London: Legendary Indian composer Ilaiyaraaja captivated audiences here with his first-ever Western classical symphony Valiant. The grand performance took place on Sunday night at the iconic Eventim Apollo Theatre, marking a historic moment in his illustrious career.

For the first time, a music director from the Indian film industry has presented a Western classical symphony in London. Ilaiyaraaja was accompanied by the renowned Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, bringing his symphonic vision to life. In addition to Valiant, the maestro also treated the audience to renditions of some of his most beloved songs.

This milestone cements Ilaiyaraaja’s status as the first Indian film composer to stage such an event in London. A pioneer in incorporating Western musical elements into Indian cinema, he was also the first Indian musician to compose a full-length symphony.
Ilaiyaraaja recorded Valiant with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, and earlier, he had shared exclusive footage from the recording sessions, where he was seen interacting with the orchestra members.