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Interviewer : S. Sudhakar | Camera : P.
Ganesh Babu | Text: Jyothsna |
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Lyricist
Naa Muthukumar is on cloud nine. He has
achieved the distinction of having penned
lyrics for most number of films in 2009.
With prestigious films in his kitty, this
talented young lyricist spoke to behindwoods.com
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BW: In earlier days,
songs were pivotal to taking
MGR and Sivaji to the audience.
Does the trend continue even
now?
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Naa. Muthukumar:
Even now, lyrics
play a major role in films.
In those days, there was
Dravidian movement on
one side and Communism
on the other. It was the
time when films songs
were used as a vehicle
for spreading the principles
and ideas of various political
movements. For instance,
Pattukottai Kalyanasundaram
penned a lot on communistic
principles and Kannadasan,
Pulamaipithan and others,
who wrote for MGR, eulogized
Dravidian ideas. Hence
poets were given prominence
in public meetings. Secondly,
many lyricists were in
active politics and they
had an opportunity to
talk to people directly.
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"
We are given
good
recognition
in
the society now "
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Now, there is more importance
given to poets. People appreciate
verses in songs and actors call
the lyricists and appreciate
their work in their respective
films. We are given good recognition
in the society now. Currently,
there is an increase in various
types of media. The spotlight,
which falls on actors, falls
equally on poets as well now.
Can you tell something about
the dialogue-poetry you have
written in Endhiran?
I cannot talk about it as the
film is being made on a very
big budget.
Poets play an active role in
the societal development. As
a poet what is your contribution
to the society?
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My works are useful
to
the society "
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It is not necessary that
poets will have to take
to streets to improve
society. I feel my works
are useful to the society.
I have released 13 books
as of now. It is being
said that when the literature
of a county is of superior
quality and works are
produced for the welfare
of the people, that county
is said to tread on a
healthy path. Whenever
Hitler wanted to invade
a nation, he would ask
his general to destroy
the culture, language,
literature and traditions
first. When these four
important features are
destroyed, the county
will automatically be
ruined. So I am contributing
to literature in my own
way. Through my lyrics
in films, I am conveying
good things to society. |
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Your contemporaries like Snehan
and Paa Vijay have featured
in films too. Do you have any
such alternate liking in film
industry? |
Penning lyrics itself
was like an alternate
profession for me. I worked
as an assistant director
to Balu Mahendra and by
sheer accident I have
taken up writing lyrics
for films for the past
six years. This situation,
like holding on to a tiger’s
tail, seems to extend.
I am planning to direct
a film, perhaps in 4-5
years.
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"
Penning lyrics was like
an
alternate profession
for me"
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Among
the various music directors, who
are you comfortable working with? |
"
I am comfortable
working
with everyone "
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There is nothing like
that. However, I have
worked with Yuvan Shankar
Raja for an entire film
many times. Even now I
am working with him in
Paiyya and Thillalangadi.
When you work with someone
for an entire film, the
limelight would naturally
fall on us. That aside,
I have worked with AR
Rahman and Harris Jeyaraj.
I have penned lyrics for
ten films for Raja sir’s
music. I am also comfortable
working with the next
generation music composers
like Selva Ganesh, Sundar
C Babu, Vijay Antony,
Imman, Srikanth Deva etc.
All of them like my writing
and poetries. I am comfortable
working with everyone.
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Can you predict the success
of a song while writing?
Yes, to a certain extent! When
a star director, a star music
composer and a star actor are
involved, one can be sure that
the song will be heard by many
people. And while the music
is being scored, you can almost
feel it. Sometimes, when newcomers
are working in a film, the tunes
would be extraordinary. You
can feel that despite the result
of the movie, the song would
definitely be a hit.
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What is the book that
you are currently working
on?
I am writing an English
novel now. The work is
going on for almost seven
years now. In Dinakaran
Vasantham, I am writing
my experiences as a film
lyricist.
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I am writing an
English
novel now "
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What
are your other interests?
I travel a lot. Whenever
I am working continuously
on something, I take a
break after a while and
take a trip to many places
which help get recharged.
About the Sri Lankan Tamil issue
and your message for Tamils
all over the world?
The ethnic cleansing has affected
all the Tamils. The Sri Lankan
Tamils are scattered all over
the world today. All the Tamils
should unite and render all
possible help to the affected
people.
Your interaction with Rajni?
Rajni has appreciated me for
my work in Sivaji. After Endhiran,
I have not met him.
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