Ilaiyaraaja to celebrate 50-year music career with special Bengaluru concert
What's the story
Legendary composer Ilaiyaraaja is set to celebrate his 50-year-long musical career with a special concert, titled Ilaiyaraaja 50: A Legendary Musical Journey. The event will be held on January 10, 2026, at NICE Grounds in Madavara, Bengaluru. It will also mark the silver jubilee of the Akshaya Patra Foundation, reported PTI.
Event details
Concert proceeds to support Akshaya Patra Foundation's 'Music for Meals'
The concert will support the Akshaya Patra Foundation's 'Music for Meals' initiative. This program uses music-led activities to raise awareness and garner support for providing meals to school children. The foundation currently provides nutritious mid-day meals to around 2.33 million children every school day in 23,978 government and government-aided schools across India. The Akshaya Patra Foundation is a major implementing partner of the Center's PM POSHAN program, which aims to provide nutritious meals to schoolchildren across India.
Composer's response
Ilaiyaraaja's immediate agreement to perform for a good cause
At a press conference, Ilaiyaraaja said he agreed to perform as soon as the foundation approached him. "The moment they mentioned it, I immediately agreed to do the concert. It was a spontaneous decision. When it is for a good cause, I have to do it," he said. Ilaiyaraaja has been active since 1975 and has composed music for over 1,000 films. He is a recipient of the Padma Bhushan, the Padma Vibhushan, and multiple National Film Awards.