Yuvan
Yuvan Shankar Raja’s sound remains the voice of youth, but he is already an industry veteran — a 100 films old. But his prolific pace hasn’t affected him — the 35-year-old composer exudes a peaceful aura contrary to gossip that paints him to be a sleepless workaholic. “I’ve decided to cut down on work,” he says. “I was working 24x7, on almost 14 films a year. That’s more than a film a month. I want to focus more on concerts and films that excite me now.”
His breakneck pace reminds me of his father’s. “I don’t think anyone can match appa’s pace. After him, I think only I have done as much work, consistently giving hits. I used to go to bed at 4 a.m. to catch four hours of sleep to be back in the studio by 9 a.m. I enjoy being locked up in the studio all day long.”
Yuvan’s idea of taking a break is interesting. “When I feel tired or my creativity is drained, I just begin working on a different film. When you’re working on five to six films at a time, each film represents a particular colour and sound. Switching between these or from composing to re-recording refreshes me. I cannot completely switch off from music. It helps that I’m around people who understand me…people who understand I’m konjam extreme.”
While a few choices in his long filmography may be questionable, he says he tries to give his best nevertheless. “I sign a film because the script may have interested me or because I have a good rapport with the directors. I have also worked on many films just to help people out — either to launch someone or get a small film going. I guess I did too many favours.”
Like his father, Yuvan too believes the rapport he has with a director helps create great music. In Vai Raja Vai , he has collaborated with Aishwarya Dhanush, a long-time friend. “I know Aishu from when we were kids but it took me close to a month to connect with her musically. After I was signed on, we met for a jamming session and I took time to understand what she wanted. It’s much simpler once that connection is established.”
Does it always take so long to create a rapport? “I connected with Ram ( Kattradhu Thamizh, Thanga Meenkal ) almost immediately. He wanted music that’s out-of-the-box. The trouble arises when I’m unable to connect with a director. Those films tend to take longer to complete and somewhere, I realise I’m trapped.”
Ilaiyaraaja collaborated with Rajinikanth. Now his son collaborates with Rajinikanth’s daughter. “Not a lot of people know how we feel as we emerge from the shadows of our fathers. We’re out to prove ourselves and this has brought us closer. The pressure we deal with on account of being star kids is just unfair. If I go to a place at 11, people say, ‘Oh, his father used to come at 10.’”
--> The song ‘Move Your Body’ in Vai Raja Vai was sung by Ilaiyaraaja. Aishwarya had originally wanted Yuvan to remix the classic ‘Raja’ song from Agni Natchathiram. After a few versions, the duo decided to create a new song with lyrics by Dhanush. --> Yuvan has also reworked the Kokki Kumar theme from Pudhupettai for Dhanush’s one-scene cameo in the film. Aishwaryaa Dhanush
Aishwarya’s debut 3 may not have been a hit, but it enjoys a cult following, especially online, that few films have achieved.
“I believe 3 was ahead of its time,” she says. “It was closer to my comfort zone and, like most debut filmmakers, I drew extensively from my own life. After that, I consciously decided to work on a commercial film, not because 3 didn’t work, but because I wanted to know which genre I fit into. But when writing a screenplay, I end up being inspired by the psychological aspects of people. If it was bi-polar disorder in 3 , I have delved into intuitions in Vai Raja Vai. ”
However, writing VRV proved more demanding with its outlandish plot and having to explain something complicated in a simple, fun manner. “For me, making a mass film is tougher. A lot of things needed to be intertwined into a two-hour narrative without getting too complicated. This made it exciting as I had to think unlike how I would usually. Not having Dhanush on the sets too added to the challenge.”
In an interview, Dhanush stated the popularity of Why This Kolaveri Di destroyed 3 . “I agree with him. The hype around the song meant people bought the film for too high a price. It gave people the idea of a very different film. But I learnt a lot from it. Considering the super hit album we had created, I could have easily worked with Anirudh again. But, I didn’t know if I could handle the pressure of coming back together.”
Did she miss Dhanush, the actor, in VRV ? “I certainly realised the value of an actor like him. It was a breeze to work with him and to get him to enact a scene you have written. But I don’t feel it’s fair for me to run to a star for dates just because he’s at home. If I do achieve the standing where I can go back to him on my own right and ask for his dates, I would consider it a great achievement.”
The film also brings together the second generation of many legends. “Karky, Yuvan and I think alike. We can relate to each other’s lives so much because we have dads who behave the same way. When I meet Raja uncle or Vairamuthu sir, I feel like I’m seeing my own dad. I think it’s the way they have come up in life and the way they have dealt with success. It has helped establish an instant connection among us.”
“People assume it’s easy for us to get a second chance if we falter, but it’s the opposite. When you have these huge personalities at home you have to keep proving yourself to survive. And if you don’t succeed, you feel so inferior. It’s great that Yuvan and Karky have created an identity. I’m still a newcomer and feel I can learn from them. We’re part of a big family.”
