana.

Greeting Papa Rao for venturing into filmdom, KTR recalled his long association with the former who, the minister said, was instrumental in aiding and advising the Telangana agitation and acting as a great influencer in Delhi by helping with right connects in Delhi.

He complimented Papa Rao for breaking the routine and making a movie that touched upon the lifestyles in families who wanted their children to become engineers, doctors, lawyers by suppressing their creativity. “We usually encourage our children to go for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM),” said KTR and pointed out that “Music School” movie was made in an altogether different genre.

In this context, he recalled how his son Himanshu created a cover and released the video and how he, as his father, was surprised to find the boy’s musical voice and his creative side.

KTR wanted every one to encourage the creativity among children.

Ilaiyaraaja said “Raja is just part of my name. I am also part of the people. When the ruler (Minister) himself has come forth to ask me to set up a music university, what else can I say? I will surely establish music university in Telangana,” amid cheers from KTR and the audience.

Famous producer Dil Raju, actress Shriya Saran and others participated in the event. Ilaiyaraja scored music for the songs in the movie, which is all set for a release.