We
all
have
pondered
over
this
question
for
decades
now.
Yet,
there
is
no
definite
answer
as
to
why
Mani
Ratnam
and
Ilaiyaraaja
parted
ways
after
producing
some
sensational
music
for
over
8
years.
In
fact,
if
Mani
Ratnam's
life
is
made
into
a
movie,
the
first
half
will
have
Ilaiyaraaja's
music
and
the
latter,
AR
Rahman's.
After
working
together
for
10
movies
straight,
no
one
had
ever
imagined
that
this
majestic
combo
of
Mani
and
Raaja
will
unite
no
more.
Though
there
are
different
versions
to
why
these
two
geniuses
parted
ways,
the
Roja
director
himself
had
once
revealed
that
the
producers
(Kavithalayaa
Productions)
are
not
to
be
blamed.
While
it
is
true
that
the
producers
of
Roja
were
not
in
good
terms
with
Ilaiyaraaja,
they
had
actually
offered
Mani
Ratnam
an
option
to
rope
in
Ilaiyaraaja,
with
whom
he
had
done
all
his
previous
films.
But
then,
Mani
Ratnam
went
on
to
say
that
the
film
industry
is
"not
dependent
on
individuals" and
that
"nobody
is
indispensable
in
the
entire
field".
This
is
an
interesting
comment
by
Mr.
Ratnam
as
Ilaiyaraaja
is
known
for
parting
ways
with
many
talented
personalities
including
Vairamuthu
over
'creative
differences'.
Mani
Ratnam
concludes
by
saying
that
"it
just
happened"
and
that
it
was
time
for
AR
Rahman.
Though
there
are
no
solid
evidences,
we
conclude
by
saying
that
Mani
Ratnam,
unlike
Ilaiyaraaja,
feels
that
cinema
cannot
be
a
one-man
show.
Also
Read:
Mani
Ratnam
&
Ilaiyaraaja:
Only
10
Films
From
This
Majestic
Combo,
Take
A
Look