The Mysuru Yuva Dasara, which ended on Saturday, was made even more special this year with Badshah and Ilaiyaraaja performing at the event. They received a lot of love for expressing their affection for Kannada. Badshah energized the audience with his lively songs and closed the event by speaking in the local language, which garnered cheers. In his address to the crowd in Kannada, he humbly stated, “I am not a star, I am not even a superstar. I am not a singer. I am simply a writer who expresses my feelings. I am one of you.” Videos of the rapper speaking in Kannada became viral on social media after the event.

The iconic composer Ilaiyaraaja, known for his work in over 30 Kannada films, had shared a video on social media before the event where he spoke in Kannada. The day after the event, he sought blessings at the Chamundeshwari temple. During his performance of beloved Kannada songs, the composer shared memories of 1974 when he visited Mysuru for a private concert. He mentioned his suggestion to Guru GK Venkatesh to include Dr Rajkumar for singing the song Yaare Koogadali in the film Sampathige Savaal, which marked the beginning of the actor’s successful singing career in Kannada cinema.