Ilaiyaraaja to form girls' orchestra in memory of late daughter Bhavatharini

Ace music director Ilaiayaraaja has announced his plans to form a girls’ orchestra in the name of his daughter and National Award-winning singer Bhavatharini, who passed away last year. The musician, who was attending an event organised to remember Bhavatharini on February 12, which was her birthday, said his daughter had expressed her desire to start an orchestra.

The ace music director said, “Bhavatharini’s last wish was to start a girls’ orchestra. Two days ago, when I was in Malaysia, several girl groups sang before me. When I saw it, I remembered what my daughter Bhavatharini had told me.”

He continued: “Girl students – both school and college students – who are not over 15 years alone will be a part of this orchestra. I am to select them. I have selected two orchestras in Malaysia itself. Girls from across the globe can be a part of this orchestra. Auditions will be held and candidates will be selected. I will announce the orchestra once the proceedings are completed," he said

Soft-spoken singer Bhavatharini, the only daughter of ace music director Ilaiyaraaja, was a National Award winner. Blessed with a melodious, unique voice, Bhavatharini has sung several chartbusters in several languages. She won the National Award for the Tamil song 'Mayil Pola Ponnu Onnu...' composed by her father for the film 'Bharathi'. Bhavatharini, was not just a singer, she was also a music director, who at the time of her passing away, was in the process of scoring music for three films. The ace singer passed away in Sri Lanka, where she had been taken for treatment.