Veteran singer T.M. Soundarajan’s death is not only a loss to the Tamil film industry but to me personally. says music director Prem, who has scored music for about half-a-dozen Tamil films. “My mother was a singer in T.M. Selvakumar’s troupe. This year on my birthday, February 7, I went to TMS’s house to get his blessings. Talking about the latest trends in music, TMS was happy that more youngsters are coming in and the technical advancements being made. He also sang a few lines. I spent more than one hour with the legend and this meeting is etched will be my mind. Fortunately I recorded the conversation and will preserve it for posterity,” says Prem, who is busy composing songs for a Baduga film.
Creative exchange
Youngsters in the Tamil film industry are an enthusiastic lot. Directors readily turn actors for other directors and music composers agree to sing for other music directors. In Thillu Mullu 2 music director Yuvan Shankar Raja joins hands with veteran M.S. Viswnathan, like his father Ilaiyaraja who joined hands with the legendary MSV in AVM’s Mellathiranthadhu Kathavu . A.R. Rahman roped in Yuvan Shankar Raja to sing a song in his Maryan . When asked if he will sing for Yuvan Shankar Raja? Rahman said, he would if asked for. And that time has come with Yuvan Shankar Raja, who is scoring music for a big budget film asking Rahman to sing a number. And the maestro has agreed!
Record tune
Venkat Prabhu’s team is back after its last schedule in Coimbatore for Briyani that stars Karthi and Hansika in the lead. The film boasts of a formidable cast, including Premji Ameran, Ramki, Madhumitha, Mandy Tahkar, Sneha, Neetu Chandra and Vaibhav Reddy. Post-production work is going on in full swing. This film will be is the 100 movie for Yuvan Shankar Raja has scored music.
Call of the baton
Sripriya, who has acted in more than 200 films in Tamil and other South Indian languages, is all set to direct a film again. It is a remake of the Malayalam hit 22 female Kottayam . Says the veteran, “When I saw the film, I was very impressed with the way the story has been presented on the screen and I decided to remake it in Tamil and Telugu.” In Malayalam it was directed by Aashiq Abu and Rima Kallingal played the lead role. In Tamil, Nithya Menon will play the lead. “The story revolves around a nurse who seeks revenge on her tormentor. I am changing some portions of the script. I want to start the shoot in July and release the film in December,” says Sripriya, who also directed serials.
