On October 4th, TC got to be a part of a little piece of music history. World renowned composer, singer and lyricist Maestro Ilayaraja was in Toronto for a press conference to promote his upcoming concert at the Rogers Centre on November 3rd.
The room was abuzz with local and international media anticipating his arrival, and it was with much fanfare and excitement that he was received
Rather than your typical press conference, attendees were first serenaded by tributes to Ilayaraja's music. Elizabeth Malini who is no stranger to the stage after competing on Super Singer, Vijay TV’s reality singing competition, was at a loss for words to describe how it felt to perform in front of this music icon. She simply said “it was an out of this world experience”.
Once the performances had concluded, the media outlets present were given the opportunity to ask questions about the upcoming show.
It was incredibly humbling to hear Ilayaraja’s answers. In response to any reference to himself as a genius, or a music great, he shook his head and repeated that he was no greater than anybody who loves music.
When responding to a question about his impact on the world of music, he said that it was like asking if you can make a mark on the sky. In his words, anything so vast and infinite was not something he could even conceive leaving a mark on.
Our favourite comments of the night from the Maestro were in response to a question about what advice he would give to young people pursuing music. He laughed and said “Their bodies won’t even listen to what their minds tell them, are they really going to listen to me?” He went on to say that it’s crucial that they pursue their own path, whatever that may be.
A few special announcements about the upcoming concert were also made. Karthik Raja, the Maestro’s son and a musician and composer himself, revealed that the songs performed at the concert will all be based on fans’ requests. Various media outlets will be receiving submissions from fans for the songs they would like to see performed at the show.
While the opportunity to hear Maestro Ilayarajah live is not one any of his fans would pass up, what makes this all the more special is how rarely it happens. Despite having composed over 4000 songs and having worked on over 800 films, winning numerous prestigious awards along the way, his concerts are largely unheard of.
When asked about this at the press conference, he simply said “I’m not a showman.” So what was it that changed his mind? With a smile on his face, he commented that it was the people in Canada inviting him with open arms.
And what he, and Trinity Events, have in store for this show is nothing short of the “Grand Musical Evening” this event is being billed as. Featuring performances from Yuvan Shankar Raja, KJ Yesudas, Hariharan, Karthik, K.S. Chithra and Mano and appearances by other Kollywood stars (including Sneha, Vivek and Prasanna), this won’t be a night you’ll soon forget.
