A new crop of wordsmiths

Meet Kollywood’s young and talented lyricists who are reinventing the lyrical landscape of Tamil cinema

Arunraja Kamaraj

Melody master

Name: Mohan Rajan

Age: 33

The song ‘Kanave Kanave’ from

David (2013) is lyricist Mohan Rajan’s calling card in Kollywood. He was launched by James Vasanthan in 2010 in Yathumaagi. Soon after, Sasikumar roped him in for Easan and there was no looking back. “I went on to work with Sasikumar in all of his films, and got the opportunity to work with most of the composers in the industry,” says Mohan, who hails from Valayapatti, near Tiruchi.

Mohan Rajan

He had to let go of the opportunity to join Mani Ratnam as his assistant, in order to focus only on writing lyrics.. “The best moment in my career was working with Ilaiyaraaja sir in his 1000th film,

Tharai Thappattai , directed by Bala.” When he landed in Chennai in 2001, hoping to become a lyricist in Kollywood, he lacked confidence, and qualified himself by pursuing Masters degree in Tamil literature and later media arts in Loyola College. “I think my strength is romantic songs and melodies. In my lyrics, I try to tell a story—in

Tharai Thappattai , I narrate the story of a commercial sex worker,” says Mohan, whose upcoming films include

Vikram Vedha ,

Imaikka Nodigal ,

Padai Veeran and

Kodi Veeran .

The accidental poet

Name: Sikkander

Age: 35

A management graduate from New College, Chennai, Sikkander’s (35) tryst with lyrics started in 2015 with ‘The Leap Song’, which he wrote after the Chennai deluge. The song was composed by his friend Bharath Madhusudhanan and Ghibran released it on his Facebook page. “Ghibran’s motivation made me come up with yet another song, ‘Poga Poga’ also composed by Bharath, which had a strong message on the evils of smoking. This time around, Madhan Karky launched Doopaadoo, the online music portal, with this song, as it had a socially relevant message,” says Sikkander.

Sikkander

When composer Ghibran decided to launch debut lyricists in Chennai 2 Singapore (to be released in June), he gave an opportunity to Sikkander. “Penning lyrics for ‘Poda’ was quite an experience. Ghibran suggested that I try Na Negizh (tongue twister) format, which was immensely challenging.” Sikkander’s gaana ‘Maya Masthava’ (which is also Ghibran’s first ever gaana composition) for CV Kumar’s upcoming film, Mayavan , is topping the charts since it was released in mid-April. “It was Ghibran who came up with the idea of an oxymoron song, set in gaana style.”

Language love

Name: Soundara Rajan

Age: 25

Soundar Rajan (24) published his collection of Tamil poems, Adayalam Thedugiren , in 2013 when he was pursuing his engineering degree at PSG College of Technology, Coimbatore. When he came to Chennai to take up a job at an IT company, he established contact with composer Ghibran via social media.

Soundar Rajan

“Ghibran gave me the opportunity to write lyrics for one song in Chennai 2 Singapore . ‘Vaadi Vaadi’ topped the charts ever since it was released,” says Rajan.

As my debut song was a hit, I was confident that offers would come pouring in, but I got the feedback that I was using chaste Tamil and unfamiliar words, says Rajan. “My love for Tamil worked against me I guess, and I slightly changed my style.” He has penned a melody number ‘Mella Mella’ for Mayavan and is now working with Joshua Sridhar for an yet-to-be-titled film. “Joshua sir had one unfinished lyric, ‘Merkile Merkile’, written by late Na Muthukumar. He trusted me to complete the second charanam of the song, and I consider this to be a great honour.”

Beyond streotypes

Name: Arunraja Kamaraj

Age: 31

Years ago, Arunraja Kamaraj, Dhibu Ninan Thomas and Sivakarthikeyan were having loads of fun studying at JJ College of Engineering & Technology, near Tiruchi. Sivakarthikeyan was a mimicry artist then, Dhibu was a musician and Arunraja used to write lyrics; together, they used to participate in cultural events. I wrote lyrics for an indie album, and impressed by the lyrics, Karthik Subbaraj offered me a chance in Pizza . After that, I collaborated with him for Jigarthanda as well,” says Arunraja.

Arunraja Kamaraj

Later, GV Prakash roped him in for Darling , and all his other films. “Even though I was working with successful composers, it was Theri that brought me into the limelight. But Kabali elevated me to another level,” he says. “Santhosh Narayanan is my senior in college, and it was through him that I got to meet Pa Ranjith,and got to pen lyrics for ‘Neruppu Da’.” “I don’t stick to any style or pattern and keep trying various genres. I love to experiment and not be restricted within a standard template,” he says. His best friend, Dhibu, is debuting as composer with Maragadha Naanayam , and Arunraja has penned two songs for him.

Lyrics with heart

Name: Vivek

Age: 31

It was Vivek’s first meeting with lyricist Vairamuthu in 2012 and receiving a copy of Thanneer Desam that inspired him to write poems. Writing a poem to thank Vairamuthu a couple of days later gave him the confidence to regularly write poems, and in 2013, he published his collection of poems titled Vaa Kadavul Seivom . “Writing lyrics was also a platform to vent out my woes, my ideas about various issues in our society, and luckily for me, the films I worked in also provided opportunity for that. For example, in 36 Vayadhinile , I wrote about women’s liberation and empowerment,” says Vivek, who has written the lyrics for Sadhayai Meeri , a music video on transgenders.

Lyricist Vivek

Vivek’s debut lyric was ‘Poo Avizhum’ in Enakkul Oruvan in 2015. He went on to work with Santhosh Narayanan in many other films, and it was ‘Vaadi Raasathi’ and ‘Shoot the Kuruvi’ that were most popular. “I ensure that the language and thought in my lyrics are novel and fresh, and provide a new experience to the listeners; it must kindle their emotions,” says Vivek.

Vivek is a civil engineer, who also has a degree in law. He has completed 25 songs for Santhosh Nayaranan, and totally written 150 songs in two years since his debut.

Thandhiraa girl

Name: Anuradha

Age: 34

Lyricist Anuradha, who hails from Tanjore, has been actively involved in various literary activities, such as debate, oration and writing poems and stories since her school days. While pursuing her engineering at Mookambigai College of Engineering near Tiruchi (the same college director Gautham Menon went to), she actively participated in Arattai Arangam , a popular talk show in a satellite TV. “One of my cherished experiences is being included in the panel of 100 poets identified by poet Muthunilavan, who released the anthology and my poems were published in it,” says Anuradha.

Lyricist Anuradha

The 34-year-old lives in Utah, USA, with her husband and two children, and works full-time in the field of business development and finance. “I never lost touch with Tamil. I did my Masters in the US, and have been living here since then. I have been actively taking part in all literary and cultural events organised by the Tamil Sangam here. And it was through the Sangam that I got my first opportunity to write lyrics for a Tamil film made by a new team which is yet to be released,” she says. Anuradha had shared these lyrics with composer Ghibran, and he approached her to pen the song ‘Thandhiraa’ for Adhe Kangal .

“Writing lyrics for film songs turned out to be a completely different experience for me. One must be creative and yet fit within the script’s boundary at the same time,” says Anuradha, who believes that lyrics have to be soulful and avoid disrespectful, demeaning and trashy words.