Padma Vibhushan ILAYARAJA

An annual celebration of acclaimed films from around the world, the 11^th Ajanta-Ellora International Film Festival (AIFF) is scheduled from January 28 to February 1, 2026 at Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. This year, the most prestigious honour of the festival – the Padmapani Award will be conferred upon the legendary composer, Padma Vibhushan Maestro Shri Ilayaraja who transformed Indian film music with his unique compositions.

The announcement was made here today by the AIFF Organizing Committee Chairman, Mr. Nandkishor Kagliwal, Chief Mentor, Mr. Ankushrao Kadam and Honorary Chairman of AIFF, Ashutosh Gowariker. Shri Ilayaraja’s name was selected by the Padmapani Award Selection Committee consisting of famous film critic Mrs. Latika Padgaonkar (Chairperson), Director Ashutosh Gowariker, Sunil Sukthankar and Chandrakant Kulkarni. The award comprises a Padmapani Memento, a letter of honour and a cash prize of ₹2,00,000.

The Award will be presented during the opening ceremony of the festival on Wednesday, January 28, 2025 at 5.30 PM at Rukmini Auditorium, MGM Campus, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. The felicitation will be held in the gracious presence of various national and international artists, eminent personalities from different fields and film lovers. Following the inauguration, the festival screenings and events will take place at PVR INOX, Prozone Mall.

For over five decades, Ilayaraja has composed over 7,000 songs and original scores for more than 1,500 films. His compositions in various Indian languages, including Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Hindi, and Marathi, have earned him an enduring place in the hearts of music lovers. The Maestro continues to enthral his audience to this day.

A masterful fusion of Indian classical music and folk traditions with the structural discipline of Western symphonies is the defining characteristic of his music. He has a rare ability to add emotional depth to cinematic moments and elevate the narrative with his compositions. The selection committee noted that the Padmapani Award, a symbol of art, compassion and creative devotion, is a fitting tribute to Ilayaraja’s spirituality, technical discipline and the profound human sensitivity, the qualities that have earned him the title ‘Isaignani’ (The Musical Sage) among his admirers. Shri Ilayaraja is also serving as a member of the Rajya Sabha nominated by the President of India.

Presented by the Nath Group, MGM University and the Yashwantrao Chavan Centre, the Ajanta Ellora International Film Festival is organized by the Marathwada Art Culture and Film Foundation. The festival is supported by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (Govt. of India) and the Department of Cultural Affairs (Govt. of Maharashtra), National Film Development Corporation Ltd. and Maharashtra Film, Stage and Cultural Development Corporation Ltd. Prozone Mall has provided special support to this festival. Solitaire Towers, Kalika Steel, and Dailyhunt are the co-organizers of the festival.