The list of songs performed on Saturday was every Kannadiga fan’s dream come true and included some of his biggest hits in Sandalwood.
![maestro ilayaraja maestro ilayaraja](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EQamewwUcAMDBXp.jpg)
The LED screens unfurled the Karnataka flag to SPB singing “Entha Soundarya Nodu, Namma Karunaada Beedu” (Mathu Thappada Maga, 1978 – Raaja’s debut as composer in Kannada) and he in the company of the super talented Vibhavari Apte followed it up with ‘Aakashadinda Jaari’ (Janma Janmadha Anubandha, 1980) and it was indeed magical when the prelude featuring the Shehnai, the delightful flute and the layered chorus, came to life.įor the next 3 and half hours, Ilaiyaraaja and his musicians kept the audience hooked with hit after hit, predominantly in Kannada (21 of the 36), followed by Tamil (10) and the rest. ‘Om Shivoham’ (Naan Kadavul, 2006) and ‘Ram Ram’ (Hey Ram!, 2000) followed and it was a revelation when Raaja mentioned that the spectacular arrangements of the latter were done originally by his older son Karthik Raaja. The Chief Minister of Karnataka, Shri Yeddyurappa made his entry and felicitated Raaja and praised his contributions to music. This was also the first time his concert did not start with and feature ‘Janani Janani’ (Thaai Mookaambigai). After having attended a handful of concerts in the last few years, one can anticipate what logistical and administrative challenges to expect in a concert of this scale, starting from parking to collecting tickets, etc.Īfter a brief act by a mentalist to engage the audience and the customary lighting of the lamp, the Maestro made his entry at 6.45 PM to the chant of ‘Gurur Brahma, Gurur Vishnu’ by the chorus and immediately launched into ‘Amma Yendu Koogithare,’ from one of his earliest non-film albums dedicated to Kollur Mookambika. The gates, scheduled to open at 3 PM, anticipating a crowd of over 15000, hadn’t opened yet, as the crowd was gradually building up. This was the 1st concert in this arena and it was only fitting that the man who ruled the southern film industries with his music in the ’80s and ’90s was invited to perform the opening act. The orchestra was practising and peeling layer after layer of the preludes and interludes as part of the soundcheck, in what was a precursor to the many surprises that were to follow, later in the day.
![maestro ilayaraja maestro ilayaraja](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/zODjRxTxiBc/maxresdefault.jpg)
When we drove into ‘The Concert Arena’ near the Kempegowda International Airport at around 3.30 PM, almost two and a half hours ahead of the scheduled start of proceedings, we were greeted by strains of ‘Hey Kavithe Neenu (Priya) and ‘Aanandha Raagam’ (Panneer Pushpangal) wafting through the breeze.