Audio Beat: Carnatic, jazz, rock and more

At the audio launch of Hai Da

Hai Da

What it is about…

Fox & Crow Studios’

Hai Da is produced by J. Rajesh Kannan and written and directed by Brinda Das. The cast includes Udhay, Aswin, Pradeesh, Jaqlene, Bhawna, Uridhi, John Vijay and ‘Kavithalaya’ Krishnan. Arun is the cameraman, Venkatesh, the editor, Vishal Chandrashekhar, the music director, and Charukesh Sekar, the lyricist. The first CD of the film was released by director Gautham Vasudev Menon and received by director K. Bhagyaraj. The story of

Hai Da is about six strangers who meet one day and become friends. How a sudden incident changes their life is shown with interesting twists and turns in the screenplay.

What they say…

Producer J. Rajesh Kannan: I have been associated with the visual media for over 18 years. I have made nearly 5000 episodes of various serials for television. Brinda Das, who worked with me as executive producer, outlined the story of Hai Da and I asked her to write the screenplay. When she came back to me with a bound script, I told her that I would produce it and asked her to helm it.

Director Brinda Das: I am a dancer and a theatre personality. I have acted in 50 serials, including

Anandam and worked as an executive producer on various TV shows. I’ve made a telefilm in Malayalam. I was also the executive producer of

Peruman , a film directed by Rajesh Kannan. That is how we came together for

Hai Da too. We took 45 days to wrap up shooting and the film has come out well.

Hero Aswin: I am the grandson of popular yesteryear actor ‘Danal’ K.A. Thangavelu. As a child, I have acted in two films Periya Maruthu and Samrat directed by Sakthi Chidambaram. I also acted as Radhika’s brother Maniarasu in the TV serial Chellame and as a friend of the hero in the film Peruman . I thank the producer and director of Hai Da for this role.

Music director Vishal Chandrashekhar: I was interested in music right from age 6 when I started playing the keyboard. I began to give solo shows by the time I was 10. I have completed a few piano exams conducted by the Trinity College of Music. I not only play the piano but also the guitar, flute, harmonica, and a little bit of the sitar. Graduated from Anna University in MSc, Electronic Media, I have done music for 300 short films and 172 jingles and was adjudged the best music director in the ‘Nalaya Iyakkunar’ show on Kalaingar TV. I also completed the foundation course at the KM Music Conservatory. After composing the music for Hi Da , I am also scoring the music for Santosh Sivan's Ceylon and a Telugu movie Hridayam Ekada Unnadhi .

Music Highlights

There are seven songs in the album. In ‘January Mazhaiyil,’ sung by Naresh Iyer, Vijay Yesudas, Ramya, NSK and Sowmya Mahadevan, whistling by Bharath is a highlight. This breezy number with overtones of the acoustic guitar and an electric organ is carefully interlaced with the voices of the singers. ‘Facebook’ in the electro pop genre is sung by Devan Ekambaram, Georgina and the music director. What is interesting about this song is the music director has used an old mobile ringtone as part of the background music. ‘Aindhu Padigal’ is sung by K. G. Ranjith, which has a violin section by Karthick Iyer of the popular band Oxygen. The song fuses rock and Carnatic styles. ‘Mazhalai Paechu’ is sung by Srinivas Doraiswamy, Sinduri Shyam Sundar, Airtel Super Singers Aajeedh Khalique and Yaazhini. The interlude whistled by Srinivas Doraiswamy is effective. The lyrics that come after that are apt for the two newcomers Aajeedh and Yaazhini. ‘Hi’ is the theme song sung by Shilpa Natarajan and the saxophone, played by Andro, does not drown the lyrics. It is a typical old-time jazz number, with a hint of the blues. Two songs ‘January Mazhaiyil’ and ‘Mazhalai Paechu’ are repeated in karaoke version.