In what can be called, a ‘mega mela', the audio release of ‘Velayudham' – the first of its kind in Madurai, was a crowd puller. The CSI ground on Sunday evening was choc-a-bloc with Vijay fans pouring in from all parts of the State. The fans ranged from tiny tots to oldies, but college goers formed the major chunk, whistling, cheering and screaming hysterically.
Fans were whipped by the filmy flavour that lasted nearly five hours. An ardent Vijay fan had cycled all the way from Dharapuram to greet his favourite star, while a film distributor broke 1001 coconuts around the venue invoking good luck for the actor. As many tried for autographs and photographs, a college girl jumped the barricade to hug the star while another boy had Vijay's image painted over his torso.
The entire crew of ‘Velayudham' including actress Hansika Motwani and director Jayam Raja cheered the crowd. Playback singers Harish Raghavendra and Krishna Iyer sang popular numbers from Vijay films. Music director Vijay Antony, who has scored the music for ‘Velayudham' unleashed latest songs from the film and Hansika Motwani let out a shrill ‘Vanakkam Madurai' and charged the evening with a ritzy ramp walk. The film has six songs – Mulachu moonu, Chillax, Mayam seithayo, Sonna puriyadhu Rathathin rathame and Vela vela. ‘Chillax' set the crowd on the bumpy-jumpy mode with its typical Vijay punch, and ‘Rathathin Rathame'- an emotional and racy song, though lacking the usual melody caught everybody's senses. ‘Sonna puriyadhu' – the opening song is again a peppy number with liberal beats that connected well with the fans and Vijay also sang it for the crowd.
“This is the second film I work with Vijay but I get a satisfaction of having done 200 films” beamed, Vijay Antony.
Director Jayam Raja was upbeat and confident about the film. “The film has a mass appeal and sends out a strong message. I wanted a hero with a mass image and I couldn't think of anyone else other than Vijay,” he said. “A lot of hard work has gone into it and we are already half victorious with the audio release being this grand. I hope and am sure that the film will bag rave reviews.”
“The puja for Velayudham was done in front of fans and I also wanted to release the audio the same way. Among many other cities, Madurai stands out in the kind of reception it gives to cine-stars” said actor Vijay.
