
Picture this: March 8, 2025, London’s Eventim Apollo theatre, all decked up, and our very own Isaignani Ilaiyaraaja dropping his first-ever western classical symphony, Valiant, with the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra. Bro, idhu nijamave oru periya vishayam! (Man, this is truly a big deal!) The 81-year-old legend took the stage—or rather, his music did—and gave the world a 45-minute symphony that’s got everyone talking. Add some of his mass film songs, and the concert stretched to a solid 90 minutes of pure goosebumps. For us Tamizh folks, it’s like seeing our Raaja Sir conquer the world, vera level da!