Composer Ilayaraja hospitalised after mild heart attack

Chennai: Well-known musician Ilayaraja was today admitted to a private hospital in Chenna following a mild heart attack, sources close to the composer said.

Ilayaraja, 70, fondly addressed as 'maestro,' was likely to undergo an angioplasty procedure, sources said, adding, he has been advised rest for a few days.

He was, however, stable, they added.

Ilayaraja's latest work, 'Thalaimuraigal' (Generations) had hit the screens recently, earning critical acclaim for the movie's plot and the composer's tunes.

National award-winning Ilayaraja has produced some of the biggest musical hits of Tamil cinema for actors including veterans Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan, and has worked with top filmmakers including Maniratnam and Gautham Menon.

In a career spanning nearly 40 years, he also has a number of Hindi musical hits to his credit, including in movies like 'Sadma', 'Cheeni Kum' and 'Paa', among others.