REVIVING the samba rock rhythm that electrified the stage in the 1990s, local singer Darkkey Nagaraja — known for his work in Tamil music — is set to perform in his debut charity concert, “I Am Darkkey: King of Samba Rock”, at Panggung Bangsawan Melaka on Aug 2.
The show, organised by the Melaka Maju People’s Charity Club (MMPCC) in collaboration with Patahati Universe, Tourism Melaka, and Panggung Bangsawan Melaka, aims to raise funds to support the needy.
MMPCC president T Manimaran said the concert is a tribute to local artistes who have made significant contributions to Malaysia’s Tamil music scene.
“We see Darkkey not just as an artiste, but as a symbol of artistic perseverance since the 1990s. He recently drew attention after being given the opportunity to sing the theme song for the Kollywood (India’s Tamil-language film industry) film ‘Good Bad Ugly’.
“From that success came the idea for this concert — as an effort to celebrate local talent while also raising funds for our ongoing charity programmes, which we’ve been running since 2019,” he told Bernama.
The concert will also feature two popular local singers, Zubir Khan and Santesh, as part of an effort to unite two generations of Tamil music creators on one stage.
Darkkey, 58, said he accepted the invitation to perform in the charity concert with an open heart, as the show is different from his previous performances.
According to him, he is usually only given time to perform two or three songs, but this time he will take centre stage as the lead singer, performing nine songs with new musical arrangements.
“What makes me happiest is that this concert isn’t about me getting ‘richer’. It’s for a good cause — to help those in need. It’s a charity concert, and I’m proud to be part of it,” he said.
The “Puli Puli” singer also said preparations for the concert began two weeks ago, with intensive rehearsals alongside musicians using the minus-one format.
“I’m also focusing on my stamina by exercising daily to ensure I’m fully prepared to entertain the audience for the full two-hour show. Since I’ll be the main act this time, I need to put in more effort. But honestly, my concert outfits are still not ready,” he added.
Darkkey also expressed pride in the growing popularity of local Tamil music, which he said is now gaining wider recognition both domestically and internationally.
He noted that various genres — including sentimental, rap, and rock — have found their audience, making Tamil music more versatile and accessible to listeners of all backgrounds.
“Now Tamil music is doing well … even people overseas are listening. Sometimes, fans from other countries leave comments saying our songs are great. What’s even more exciting is that people from other races are embracing our music too,” he said.
He also offered advice to the new generation of Tamil singers, urging them to stay prepared and committed to their artistic journey.
“If you’ve become a singer or musician, give it your all. We must always remember that once we step into this world (of music), we belong to the fans. We can’t just focus on our own enjoyment … we have a responsibility to work hard and entertain the people,” he said.
For more information and ticket purchases, visit MMPCC or the official site: http://www.ilassotickets.com. – BERNAMA
