Deva, Naresh Iyer Dazzle Penang Audiences

By Ratcharathan A/L Shanggar

GEORGE TOWN, March 31 (Bernama) -- It was a weekend to remember for Tamil music lovers in Penang. The ‘Thenisai Baasha Deva Live in Penang’ show and a spectacular concert by Naresh Iyer transformed Setia Spice Arena here into a pulsating hub of rhythm, nostalgia and electrifying energy.

Held on March 28 and 29, the two-night musical extravaganza introduced a unique concept with one ticket granting fans access to two concerts, attracting about 7,000 attendees.

On the first night, South Indian music legend Deva delivered a marathon five-hour performance that left fans exhilarated.

Featuring nearly 40 songs, the concert was a nostalgic journey through his iconic hits that shaped Tamil cinema in the 1990s and beyond.

The 75-year-old maestro opened the evening with the soulful devotional track ‘Ammama’, before performing crowd favourites such as ‘Meesakara Nanba’, ‘Kavalaipadathey’, ‘Anna Nagar Andalu’ and particularly ‘Salomiya’, which was performed twice upon popular demand.

Adding more firepower to the night was his son Srikanth Deva, who energised the crowd with performances of ‘Kannama Kannama’, ‘Umma Ummama’ and ‘Kulukki Vacha’, quickly turning the arena into a dance floor as fans sang along and swayed to the infectious beats.

Meanwhile, renowned Indian playback singers Mano, who has recorded over 35,000 songs, and the versatile Anuradha Sriram also dazzled the audience with hits like ‘Nalam Nalam Ariya’, ‘Meenama’, ‘Konja Naal’ and ‘Style-lu Style-lu’.

One of the most thrilling moments of the night came when live instruments recreated an iconic background score associated with the superstar of Tamil cinema Rajinikanth, sending waves of excitement through the crowd.

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The concert reached a high-octane finale with ‘Kaathadikuthu Kaathadikuthu’ and ‘Kanagathu Meenu’. 

Clearly moved by the overwhelming response, Deva, whose real name is Devanesan Chokkalingam, expressed his love for Penang and also revealed plans to compose a devotional song for the Jalan Baru Sri Muniswarar Temple in Perai here.

The excitement continued on the second night with Indian National Award-winning playback singer Naresh Iyer, who brought a refreshing contrast with his signature blend of melody and modern musicality.

Backed by the electrifying 'Thinak Dhin Band', Naresh delivered a stellar performance showcasing his vocal finesse and versatility.

Fans were treated to a string of hits, including ‘Mundhinam Paartheney’, ‘Munbe Vaa’, ‘Yethi Yethi’, ‘Naan Sonnadhum’, and the high-energy ‘Mersal Arasan’, which had the crowd roaring with excitement.

A magical highlight of the evening was his duet performances with Indian ‘Super Singer’ star Aparna Harikumar, enchanting the audience with songs like ‘Un Perai Sollum’ and ‘Valayapathi Thavile’.

The duo also paid a heartfelt tribute to the late legendary Indian playback singer S.P. Balasubramaniam.

The concert series also spotlighted local and regional talent, Malaysian group Lock Up, who entertained the crowd with nostalgic hits like ‘Kokorokko Giri’, ‘Lalalla’ and ‘Ring Ting Ting’.

-- BERNAMA