SUNDAY newstodaynet.com newstodaydaily ntchennai CHENNAI 8 16 DECEMBER ‘‘STMSTM iiss ccloselose ttoo rreality’eality’ u Rajiv Menon speaks about his journey in tinsel town

| SANTHOSH MATHEVAN | of Sarvam Thaala Mayam (STM) would pop from a underprivileged family, who wishes up in my heart. Interestingly from there I to master mridangam, and learn it from the hen I had a simple conversation built the plot and its confl ict,’ says the ac- a top maestro, he faces rejection from the with Johnson, a man who runs claimed cinematographer-director Rajiv Carnatic music community as well as from WMridangam repair shop in My- Menon. Starring GV Prakash in the lead, his family. Music is by A R Rahman. It is lapore, I never thought that the storyline the movie is about a gifted young musician hitting the screens 28 December.

Minsara Kanavu was about a few Excerpts from his interview we are having this interaction, do infamous people coming together to you really hear every word of mine form a music band, while in Kandu- so clearly? No, right? If that is the A still from Kanaa kondein Kandukondein, Aishwarya reality, so should be STM, which is all Rai is a singer. Now STM is an out and about sounds and music. out musical entertainer. Tell us about your passion for music. The thought process of your fi lms GGetet rreadyeady fforor ccricketricket I would say it is a genetic connection. and director Bala’s differ complete- Being brought up in a musical family, I have always had a love for music. So, I ly. But, how are you related to him unintentionally end up coming out with so much that he had the chance of ccarnivalarnival ffromrom 2211 DDecec watching STM already? screenplays that have musical connec- tions. My two previous fi lms, Minsara | NT Bureau | team has givengiven their best. Such Kanavu and Kandukondein Kandu- team often never get a chance to anaa focuses not only on kondein have been frequent-telecast shine,’ he said. He then praised the How was it when you took it up to women’s cricket but at fl icks on TV. Whenever the latter is efforts of his co-star, Aishwarya AR Rahman? the same time portray relayed, I would get phone calls from K Rajesh, who plays the role of his the plight of farmers across Tamil- When I wrote the sequences of ‘Varala- a lot of people who greet me for mak- daughter. ‘She got deeply involved nadu, says filmmaker Arunraja mo Un Arugil’ for STM, all of a sudden ing that emotional family drama and in her role and she learned to play Kamaraj. the fi rst line started to show up from would ask me to do more fi lms. But, cricket for the fi lm.’ He shared his Kanaa, produced by Si- nowhere inside my mind along with the whenever Minsara Kanavu was aired, hope that Kanna excels like the vakarthikeyan starring Aishwarya lyrics and tune. Before I could forget that way Dangal became a massive hit the next day I would get a bouquet Rajesh and Sathyaraj in the lead I recorded it and called Madhan Karky in China. from Bala who would call me and roles, is releasing 21 December. to narrate the sequence and the fi rst insist that I make a fi lm soon. I really Aishwarya Rajesh then thanked The movie is about a village girl, line. Karky came up with complete lyrics the crew for giving her the oppor- don’t know what in Minsara Kanavu who is passionate about cricket of the song and I had it all ready. And, impressed him. So, I planned to show tunity to act in Kanaa. ‘All say that now the real dilemma arose, whether to and about the odds she faces as STM to him in a special screening. she dives into the world of profes- I worked very hard for the fi lm but tell this to ARR or not. I was actually sional women’s cricket. Darshan to be honest it was the crew who hesitating for over a month to discuss pushed me to give my best,’ she and Illavarasu are also in the cast on Varalamo with Rahman, thought it families. When I interacted with Umayalpuram Sivara- What is unique about Sarvam said. ‘If it wasn’t for them, I think while Sivakarthikeyan plays an would end our 30-year-old friendship. man’s offi cial Mridangam maker and repairer Johnson, Thaala Mayam when compared to it wouldn’t have been possible.’ extended cameo. ARR accepts if someone is not okay with he said his son is learning to play Mridhangam from your previous two fi lms? Sound designer, Suren shared Arunraja Kamaraj said, ‘This is a his tune and will give more options. But, Sivaraman himself. Johnson’s family seems to be a I would say it is ‘reality’. In my fi rst the technical aspects of the fi lm. dream-come-true moment for me. I never knew how he would react to this bloodline of Mridhangists and only he ended up as a fi lm, Minsara Kanavu, you would ‘Kanaa being a sport fi lm, we had I have to thank Sivakarthikeyan kind of a scenario. Finally, one day I repairer. Now when his son is learning the art from a have seen some improbable events to do a lot of work in dubbing, mix- for helping me run the project.’ He gathered guts and told him. To my sur- legend like Umayalpuram, the way Johnson emoted, as like a barber, a wannabe nun, a bak- ing and sound designing. We had then praised the co-producer, Kalai prise, the song was ready in a few hours his next generation is turning up a musician, gave me ery owner and a handsome young man to record many sound effects while Arasu. ‘Whenever I had story idea, with AR Rahman’s orchestration and Ra- the idea of STM. If this is how one aspires to become joining hands to form a music band. shooting cricket match sequence,’ I would always constraint myself jiv Menon’s composition. My friendship a musician, what if that really happens. And, that is The entire plot was on a hypothetical with the budget but while shoot- he said. ‘It was challenging and was saved at the end of the day. Sarvam Thaala Mayam. context and a world of fantasy. But, in ing this fi lm, Kalai assured me to interesting at the same time. We Kandukondein Kandukondein, I came never worry about the budget.’ He didn’t have any other fi lm to refer As we can see in the trailer, the a little closer to reality and made the also said that Kanaa is probably for ideas as we don’t have much What is the signifi cance of live-sounds for a fi lm fi lm on family, emotions and ambition. one of the fi rst Tamil fi lms that fi lms in Tamil that spoke about movie’s protagonist seems to be ‘Pe- like STM? Now STM will be even more real and entirely focuses on women’s cricket cricket.’ ter’ and he wants to learn music from Simple. We will be making a scene now and its dub- and at the same time portray the The music director for the movie Vembu Iyer. Will this movie speaks of bing will happen a few months later before which the will be a complete struggle of a young plight faced by farmers. is Dhibu Ninan Thomas while the Hindu-Christian relationship? emotion and the essence of the scene would be lost. boy who sees everything around him Sathyaraj appreciated the sound director of photography is Dinesh Firstly this story is not a unique one Also, during the dubbing session, the engineer would be in forms of ‘thaalam’ and wants to designing and mixing team. ‘The Krishnan B. and is the story of many individuals and asking for clarity, which is far from reality. Say, when become the number one mridangist.

ART, HEART

TOMORROW IN SABHAS The Music Academy TTimeime forfor innovation,innovation, Trichur Brothers (vocal), 6.45 pm  ssaysays IIndrandra NNooyiooyi Indian Fine Arts Society, ALwarpet Sriranjani Santhanagopalan (vocal), 7 pm u Inaugurates annual fete at the Music  Academy u Honours Aruna Sairam Naada Inbam, Ragasudha Hall, Luz Amritha Murali (vocal), 6 pm | NT Bureau |  usic Academy should make sure Mudhra, Infosys Hall, T Nagar ‘Mthey mark their successful pres- ence for another 100 years with more V V Subramanyam & V V S Murari (violin duet), 6.15 pm innovations,’ said chairman, PepsiCo,  Indra Nooyi. The Mylapore Fine Arts Club Inaugurating the 92nd Annual Confer- Papanasam Ashok Ramani (fl ute). 6.30 pm ence and Concerts of the Music Academy in Chennai yesterday, Nooyi said, ‘’The Danseuse Roja Kannan and her students performing at the  change that we face today is too fast. annual music and dance festival of Sri Krishna Gana Sabha Sri Thyaga Brahma Gana Sabha, T Nagar Technology everywhere is dominating recently. Photo: B ANAND Panthula Rama (vocal), 6.30 pm and we should gear up ourselves to stand  with it. Fast growing technology is one of the greatest opportunities for singers and Chennai Cultural Academy Trust, T Nagar other musicians to mark their presence PepsiCo chairman, Indra Nooyi Neyveli Santhanagopalan (vocal), 7 pm and establish themselves. They must and Carnatic vocalist Aruna Sairam  make use of this.’ at inauguration of the 92nd Annual She also honoured Carnatic vocalist Conference and Concerts of the Bharat Kalachar, T Nagar Aruna Sairam, Sangita Kalanidhi Elect Music Academy in Chennai. Keerthana J B (vocal), 5 pm 2018 who will preside over the Music for the December season, absolutely star- Academy’s Annual Conference this year struck by the great vidwans and vidushis and will be conferred the title on 1 Janu- who strode the hallowed lobbies of the ary, 2019. Music Academy,’ she said. Talking during the event, Aruna Sairam Aruna Sairam also thanked her mother, shared her ‘not-a-bed-of-roses’ journey of her gurus, mentors, and members of her being a successful Carnatic singer from familyall of whom have been integral in Mumbai to Chennai. She briefl y lined shaping her musical career. up her experiences from a beginner to a Addressing the gathering, president well-experienced vocalist. Currently, she of the academy, N Murali, announced is the vice-chairperson of Sangeet Natak names of all the artistes who will be Akademi, Ministry of Culture, Delhi. receiving the awards instituted by the ‘I stand here with happiness and humil- academy. He added, ‘Though we did not ity. This moment comes to me as a culmi- want to criticise about the #metoo allega- nation of a journey that began when I was tions, considering the statements we have a wide-eyed little girl tagging along with dropped a number of seven musicians K J Yesudas rendering a concert at the Marghazhi music festival my family that descended upon Chennai who were slated to perform this season.’ of Brahma Gana Sabha. Photo: C SANTHOSH

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