What it is about…
Pasanga Productions' Marina is about life on the beach — kids selling sundal, lovers and leisure-seekers. Written, directed and produced by Pandiraj, the film features Siva Karthikeyan, Oviya, Jayaprakash, Pandi, Gautham Purushoth, Senthil Kumari and ‘Jithan' Mohan. Vijay has cranked the camera and Athiappan Siva has edited the film.
Music highlights
‘Vanakkam Chennai' is an unconventional, fun number, written by Na. Muthukumar and sung by Mukesh, Shilpa and Ramshanker S. The same lyricist's ‘Kaadhal Oru' is in raga Andolika. Sung by Haricharan and Manasi, it is a retro song with a modern touch. The theme song, ‘Marina Marina,' with Middle Eastern touches has been hummed by Manasi and Monisha with the background provided by the Madras Youth Choir Orchestra. The same song with lyrics by Na. Muthukumar has been rendered by Grish G., Sathyaprakash and Sooraj. ‘Yelelo,' penned by Yugabharathi and sung by Benny Dayal, Sandhya and Andrea Jeremiah, is breezy. ‘Nanban' is in gypsy style with touches of raga Kalyana Vasantham — written by the same lyricist, it is sung by Vijay Prakash. ‘Life in Marina' is a symphonic piece with influences of French folk music. It is an instrumental version conducted by B. Yensone with Kabuli on the guitar, H. N. Bhaskar on the violin and Vishnu on the flute.
What they say…
Producer and director Pandiraj:Marina is quite different from my earlier ventures. Thirteen boys who sell sundal for a livelihood and as many as 50 regular visitors to the Marina have been featured in this realistic film. I have also cast a 65-year-old actor as the grandfather. The film has two messages for the youth — that students must focus on studies and that nobody is inferior in any way.
Hero Siva Karthikeyan: The Marina is a favourite hang-out for me and my friends. When director Pandiraj offered me the role of a lover who frequents the Marina with his girlfriend, I plumped for it. Oviya is my co-star. Marina has all the ingredients to make it a box office success.
Music director Grish G.: A student of Lalgudi Jayaraman, I went to the U.K. to do my masters in composition at the Leeds College of Music. After finishing the course, I worked as an associate conductor for the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain (NYGB). I've worked on nearly 10 short films for the BBC, and for Channel 4 and some individual producers. After finishing the shooting, director Pandiraj was waiting to do the re-recording. It was at that time that I came into the team. I've composed the songs and done the re-recording for the film.
