Ilaiyaraaja to contribute fees from his concerts towards the National Defense Fund

In the midst of the ongoing conflict between India and Pakistan, Ilaiyaraaja took to X (formerly Twitter) to announce that he will be contributing to the National Defence Fund.

In the post he mentioned that "earlier this year, I composed & recorded my first symphony and named it “Valiant”, unaware that in May our real heroes, our soldiers, would need to act with bravery, boldness, courage, precision and determination at the borders to counter the cold-blooded killing of innocent tourists in Pahalgam."

He then went on to quote poet and Independence activist Subramania Bharathi, "Jaya Bherigai Kottada, Kottada, Jaya Bherigai Kottada (Play the drums of victory, Play, Play the drums of victory)".

Ilaiyaraaja went on to say that being a proud Indian and a Member of Parliament, he decided to make a contribution of his concert fees and one month's salary to the National Defence Fund for the efforts taken by the soldiers.