Ilaiyaraaja will perform in KL tomorrow alongside famous South Indian singers such as Shweta Mohan and Karthik. – Photo by Shafwan Zaidon
By Anne Grace Savitha
Friday, September 30, 2022 12:01 MYT
PETALING JAYA, September 30 – Indian music maestro Ilaiyaraaja is delighted to finally entertain Malaysian fans after postponing his March 2020 concert due to Covid-19.
The orchestra-themed concert will be held tomorrow night at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Center (MITEC). Featuring a 50-member musical ensemble, it also promises a night filled with Ilaiyaraaja’s greatest hits over the years.
Some of the renowned South Indian singers who are part of the concert tour include SPB Chandran (son of late SP Balasubrahmanyam), Shweta Mohan, Karthik and Yugendran Vasudevan.
Hosted by concert producer Mojo Projects, the four-hour live concert is expected to see a crowd of 8,000.
Mojo Projects General Manager Ratna Kumar Nadarajan described the concert as a unique experience for fans.
“The orchestral setup coupled with the musicians on stage is definitely going to be a unique experience for Malaysians.
“It’s definitely going to wow the audience,” Ratna said malaysian mail at a press conference yesterday
With the entertainment scene being the hardest hit during the pandemic, Ratna is grateful that Ilaiyaraaja kept her promise to perform for her Malaysian fans.
“Come back on stage with Maestro Ilaiyaraaja lives in Kuala Lumpur is truly a blessing.
“We didn’t know if the concert would ever happen. So much has changed since Covid-19, but the maestro’s promise to us never wavered,” Ratna said.
Ilaiyaraaja, 79, is an acclaimed Indian composer, singer and lyricist. He is known for his South Indian film music by fusing western musical nuances into songs and has worked in Malayalam, Telugu, Kannada and Hindi films as a musical director.
He rose to fame after composing songs for a 1976 film Annakili and has since composed about 7,000 songs in total.
Receiving five national awards, Ilayaraaja was well known for his work in the 1980s in the Tamil film industry, especially for his film scores.
Tickets for the concert are available at https://www.excitix.com.my/ or contact 012-2000505 for details.
