Across two nights at Setia Spice Arena, crowds were treated to a rare double bill featuring South Indian music legend Deva and award-winning playback singer Naresh Iyer, with a single ticket granting access to both concerts.
Held on March 28 and 29, the shows drew about 7,000 attendees, turning the arena into a lively celebration of sound and nostalgia.
The first night belonged to Deva, who delivered a marathon five-hour performance that felt as much like a musical time capsule as it did a concert.
With nearly 40 songs in his setlist, the 75-year-old took fans on a journey through the hits that defined Tamil cinema in the 1990s and beyond.
He opened with the devotional track “Ammama”, before moving into crowd favourites such as “Meesakara Nanba”, “Kavalaipadathey” and “Anna Nagar Andalu”.
One of the biggest highlights came with “Salomiya”, which was performed twice after enthusiastic calls from the audience.
The energy only built from there. His son, Srikanth Deva, added a modern punch to the night with tracks like “Kannama Kannama”, “Umma Ummama” and “Kulukki Vacha”, turning large sections of the arena into a dance floor as fans sang and swayed along.
Veteran playback singer Mano and the ever-versatile Anuradha Sriram also took the stage, delivering well-loved numbers including “Nalam Nalam Ariya”, “Meenama”, “Konja Naal” and “Style-lu Style-lu”.
At one point, the live band recreated an iconic background score associated with superstar Rajinikanth, sparking a wave of cheers that rippled through the crowd.
The night closed on a high with “Kaathadikuthu Kaathadikuthu” and “Kanagathu Meenu”, capping off a performance that left fans visibly energised.
Clearly moved by the reception, Deva expressed his affection for Penang and shared plans to compose a devotional song for a temple in Perai.
If the first night leaned into nostalgia, the second brought a different flavour.
Naresh Iyer took to the stage with his signature blend of melody and contemporary sound, backed by the dynamic Thinak Dhin Band. His performance showcased both vocal finesse and versatility, offering a contrast to the previous evening’s retro-heavy set.
Fans were treated to hits such as “Mundhinam Paartheney”, “Munbe Vaa”, “Yethi Yethi”, “Naan Sonnadhum” and the crowd favourite “Mersal Arasan”, which had the arena roaring.
A standout moment came when he performed duets with “Super Singer” star Aparna Harikumar, the pair drawing cheers with songs like “Un Perai Sollum” and “Valayapathi Thavile”.
The duo also delivered a heartfelt tribute to the late S P Balasubramaniam, adding an emotional note to the evening.
The concert series also featured local talent, with Malaysian group Lock Up warming up the crowd with nostalgic tracks such as “Kokorokko Giri”, “Lalalla” and “Ring Ting Ting”.
By the end of the weekend, one thing was clear: from retro anthems to modern hits, Penang had been treated to a rare musical experience that bridged generations and kept fans on their feet.