Popular music director Harris Jayaraj, who has been lying low of late, has returned with the Vikram-Nayanthara film Iru Mugan. Post the success, Harris talks to DC on his reasons for taking longer than others, melody being his USP, his dream project Studio H, and much more...
Filmmakers always complain that Harris never delivers songs on time. Ask him if he wants to change his style, and pat comes his reply, “I am working from 11.30 am to 5.30 am the next day. I am not only creating compositions, but also playing the role of a sound recordist (DTS sound mixing) as I want to leave my sound signature in every film. I sit with lyricists and discuss, and no one knows about it. I don’t allow filmmakers to use my name in the credits either. I expect that kind of perfection, and at least strive for it. That’s the reason it takes more time for me than others. And yes, I don’t sign more than three films in a year.”
Though he sits with the lyricists and gives valuable suggestions, Harris says he never wants to be in their shoes — “There are umpteen talented lyricists. I want to do only what I know”. When we talk about his world class recording atelier, ‘Studio H’, the Ghajini composer’s eyes light up. “Yes, that’s my dream studio. Studio H has world-class facilities designed by architects from America, France, and Chennai. It took '18 crores to build and can record 500 tracks. Iru Mugan was the first film done here,” Harris says, happily.
The seasoned composer says that due to his commitments he has no time to meet friends in the industry, but never misses catching up with them during events and audio launches. “Thaman and Sathya had called and appreciated IM recently. That kind of rapport is there always,” he says.
Harris asserts that in India, we are no less than any western country in sound quality — “Each day we are witnessing new technology. My base is key board programming and sound engineering, and I always insist on quality. I have heard that be it car music systems, or any high-fi equipment — people test it with my songs! It gives me a high.” Vaseegara gave Harris the confidence to do melody. “After that, every filmmaker wanted one or two melody songs for their film — like Suttum Vizhi Sudarea or Helena. I just want to do what people expect out of me.”
When there are so many talented singers, why does he choose actresses for his songs? “Andrea and Shruti were not known as actresses when they sang for me. Also, besides being an actress, Andrea is a very good Western music singer. Similarly, Shruti just landed from the US when I gave her the Adiye song.” Like Ilayaraja and AR Rahman, Harris is highly spiritual. “Music is divine. Anything can be manufactured — but creativity is given by God and hence his grace is very important,” he signs off with a smile.
