Veteran film composer Ilaiyaraja was honoured with this year’s Centenary Award for lifetime achievement at the inaugural ceremony of the 46th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Panaji on Friday evening.

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Arun Jaitley along with chief guest Anil Kapur presented the prestigious award to Mr. Ilaiyaraja to a standing ovation from the large audience including film stars, film lovers and other guests from within the country and from abroad.

Stating that he was for “making music in cinema that is divine”, celebrated music composer expressed pain for rising violence everywhere and took the opportunity to plead with the government “to make music compulsory in schools and colleges and everywhere (in education) and confidently stated , “ violence in the society will come down.”