London Olympics set to begin - is Illayaraja's song part of medley

It is only a few hours to go for the most awaited biggest Sporting Event – the London Olympics.  The grand opening ceremony will be called "The Isles of Wonder". Oscar-winning director Danny Boyle is the artistic director who is co-ordinating and designing the opening ceremony.

The  three-hour spectacle in the Olympic Stadium is expected to be viewed by a global TV audience of 1bn. The final day of the torch relay will see the Olympic flame taken along the Thames on royal row barge Gloriana - and then used to light the cauldron that will shine during 16 days of sport.  Europe's largest bell will ring inside the stadium at 21:00 BST at the start of the £27m extravaganza, featuring a cast of 10,000 volunteers and said to be a quirky take on British life.  The crowd of about 80,000 at the venue  will include the Queen and a host of dignitaries and celebrities.

The sporting action, which officially began on Wednesday with the women's football competition, continues with archery at Lord's cricket ground.  More than 10,000 athletes from 204 nations will take part in the London Olympics.

The games will be officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. During the television coverage of the ceremony a short film starring Daniel Craig as secret agent James Bond will be screened. Paul McCartney has announced that he will perform at the close of the ceremony.  The opening ceremony will include a soundtrack based on iconic pieces of British music, including the theme tunes from Doctor Who and radio soap opera The Archers, pop and rock songs, and pieces of classical music.

In June 2012, Boyle showcased the London Olympic opening ceremony preview, which promised a huge set – the  use of real animals drew criticism from the animal rights organisation PETA. A. R. Rahman who worked with Boyle in  Slumdog Millionaire (2008) and the biographical film 127 Hours (2010)– said that he had composed a Punjabi song for the opening ceremony. It will be a part of a medley which will showcase Indian influence in the UK, according to Boyle's wishes.

There has been news that a song of Maestro the great ‘Illayaraja’ is set to be part of the medley.  Illayaraja, the adorable, has composed more than 4500 songs, most of which have endeared people. There are many movies which ran by the sheer weight of Raja’s songs.  The song reportedly chosen, is somehow not people’s favourite.  It is stated to be the song ‘naanthaan ungappanda – nallamuthu peranda’ Kamal Hassan starrer -  Ram Lakshman – a film showing the relationship between Kamal and an elephant.  It was a song set in the background of ‘kabbadi’ game. There are thousands of other songs of Illayaraja which has enthralled Indian fans and which are heard daily by his fans, why this lesser known song was chosen is a mystery, though

With regards – S. Sampathkumar.