It's been 10 years since Harris Jayaraj's music entered our lives, with the superhit “Minnale”. Hundreds of melodies and hit numbers later, the composer finally embarks on a world tour to meet his fans spread across the world.
‘Harris On The Edge' will touch hearts from Chennai (October 2) to South Africa, stopping in between in Coimbatore (October 16), Hyderabad (October 22), Dubai (November 18) and Kuala Lumpur (December 3).
The show is organised by Chennai-based Techfront and is directed by A.L. Vijay, who is fresh from the success of “Deiva Thirumagal”. It promises to be a high-octane entertainer, with a 270-degree stage allowing for better audience experience.
“The stage will be huge — 140 ft by 90 ft — and we want the audience (about 25,000 people) to see the concert, not merely hear it. The setting will ensure they will connect beautifully with what's happening on stage,” says M.S. Muralidharan, managing director, Techfront. There will be an element of 3D too.
Top singers including Haricharan, Karthik, Kay Kay, Alaap Raju, Naresh Iyer, Andrea, Harini, Tippu, Chinmayi, Benny Dayal and Swetha Mohan will bring the stage alive.
Dancers, from South India, North India and some from abroad, will perform too. A 24-member orchestra will accompany them.
The tickets will also have a 3D element to them, so that the audience can carry a part of the magic back with them.
Such a long journey
“I've been wanting to do a live show since 2006,” says Harris Jayaraj. “But, I was scared! Working in a studio and performing in a live show are a different ball game. I needed time to prepare myself, rehearse and ensure that I give the audience an experience beyond the music and keep their interest alive,” he says.
Now, the composer is all excited. “I hope this will be an unforgettable part of my career. It's a wonderful opportunity to meet all my fans,” he says.
Harris has chosen singers who know Tamizh . “I don't want any mispronounced words on stage,” says Harris, who's compositions allow words their rightful space. “Before I started composing, I never thought beyond basic communication in Tamil. Then, I realised how much work the lyricists put in, and the beauty of the language. I wanted to ensure the lyrics did not get drowned out. Luckily, the audience supported this,” smiles Harris.
Also, during the concert, around 30 per cent of the songs will be presented differently. “It will be a purely organic performance.”
Different voices
The composer is also known for his ability to showcase voices differently. Think, for instance, Bombay Jayashri ( Vaseegara, Suttum Vizhi… ) and Sudha Ragunathan ( Anul Mele Panithuli ). “Jayashri is wonderful in the low ranges. I call her the female Yesudas. As for Sudha, I love her dedication. She's so famous, yet she practised this song for two days to get it right!” he says.
Does all this fame and success scare Harris? “I don't look back. I'm scared to. I keep my eyes trained only on my work.”
The concert is also dedicated to his dear friend, director Jeeva, who's life was cut short during the shooting of “Dhaam Dhoom”. “ Anbe En Anbe will be a part of the show. It will be my tribute to him,” Harris says with a sad smile.
DIRECTOR-SPEAK
I'm honoured and excited to be a part of this show. I love Harris Jayaraj's music and have always wanted to work with him. The USP of the show will be his music. It will feature the best of his numbers.
All I bring in is creative inputs to ensure that the event takes place seamlessly. We want to give the audience the feel of watching a movie. It will be a power-packed show that will hold their attention for a full two-and-a-half hours.
A.L. VIJAY
The show: October 16, Hindustan College of Arts and Science, 7.15 p.m. to 9.45 p.m.
Tickets: Tickets for the show, priced at Rs. 500 (for students), Rs. 1,000, Rs. 2,000 and Rs. 5,000, will be available online at www.followon.co.in or www.bookmyshow.com. The 3D tickets will be sold at retail outlets from September 23. They will be available at Lifestyle, Pantaloons (Brookefields Mall) and Big Bazaar. For bulk booking, call 95000-67000 or 95004-00744
A part of the proceeds will go to two NGOs — Coimbatore-based Siruthuli, which works in the field of water management; and Chennai-based Ekam Foundation, which provides health care for children, and works across Tamil Nadu
