Music Director: S A Rajkumar

The audio rights of the film Vanathepol has fetched a price very close to the audio rights for an A R Rahman score and this puts music director S A Rajkumar above the current music directors Deva and Sirpy. And to think that the man who is the toast of the music world today was a few years ago a wreck, with all his belongings sold and no film in hand, eking out a living through shows at marriage parties! Rajkumar speaks about his success story in an exclusive interview with indiainfo.

Looking back, what do you think was the reason for your fading out in the late eighties?

Manasukul Mathappu, released in 1986, was a superhit and I had arrived at a time when there was no alternative to Illayaraja. After this, I did twenty odd films till Pudhu Vasantham directed by Vikraman and produced by Chowdury was released. Its remake in Kannada as Sruthi was also a hit and this made me a big league music director. The next again was a Vikraman-directed film under the same banner and expectations were high, but it bombed. From then onwards it was a downward slide. Added to this, I decided to put my money on a film, Muthal Padal, because I liked the subject and felt that the music scored by me was very good. This film also bombed and I was penniless. I could not concentrate on my work and it was a very bad period. Luckily for me, my life stood by my side. I analysed the downfall and realised that teamwork and a good subject was a must for my music to succeed.

Did you not have any apprehensions of doing music for Vikraman and Chowdury again when they called you for Poove Unnakaga?

Chowdury, by then, was a regular producer and Vikraman too had become a seasoned director. I had thought about working with them once again. When Vikraman discussed the movie with me, I thought it would be a hit. I started composing for this film as if I was a fresher. My whole life depended on this film and Poove Unnakaga did prove to be a hit, putting me back on the pedestal of fame and giving a new dimension to Vijay and Vikraman. Ironically, I composed the song Anandam Anandam for this film as my first comeback effort and at that point, there was nothing to rejoice in my life. Anyway I put aside my worries and came back to work.

Did you not fear a second fall later on?

Aval Varuvala was remade in Telugu as Pelli and my music was a hit due to which I started getting offers in Andhra filmdom. It boosted my morale and become confident that I could survive in the music world either in Tamilnadu or Andhra. It was again Vikraman-directed Suryavamsham which took me to dizzy heights. Remakes in Telugu made me run between Hyderabad and Chennai.

Critics say that your tunes are predictable and can be easily identified?

To me, melody is the only way to make audiences sway to the music and my audience expects melodious music. I can also give pop numbers like in Suthinthram, but those who speak of hi-tech digital music should also consider that 'Yedho Oru Paatu' is also sung in the streets. MSV and Ramamurthy ruled for over a decade because they had melody as their base.

Future moves?

I missed out doing music for Amitabh's Suryavamsh, but I think I will get a chance to prove myself in Hindi soon.

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