Thank you, Ilaiyaraaja sir, for helping us through situations in life with your music: V Ravichandran

On a breezy Bengaluru evening, marked by light drizzles and a chill in the air, 82-year-old music maestro Ilaiyaraaja brought the city together for a concert held for a cause. What stood out was Ilaiyaraaja’s energy. Despite the cold and rain, he walked onto the stage 10 minutes ahead of schedule, greeting the audience with effortless ease in Kannada, Telugu, Tamil and English.

The concert also featured performances by singers SP Charan, Shwetha Mohan and Haricharan, who rendered several of Ilaiyaraaja’s iconic compositions across languages. Adding a special touch to the night, veteran Bollywood playback singer Suresh Wadkar joined the maestro on stage. The duo revisited songs from Sadma, leaving the audience visibly moved.

Actor V Ravichandran, who also joined Ilaiyaraaja on stage, delivered an emotional tribute. Recalling a personal memory, he said, “I once went to Chennai for a composition session and was fascinated by how, in a matter of minutes, he would finish composing almost an entire film’s music.” Ravichandran spoke of the profound impact Ilaiyaraaja’s music has had on cinema and how countless films found success because of his compositions.

Ilaiyaraaja’s setlist

• Nagu Endide – Kannada
• Valaiyosai – Tamil
• Surmayi Ankhiyon Mein – Hindi
• Jotheyali – Kannada
• Ae Zindagi Gale Laga Le – Hindi
• Naguva Nayana – Kannada
• Nana Neenu Kelalare – Kannada
• Keladhe Nimagiga – Kannada
• Sundari Kannal Oru – Tamil
• Kanmani Anbodu – Tamil