
Maestro Ilaiyaraaja and Chanchalapathi Dasa, co-founder and vice-chairman, The Akshaya Patra Foundation, during a press conference in Bengaluru on December 15.
| Photo Credit: SUDHAKARA JAIN
A musical event is being held in Bengaluru on January 10, 2026, to mark Akshaya Patra Foundation’s 25th year and music director Ilaiyaraaja’s 50-year musical journey.
Ilaiyaraaja 50: A Legendary Musical Journey will also beMercuri Productions’ 100th event. To be held at NICE Grounds, Madavara, this “Music for Meals” event is Akshaya Patra’s initiative that “channels the power of music towards nourishing young minds across India.”
“The event is being billed as the maestro’s grand return to the city, with every ticket sold supporting Music for Meals, an Akshaya Patra initiative that links live performance to mid‑day meals in government schools,” said a release.
Akshaya Patra, which began with one kitchen in Bengaluru in 2000, now serves mid‑day meals to about 23.5 lakh children every school day across 16 States and three Union Territories, in partnership with the government’s PM POSHAN programme.
Published – December 15, 2025 11:14 pm IST


