S.S. Thaman is excited about the music he has given for Sarrainodu. The music director is happy with the response, and for the fact that he worked with director Boyapati Srinu for the first time.
“I have worked with Allu Arjun earlier, but this was the first time with Boyapati. Though I have known him for long, I was scared initially when we met for music sittings. I know him from his Bhadra (2005) days as I was a keyboard player for that film under music director Devi Sri Prasad. But this was a new experience,” says Thaman.
He adds that the two would visit a lot of cafes and restaurants in Chennai. “Yes, we had dinner and lunch many times and we both have a good rapport, so it became easy for me after we became good friends.”
When pointed out that some of his music from different films sounds the same, he says that those films released at the same time.
“All music directors have their own styles, and some of my films like Power, Aagadu and Rabhasa, all released in one month. So people said that some of the songs sounded same in those films,” he says.
Recently, Thaman remixed a song from his earlier film Subramanyam For Sale. He says it was a difficult task. “Yes, these songs are very popular and it’s not easy because they are compared with the old ones. So, I have to work harder, one remix is equal to working in 10 films. In the end we can’t bring the same feel… and still I was not happy about the song. I don’t like to remix songs,” he says.
He adds that it’s not only the music director’s decision as a song has inputs from the lyricist, director, producers and many others. “When an album is bad, everyone criticises the music director, but it’s not completely his decision,” he says.
He doesn’t keep readymade tunes. “Sometimes we compose tunes for a director and he might not like it, and he might tell his other director friends to listen to that tune. Otherwise music directors always come up with fresh tunes,” he clarifies.
Thaman had even acted in Boys, with Siddharth and others, directed by Shankar. “Now there is a plan to make a sequel. An associate, who worked with director Atlee of Police fame, is going to direct this sequel. In two months we will get all the details and I am going to act in it. I am also scoring music for it,” he confirms.
A cricket enthusiast, Thaman has even formed a cricket team, MASS. “The team comprises people like S.P.B. Charan, Rahul Ravindran, Munni Krishnan, Vijay Jesudas, me and others,” he says, adding that they will play against the Kerala music directors’ team in June.
Talking about last years floods in Chennai, he says, “Half of my studio was filled with water and I lost equipments worth nearly Rs 1.5 crore. There was no insurance as most were electronic goods and imported. But I quickly renovated.”
