CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu government will organise a felicitation function for music composer Ilaiyaraaja in the city on June 2 as a tribute to his symphony performance and successful completion of 50 years in the cinema industry, Chief Minister MK Stalin announced in the State Assembly on Thursday.

Responding to VCK legislature party leader Sinthanaiselvan's request that the state government felicitate the performance of the symphony by the maestro in the state, Chief Minister Stalin told the House that he also requested Ilaiyaraaja during their meeting to perform in the state.

However, the symphony involved around 400 musicians, and it was not an easy job to bring all of them at once, Stalin quoted Ilaiyaraaja as saying.

However, the Tamil Nadu government will felicitate Ilaiyaraaja on his birthday on June 2 as a tribute to his symphony performance, completion of 50 years in Cinema.

Over a fortnight ago, the legendary music composer performed his first-ever western classical symphony titled 'Valiant' at London's Eventim Apollo, earning him the pride of being the first Indian to write and perform the symphony.