Dear Rahmaniacs, Director Bharathiraaj 's son is Manoj, who has acted in films like Alli Arjuna, Tajmahal under ARR 's Music Direction.
Q :- How was your childhood , being a celebrity's son , and my most favourite director ( Raihannaji's fav Director is Bharathiraaja ) ? A lot of people have asked me this... It is an advantage as well as an disadvantage. I had my fun till I entered the Industry. So, my life career has been entirely different. Not much interest towards studies etc . Right from childhood, I have been interested in Cinema, Cinema, Cinema. I didnt know anything other than Cinema I learnt the Piano, and had finished Two Grades in it. I didnt have that much patience, though I am trying to be patient nowadays. During the course of time, I lost touch about it, and I forgot abt the chords etc . I can play whatever I hear nowadays. Acording to me, Music is a part of my life and my breath. If there is no music, I feel choked. My other side is Music, and I love it a lot. I have already done one album. Firstly, I did an album by name Padhinaaru Vazhidinele, with Meena. T.S. Muralidharan ,was the Music Director who composed for it ( who had done a Tamil Film by name Sree ) .Now, I am working on my second album by name " Kaadhal Oviam" ( Music is done by me ) *ALLI ARJUNA * I started my career with Mani Sir from the film Bombay. I worked as an Assistant to him in that film. After finishing that film, I came to work with my dad. I worked from Karuthamma till Tamilselvan. Then I expressed my wish that I should direct, for which he said , " NO". He said, that Direction was a very tough task. He wanted me to act as his shadow, as he had always wanted to act, though became a director. So, I went to the University of South Florida in 96-97, where I did a course in Theatre & Arts. After I finished and came, he started working on Tajmahal. The very big boon for Tajmahal was the song ' Eechi Elumachi" sung by me. My father had shown my album ( which was not released at that time ) to Rahman Sir, and suggested that I sing a song in that film. It was a very big blessing to me. I thank Mr. Rahman for that all through, as even today, wherever I go and attend functions, I get to see people associating me with that song. They make me sing that song in the stage now too. To that extent, his music has reached people, and is also a crown to my head. I have done so far 11 films. *TAJMAHAL * ** I couldnt go and sit for the recording sessions for this film, as my father had told me that I was just an actor, and I should obey whatever he says. The relationship of a father and son should not come in the profession. Before, they picturise the song, they play the song for us. After Amarkalam came out, we approached Mr. Saran , and he came out with the script. Totally off beat film ( Alli Arjuna ). It was a grey shaded character. Most of the songs were taken from Hindi Films. Amazing songs, and still I listent to Sollayo Solai Kili . I think its better picturised than the Hindi Version. Once it so happened, that we were shooting in Mayajaal for the song Osaka Muraya , and One Two Ka Four was running in one of the theatres. So Lawrence Master was the chereographer. We just gave a break, and entered one of the screens and saw the song from that film. But what said and done, for me, Rahman Sir's tamil compositions and picturisations are the best for me always. WORKING WITH MANIRATNAM AS AN ASST DIRECTOR His grasping pattern of matters is very fast, and it takes us time to understand that. Very hard worker. And the perceptions abt what people have on him outside is not that true. Very down to earth person, and I think , he broke his shell very recently. Whatever he wants and he likes, he will wait for it, and wont leave it without getting it. WORKING WITH SHANKAR FOR ROBOT I want to become a Director, and in fact have joined Mr. Shankar for working in ROBOT. *We did get to hear the rough ones, that Rahman Sir has given for ROBOT, and he has done an amazing job. I think he is going to rock in this film. He is going to amazingly rock in this film. * We havent started shooting for Robot still. Its still in the discussion process. Very down to earth person, and very concentrated person. He knows what he wants to do, and where to move his coins for getting his work done. I want to do a Thriller kind of movie, to be based on the Film Industry. KIZHAKKU CHEEMAYILE At the time of that movie, Rahman Sir was considered to be doing a different type of music, suitable only for modern styles. He completely broke that opinion and gave this score. My father was having 100% confident that Rahman Sir will come out with a superb score. Uzhavan Audio and Kizhakku Cheemayile Audio got released the same day. I think, it was out at about 11 or 12 in the afternoon, and by 4 o clock or five o clock, all tea shops were playing the songs from these movies. Kizhakku Cheemayile was in the peak. After the film got released, it became a tradition in our village, that the songs from this movie used to be played for all functions . Most Fav Song :- Aathangara Marame . we can never judge what genre is that. Western, or Clasical, or Western Classical . Today or any day, he remains the great motivation force and inspiration for in music. I have always been a listener, and his music has motivated me to start my hand in trying. KARUTHAMMA Porale Ponnuthayi - Happy version and Then Merku Paruvakkatru I am unable to find out the rhythm patterns and understand his music. People tell he takes a lot of time, and of course for giving the best one needs to take a lot of time. ANDHI MANDHARAI I loke both of the songs which was composed for the movie. Both of them are haunting. One important happening with respecvt to that film which many people dont know is that RAHMAN SIR DID NOT TAKE HIS SALARY FOR THAT FILM. AFTER HEARING THE STORY, HE SAID, I AM NOT GOING TO TAKE ANY MONEY FOR THIS . I AM REALLY HEARTEND BY THHIS MOVIE, AND AM GOING TO DO IT. He put his full effort to the film, in that genre. The Background score was awesome. Tajmahal ;- Climax re - Recording , When I would be jumping on the train, when that Sengathe bit starts. I was totally moved by that, and I started shedding tears . Most haunting BGM. I was mesmerised the full day for that. Best Picturised song :- KOnjam Nilavu from Thiruda Thiruda. They shot the song for 10 to 12 days. A high wooden plank was put across the full studios for that song. All these 3 directors have their own styles ( Bharathiraaja, Maniratnam and Shnkar) . All have their own tensions though Mani Sir would be scolding in English, while my father will scold in Tamil. Shnkar + ARR Combination :- SIVAJI . Vaaji Vaaji, Oru Koodai Sunlight song , Gentleman ( Chikku Bukku ) Kangalal Kaithu Sei - Anarkaali song . Towards the last portion, the violins are a superb work. Very catchy. Superb lyrics. -- regards, Vithur HELP EVER; HURT NEVER; LOVE ALL; SERVE ALL