KUALA LUMPUR: After his concert in Malaysia was cancelled back in March 2020 due to the pandemic, Indian composer, singer-songwriter and musician Ilaiyaraaja will be performing live at the MITEC (Malaysian International Trade & Exhibition Centre) tomorrow (Oct 1).
The 79-year-old artiste with an illustrious career spanning over four decades is set to create a memorable and magical experience at the show accompanied by a fifty-member musical ensemble including popular playback singers.
Organised by Mojo Projects Sdn Bhd, the four-hour-long live musical extravaganza is expected to see a crowd of over 8,000 spectators.
“The entertainment scene is one of the industries that was hit the hardest during the pandemic. We are grateful to have been able to diversify and keep ourselves afloat,” said Mojo Projects CEO Ratna Kumar Nadarajan in a statement today.
“Coming back to stage with Ilaiyaraaja Live in KL is truly a blessing. We were unsure if the concert would even happen.
“So much has changed since Covid-19 hit us, but maestro has promised us to never waver and we are thankful for that,” he added.
Ilaiyaraaja, a critically acclaimed Indian film composer, singer, and lyricist and the first Asian composer to score a symphony, is credited with setting a trend for film music in South India by fusing western musical nuances into songs.
Apart from Tamil, he has also worked in Malayalam, Telugu, Kannada and Hindi films as a music director.
Since July, he has been a nominated Member of Parliament, marking his long awaited entry into Indian politics.
The prodigious talent who bagged five National Awards has scored music for over 1,000 feature films and composed 6,500 to 7,000 songs over the years.
For much of the 1980s, Ilaiyaraja was the engine that powered the entire Tamil film industry. During that era, Ponggals, Tamil New Years and Deepavalis with Ilaiyaraaja film releases in double digits weren’t one-offs but the norm.
The man from Pannaipuram, a village in Tamil Nadu, guaranteed extraordinary returns for producers with his super-powered soundtracks.
Ever since his debut, Annakili (1976), Ilaiyaraaja revolutionised Tamil film music, bringing together a range of genres to produce classics that were both popular during their time and timeless.
The Maestro Ilaiyaraaja Live in KL concert tomorrow will also feature singers SPB Charan (son of the late SP Balasubrahmanyam), Mano, Yugendran Vasudevan, Karthik, Shweta Mohan, Mukesh, Madhu Balakrishnan and Anitha Karthigeyan.
Purchase tickets at www.excitix.com.my or call +6012-2000505 for ticketing details.
Source from : NST