The interview which appears below, was originally published on Kumudham in September 2006. ©The rights to this material are reserved to the owner. If you have any concerns or comments, please send an email to info@rahmaniac.com.
Twenty-four hours are not enough for “Isai Puyal”. After a long wait of one month, we got a chance to meet him. His tired eyes showed that he had been working double duty day and night without any rest. We caught up with him during the re-recording of Varalaaru (Godfather), and he opened up with his customary smile.
Sometime back, your audio used to become a hit as soon as it was released. The situation now seems to be different. Why?
When one of my movies releases, there is anticipation about my next one. But, before the next release, there comes a big gap. Now, suppose Jillunu Oru Kaadhal is No.1, then there will be expectations among the people. When people expect and I don’t do any Tamil movie, then there is a disappointment. I am not able to do many movies like before. As I have become a music director who is common to many places like Hollywood, Bollywood, and Kollywood, I now have to concentrate on all of these.
Almost all new movies released nowadays have similar “Kuthu” songs and duet songs and they get repetitive and thus boring. Your take on this?
I think these Kuthu songs came into tamil when Telugu movies were dubbed into Tamil. But I am not sure how this trend started. These “Kuthu” songs rise only when there is a lack of melodies.
When one “Kuthu song” becomes a hit, people start making similar songs. This is usually called a “Shortcut to creativity”. This can be changed only by a director. Generally, people leave the theatres to smoke, during slow songs. So, I was scared whether the “Uyire Uyire” song from Bombay would end up with the same fate. But, it did not happen. When a song goes along with the story of the movie people love and enjoy it.
Have you tried anything new in the music of Sivaji
This movie will have songs that will satisfy the followers of Rajni. Moreover, the subject of the movie is very good. The songs are situational in this movie. There are five songs in this movie. The recording of 4 songs has been completed. Only one song is remaining.
Tamil Film music can be divided into many eras and one music director was famous during each era– like MS Viswanathan’s era, Ilayaraaja’s Era, and Rahman’s Era. But now, there are so many music directors. We can not point to one person and say that he is the No. 1….
(Laughs) According to me, Harris Yuvan, Vidyasagar, Bharadhwaj, and Joshwa Sridhar – all of them are good. But, it would be better if they bring in more Indian touch to their music.
A director plays a big role for any music director to find his individuality. How much ever talent a person might have, there must be someone to find that talent and bring it out. Fifteen years back, I got Mani Ratnam. That became a good platform for me. If I had been with someone other than Mani Ratnam, I am not sure if so much of my talent would have come out. But, things like these don’t happen very often. But, if such things happen, the person will have a good future.
Whenever there is a Mani Ratnam movie, there are lots of talk about you.
Mani discusses a lot with me. He would love a good mix of old and new. If I come up with a tune, he sometimes says “Many have done such stuff. Let’s change this and do something new”. More than just wanting new and fresh stuff, he always has that enthusiasm, and spirit to do something mature as well.
You were speaking to Ilayaraja at the launch of “Thiruvasagam Symphony”. You met him after a long time. What did u speak?
I met him after a long time. I told him that it was an honor to have been invited there. I listened to Thiruvasagam. I liked it a lot. There were mixed opinions about it. But, according to me, it is a fantastic attempt. It is not an easy thing to mix thiruvasagam and symphony.
What is your next Hollywood project?
I did the Chinese-Hollywood collaboration movie, Warriors of Heaven and Earth, sometime back. Now, I have been signed up for Golden Age – Elizabeth II. Shekhar Kapur is the director. Many famous Hollywood directors want me to settle there permanently. “If you come down here, you will get many movies”, they say. But, I have convinced them saying that I am a family man.
Do you have any ideas for releasing an individual album like Vande Mataram?
I am working on an album for Poverty Eradication for the United Nations. I have worked with Blaaze on the songs. I have sung the songs. It is going to be released very soon. UN Secretary-General, Mr. Kofi Annan appointed me as an ambassador for the eradication of Tuberculosis. I think I am doing that work properly!
Heard that you have started a new company?
Yeah. I have started a new company called KM Musiq. This was started to provide opportunities for others – not for my music. I am just a producer for this.
