Maestro Ilaiyaraaja has been appointed Seychelles` cultural

Maestro Ilaiyaraaja has been appointed Seychelles’ cultural ambassador.
This was announced by the Minister for Tourism and Culture Alain St Ange in a
ceremony at the International Conference Centre (ICCS) last night to honour
Seychelles’ and India’s culture.
President James Michel, Designated Minister Vincent Meriton, Minister for Home
Affairs and Transport Joël Morgan, Leader of the Opposition in the National
Assembly David Pierre, Deputy Speaker André Pool, Indian high commissioner to
Seychelles Sanjay Panda, chairperson of the Seychelles-India Day organising
committee Vijay Patel and other distinguished guests were present.
The night started with the lighting of the lamp by Minister St Ange, HE Panda and
his wife, Mr Patel and Cable &Wireless chief executive Charles Hammond.
“With this announcement let us continue to be united, let us continue to be united
as a people with its diversity. We have a purpose, we have a mission. This mission
is to see Seychelles and India remain united,” said Minister St Ange as he
presented Maestro Ilaiyaraaja with a certificate and a trophy to officially appoint
him as Seychelles’ cultural ambassador.
“Let us keep the momentum of working together and making Seychelles this
proud nation that it deserves to be,” the minister added.
Maestro Ilaiyaraaja is an Indian film composer who works predominantly in the
south Indian cinema since the late 1970s. He is regarded as one of the finest music
composers in India and is also an instrumentalist, conductor, singer, and a
songwriter.
He has composed more than 5,000 songs and is the only composer in the history
of cinema to provide film scores for more than 1,000 films, particularly being
acclaimed for his background scoring.
independence he will promote Seychelles.
Maestro Ilaiyaraaja has been advised by Minister St Ange to follow in Mahatma
Gandhi’s footsteps in walking all over India, but instead of imploring for
“I am very happy to be here today. Over the past four decades as a music composer, I have received so many awards. Today I consider it to
be the most prestigious day of my life,” Maestro Ilaiyaraaja said very emotionally.
“I would like to thank the government of Seychelles and the Minister for Tourism and Culture to honour me with this title. I would go with
this title and leave my heart here in Seychelles,” Maestro Ilaiyaraaja added.
Addressing the guests, HC Panda said: “This activity truly reflects the depth of our friendship, the proximity of our two countries, the people
and the cultures.”
During the ceremony, Minister Morgan announced that as of December 2, 2014 Air Seychelles will start flying directly to Mumbai three
times per week.
There were also performances by students of the School of Dance, Indian Stars from Bollywood and other celebrities from India.
Performances by students of the School of Dance and Indian Stars from Bollywood