Pics: Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan, Ilaiyaraaja, Aishwarya, Sridevi At Shamitabh Music Launch

Updated: Wednesday, January 21, 2015, 11:02 [IST]

Superstar Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan, Amitabh Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Shruti Haasan, Dhanush, Shreya Ghoshal and Sridevi came together on Tuesday night to celebrate the 1,000th film of music composer Ilaiyaraaja.

At the music launch of Shamitabh, the music maestro was felicitated in the presence of the entire star cast of the film and all the big dignitaries of the film industry from the likes of Gulzar to Jaya Bachchan.

Amitabh Bachchan, Kamal Haasan, Sridevi and Rajinikanth felicitated Ilaiyaraaja while Gulzar and Jaya Bachchan unveiled the music of filmmaker R Balki's much awaited film Shamitabh.

Amitabh described Ilaiyaraaja as "a genius". He said, "I have never dared to sing in front of him because I found it very embarrassing. Every time I used to sit in a studio separately to record... I remember one occasion while doing 'Paa', where I had to sing a song with Raja saab in front of me. I can't say how frightening it was."

Kamal Haasan said, "Raja has become a part of my life. Today I got the opportunity of hugging him. He is a bit shy. I knew that he would do his 1000th film and I am glad that his 786th film was with me."

Abhishek Bachchan said, "It's an honour to be present here with the wonderful talent around us. Thank you for giving us this opportunity Raja sir."

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan said, "Thank you very much. It's an absolute honor to be present here. We have enjoyed your music. Thanks to the team of Shamitabh. Thank you all the legendary icons. I have the pleasure of calling one of them Paa."

The music launch even also witnessed a live performance by Amitabh Bachchan and Dhanush, apart from other singers like Shreya Ghoshal and music composers like Bappi Lahiri.

Kamal-Sridevi-Rajinikanth

Kamal-Amitabh-Rajinikanth

"I have never dared to sing in front of him because I found it very embarrassing. Every time I used to sit in a studio separately to record... I remember one occasion while doing 'Paa', where I had to sing a song with Raja saab in front of me. I can't say how frightening it was," Amitabh Bachchan told.

Kamal-Sridevi-Ilaiyaraaja-Amitabh-Rajinikanth

Rajinikanth, Amitabh Bachchan, Kamal Haasan and Sridevi on Tuesday came together to celebrate the 1,000th film of music composer Ilaiyaraaja and felicitate him at the music launch of Shamitabh.

Dhanush-Aishwarya

"Thank you for whatever you have given to this industry. I am your devoted fan. Your music is a big inspiration. I am not a trained actor, but accidentally became an actor... It is because of your music that I have made it so far. My every inspiration comes form your music," Dhanush said.

Aishwarya Rai-Abhishek

"Thank you very much. It's an absolute honor to be present here. We have enjoyed your music. Thanks to the team of Shamitabh. Thank you all the legendary icons. I have the pleasure of calling one of them Paa," Aishwarya Rai Bachchan said.

Gulzar-Jaya-Ilaiyaraaja

he music of filmmaker R Balki's much awaited film Shamitabh was unveiled Tuesday night by Jaya Bachchan and Gulzar in the presence of the entire star cast of the film.

Kamal-Shruti

Kamal said that once he had faced a problem with the music of one of his films. "I had shot all the songs but was not able to use them. Then I went to Raja. He said that I did not need to re-shoot and that he will dub the music for me."

Rajinikanth-Kamal-Amitabh

Kamal further added, "He saw the lip sync and made music which was totally different from the one I had recorded, and he made hit songs out of them."

Ilaiyaraaja

The Shamitabh music launch event was followed by paying tribute to the music composer Ilaiyaraaja in Mumbai.

Shreya Ghoshal

Apart from live performance by Amitabh Bachchan and Dhanush, singers like Shreya Ghoshal and other music composers too performed at the music launch.

Tabu

Besides the star cast, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan, Shruti Haasan and Tabu were among those present at the event.

Akshara-Sarika

Akshara Haasan, Kamal Haasan's daughter will be making her debut with Shamitabh and here she is seen posing for the cameras with her mom, Sarika.

Shamitabh Cast

Presented by Eros International and produced by RK Damani, Sunil Lulla, Gauri Shinde, Rakesh Jhunjhuwaala and Abhishek Bachchan, Shamitabh starring Amitabh Bachchan, Dhanush and Akshara Haasan is scheduled to release on February 6.