SUNDAY newstodaynet.com newstodaydaily ntchennai CHENNAI 8 23 DECEMBER |SANTOSH MATHEVAN| eing a music composer by profession, G V Prakash | NT Bureau | BKumar is excited to see himself as an aspiring mri- dangist on screen in Sarvam Thaala Mayam, a fi lm by fter Maari 2, Dhanush reu- noted director Rajiv Menon. Speaking to News Today, the Anites with National award musician-turned-actor shared details about the upcoming winning fi lmmaker Vetrimaaran musical drama that will hit the screens next weekend. for a movie titled Asuran. Produced Q: Though you have been part of over 10 movies al- by Kalaipuli S Thanu, Asuran is ready, how was it being a musician for the fi rst time? based on the modern classic Tamil A: I am basically a pianist and keyboard player. For me, novel Vekkai, which talks about the playing a percussion instrument like mridangam had only politics of revenge. It was written been part of my songs, that, too, by other musicians. First by Poomani. Unveiling the first I had to learn that art and so I was sent to learn to play it look poster, Dhanush tweeted ‘As from the legendary Umayalpuram Sivaraman. Rajiv sir was #maari2’s success news is pouring keeping an eye on me every day - whether I was attending in from everywhere , I am delighted the sessions properly. It took almost eight months for me to to announce my next with @Vet- learn the instrument. Since the movie is totally shot with riMaaran #Asuran .. will be pro- live sounds, whatever you hear in it was played by me. duced by @theVcreations thanu sir.’ Dhanush is said to have currently Q: The song Sarvam Thaala Mayam from this fi lm put his directorial project on hold was fi lmed across the country. What’s special about and he has signed three fi lms with that? Kalaipuli Thanu and Asuran is the A: That would be a musical treat for everyone. We trav- fi rst fi lm. The actor has also signed elled to various parts of the country to shoot with people fi lms with Pariyerum Perumal di- who play the percussion instrument of their culture. For rector Mari Selvaraj, and Ratsasan instance, in Kerala, there will be Chenda Melam. Likewise, I director Ram Kumar. meet a lot of musicians and would get to know how they play their striking instrument. As a musician, it was a learning curve for me for over a fortnight when I came across some 15 types of native beats. Q: The last time, it was Ilayaraja in DDhanushhanush tturnsurns AAsuransuran Naachiyar, and now, another legend, A R Rahman, has composed for this fi lm. What were their responses to a young composer’s performance as an actor? A: I was not bold enough to ask the opinion of both of them. But, I heard through Rajiv sir that Rahman sir was PPaa RRanjithanjith impressed with my acting. Rajiv sir even mocked that Rah- man added an extra dosage of the original score after seeing me on screen - not sure whether it was true. Q: It’s been quite a while since we listened to a G pplanslans bbigig V Prakash song. Any plans to return to the music studio? | NT Bureau | A: I’ve signed a good number of good fi lms. Actually, my movie Jail by fi lm- fter Casteless Collective, maker Vasantha Balan, Aa fusion of various music who introduced me as a forms from indie music com- composer through Veyil, posers and singers, director Pa will have my songs. As Ranjith is gearing up for yet of now, I am working in another attempt. His Neelam the music department Cultural Centre is organis- for most of my upcoming ing the Vaanam Arts Festival: fi lms. Hopefully, I will be An art-literature festival to signing movies of other heroes celebrate the spirit of social by mid-2019. change. The carnival aims to attract and educate youth from across the city on the importance of arts and culture towards striv- AALLLL IISS ing for social justice and equal- ity. The festival will have theatre, dance performances and a live show by The Casteless Collective. Apart from this, arts and crafts activities and storytelling sessions will be organised for children. Says Pa Ranjith, ‘It is important for us to be able to create the spotlight for those art and cultural forms which have been kept TTHAALAMHAALAM FFOROR in the periphery all this while. It is also an attempt to get people to partake in the celebrations with ‘Social Justice’ as its core message.’ The three-day art-literature festival scheduled between 29 and 31 December, is open for all. The festival will also host the launch GGVV PPRAKASHRAKASH of the fi rst album of the Casteless Collective, Magizhchi. HONOURS GALORE TOMORROW IN SABHAS Tamil Isai Sangam Rajah Annamalai Manram Mani Somasundaram (thirumurai isai), 8.30 am UUshersshers G Sivakumar & Sundar Odhuvar (thirumurai isai), 2 pm Manickam Yogeswaran (vocal), 5 pm Dr Pushpavanam Kuppusamy (makkal isai), 7 pm ffestiveestive ssprirtprirt Sri Thyaga Brahma Gana Sabha, T Nagar S Sakethraman (vocal), 6.30 pm Former Rajya sabha MP L Ganesan presenting awards to Umay- ( Vasantha ) alpuram K Sivaraman and K Venkatesan at the inauguration of The Mylapore Fine arts Club Tamil Isai Sangam’s annual isai vizha in Chennai. Honorary sec- Bombay Jayashree (vocal), 6.30 pm retary of the sangam A C Muthiah and president of the association nown to be sung in the evenings, Vasantha provides festive Justice P R Gokulakrishnan are also seen. Kspirit to listeners. Meaning springtime, it is widely sing by The Indian Fine Arts Society, Mylapore musicians in concerts. Shenkottai Jari (vical), 7 pm The Hindustani raag Girija closely resembles Vasantha. It is an ancient raga and has been prevalent for more than a 1,000 years. Bharat Kalachar, T Nagar Abhirami Arul by AKN SRekala Bharath & Thejas (bharatanatyam), In Classical music 7.15 pm Thyagaraja’s popular krithis in Kaly- ani are Sitamma Mayamma and Etla Brahma Gana Sabha, Mylapore Dorikithivo. Muthusamy Dikshitar came Chitra Visweswaran with out with Maragathalingam, Brihad- Chidambarama baa Dance aceCopay Company ambikayai and Hariharaputram. Papana- presents SkandamSkandam (Dance(Dance Ballet),Ballet), 7 ppmm sam Sivan’s Maal Maruga and Maa Dayai are considered best compositions in this raga. Natanam Adinar by Gopalakrishna Bharati is admired by music-lovers. PPapanasamapanasam SSivanivan In Cinema In the fi lm Sivakavi, the song sung by Suguna Varadachari (vocal), Lalgudi Vijayalakshmi (violin) M K Thyagaraja Bhagavatar (Vasantha and Suresh (ghatam) being conferred Nada Vallabha title at the ruthu mana mohaname) was the fi rst in inauguration of annual music festival organised by Nada Sudha cinema on Vasantha. in Chennai. V V Sundaram (Cleveland Thyagaraja Committee) Ilayaraja used the raga for the song and chief patron of Nada Sudha Nalli Kuppusami Chetti are also Andhi Mazhai for the fi lm Raja Paarvai. M K TThyagarajahyagaraja present. Sung by S P Balasubramaniam and S BBhagavatarhagavatar Janaki, this song is loved by all. Photos: B ANAND & AR JAYAKUMAR Maan kanden from Raja Rishi sung by Jesudas and Vani Jayaram, explores a bringsforth a fresh fl avour in vas and Nityasree rendered it. In sensual facet of Vasantha raga. the raga and this piece is sung Pirivom Sandhippom, composer Vandanam en vandanam from Vaazhve by SPB. A R Rahman had set Vidyasagar has come up with Maayam is a lesser-known composition in the song Minsara kanna from a piece in Vasantha - Kanden Vasantha. The composer Gangai Amaren Padayappa on Vasantha.Srini- Kanden. Published by T.R.Jawahar on behalf of News Today Media Private Limited., from 85, Mount Road (G.S.T Road), Guindy, Chennai 600 032 and Printed by him at Frontline Printers Private Limited, M-7, Thiru-Vi-Ka Industrial Estate, Guindy, Chennai 600 032. Editor: T.R.Jawahar. Tel: (044) 22504000 E Mail: [email protected]. Website: www.newstodaynet.com.