It’s not every day that you hear of a Tamil refugee composing for a European symphony orchestra. But that’s exactly what British based independent Tamil artist Magizhan Santhors has done and in doing so, he’s opened a new chapter in the global story of Tamil music.
Engal Thalaivan – Ode to Tamil Leader, his latest orchestral work, is more than just a composition. It’s a milestone. A first of its kind symphonic piece by a Tamil composer outside of the Tamil cinema industry, performed and recorded with a world class European orchestra. For a generation that’s seen Tamil identity often tied to Kollywood or YouTube remixes, this bold venture redraws the boundaries of what Tamil music can sound like and where it can go.
“This is not just a song,” says Magizhan. “It’s a tribute. It’s memory, respect, and love in the language I know best, music.”
A Refugee’s Rhythm, A Rebel’s Score
Born in Jaffna, and displaced by war as a child, Magizhan’s journey spans continents and identities. After time in Denmark he eventually settled in the UK. With no formal musical training he studied Electrical and Electronic Engineering but his real education came through relentless self learning, sound experiments and collaborations across communities.
He started out like many diaspora kids, borrowing beats, mixing memories and chasing meaning. But instead of staying within the bounds of commercial Tamil music he carved out his own lane. As one of the founding artists to pioneer independent Tamil music in Europe, he helped shape a new sound and movement that stood apart from the mainstream. From Tamil rap in early 2000s Europe to protest songs built around the ancient parai drum, Magizhan has been setting trends long before they had names.
Reclaiming the Beat: Parai Voice of Freedom
In 2012, when most Tamil musicians were still chasing playback dreams, Magizhan was co-founding Parai Voice of Freedom, a street level movement to bring the parai drum (once stigmatised) into modern resistance music.
He collaborated with artists from Tamil Nadu, Eelam and the diaspora, merging the raw energy of folk with the punch of hip hop and protest poetry. Songs like Adda Da Parai (with poet Kutti Revathi) didn’t just break sonic boundaries, they tore down cultural ones too.
Thanks to Magizhan and his circle, the parai is no longer a forgotten relic. It’s now a badge of pride, heard at protests, featured in stage performances, and championed across continents.
From Cyphers to Crescendos
What makes Magizhan’s journey unique isn’t just his sound. It’s the scale.
He’s not only produced rap albums for SujeethG and Mc Sai, like Singles, Adi Mel Adi, En Vali and Anaiyaathu, but also scored for Bollywood (Mystery of the Tattoo), and crafted deeply emotional works like Neelappiraiye in 2020, collaborating with writers like Kutti Revathi, Uma Devi, Veyil, and diaspora poets Amsavalli and Nitha.
With Engal Thalaivan, he stepped into the orchestral space with full intent. No Tamil instruments. No cinematic strings. Just a global classical orchestra performing a piece he composed, arranged, and produced, from his living room in the UK to the recording halls of Europe.
“I didn’t want this to be just a remake,” he says. “I wanted it to stand tall, on a global stage, as a musical monument.”
The track is a reimagination and rework of Raja Gopuram Engal Thalaivan, a song from over three decades ago, now reborn as a symphonic journey. The piece was mixed by Kausikan Sivalingam, known for his work with Yuvan Shankar Raja, adding cinematic richness and diasporic emotion to the track.
B1210 FILMUSIC: Sound Meets Vision
The orchestra project was produced under Magizhan’s new production company, B1210 FILMUSIC. The label continues his mission of building a space for independent Tamil music that is bold, global, and rooted in identity.
Released in November 2024, the orchestral video for Engal Thalaivan marks a significant leap in quality and ambition for Tamil independent music. It’s a work that lives beyond the hype, a historical step for diaspora artistry.
Soundtracking the Present
Magizhan’s creative fire didn’t stop with one orchestra. His upcoming multilingual album Born in Eelam is a bold concept project that blends political poetry with modern production, a testament to his roots and reach.
In 2025, he released an EDM track titled “Nah Nah Nah”, and is preparing to drop a Tamil Blues single “Un Inpam Kaan.” He is also working on a moving new piece titled “Petra Magale” (My Daughter), an oppāri style lament that captures a father’s grief over losing his child in war.
These works showcase his range, crossing genres while staying unmistakably Tamil. Whether it’s a rap track, a parai protest, or a sweeping orchestral score, Magizhan isn’t simply composing. He is building soundtracks for a generation shaped by exile, survival and self definition.
A New Sound for a New Era
Magizhan isn’t just making music. He’s redefining what it means to be a Tamil artist in the 21st century, especially one raised outside the traditional systems of fame and funding.
No playback contracts. No big labels. Just vision, resilience, and community.
Whether you’re dancing to his early rap, marching to his parai rhythms, or sitting quietly as the orchestra swells in Engal Thalaivan, one thing’s clear:
Magizhan Santhors isn’t here to follow trends. He’s here to set them.
