Vinnai Thaandi Varuvaayaa - Music Release

I was blessed to be in London and go invited to the Music Release of “Vinnai Thaandi Varuvaayaa” starring Silambarasan and Trisha in the lead.

Everything was decked up, Trisha looking most ravishing and Simbu in full charming suit.
Gautam himself compared the show. He answered the most common question of the evening " why London for a music release?" He said "I am here to show off" saying this he walked around the stage literally showing off...It was moment to watch.





















































































The film is shot extensively at Chennai, Kerala, Malta and New York. The story is about a Young aspiring Director who is writing his own love story to make it into a movie.With an urban look to it, the story is set between two young people who fall in love. The film is set to release in Feb 2010.


A much awaited musical from the Oscar Award Winning Composer A R Rahman, the film has some amazing songs and I saw it heard it live. It was performed by a group of 10 musicians with the Mozart of Madras sitting and enjoying the full unplugged version of his own tunes. Another magic from the maestro


The movie has five songs.


The song “Hosanaa”, sung by Vijay Prakash of “Jai Ho” fame, penned to the lyrics of Thamarai and a rap by Blaze is a sure hit among the young crowd for its peppy beats and stunning visuals shot by Manoj Paramahamsa at Malta corresponding to the stylized choreography by Flexy Stu of Adiye Kolluthey fame.


“Omana Penne” written by Thamarai too and sung by A R Rahman himself, holds a style of its own in the way it has been sung and programmed.
This song too has been shot at Malta with choreography done by Flexy Stu and is a sure favorite for all A R Rahman fans!


Manoj Paramahamsa (cinematographer) with his captivating visuals adds to the beauty of the film, with the ambience authenticity envisioned by Rajeevan (art director) and the crisp cutting of Anthony (Editing). Gautam is so happy with the cinematographer that he referred by saying "When Steven Spielberg found cinematographer Janusz Kaminski, he said I have found my brother and decided never to work with anyone else. I am not Speilberg, but I have found my Janusz Kaminski"


Nalini Sriram adds to the appearance of the film with striking costumes for all the actors in the scenes and songs. The costumes made for the songs are eye catching elements that are hard to be missed by the audience!


The film also has Ganesh, Babu Anthony, Kitty, Uma Padmanabhan and Lakshmi Ramakrishnan playing pivotal roles.


The film is produced by Madan and Ganesh (Escape Artists Motion Pictures) and Kumar and Jayaraman (R.S.Infotainment).


TRACKLISTING OF VINNAI THANDI VARUVAYA


Omana Penne
Singers: Benny Dayal, Kalyani Menon
Malayalam Lyrics: Kalyani Menon


Anbil Avan
Singers: Devan Ekambaram, Chinmayi Vinnaithaandi


Varuvaayaa
Singers: Karthik
Additional Vox : Vivek Agarwal


Hosanna
Singers: Vijay Prakash, Suzanne, Blaaze
English Rap Lyrics: Blaaze


Kannukkul Kannai
Singers: Naresh Iyer


Mannipaaya
Singers: A.R.Rahman, Shreya Ghoshal


Aaoromale
Singers: Alphonse
Malayalam Lyrics: Kaithapram


In the end, Gautam, Rehaman, Trisha and Simbu were put on question seat to ask questions.


An evening to be remember.
~ Anand Varadaraj

London - First view

The first time I saw London was through a foggy window of a British Airways flight BA 118.

After hearing and watching London on screen for almost 3 decades, the day has arrived to see it live thru my eyes.

A damp Heathrow at 1-30 pm looked wonderful. The misty grass, the A slope red tiles on big houses and as the flight descended rows & rows of cars parked and suddenly This huge sign " Available for Rent" showed up. I realized I am at the developed world where recession has been at the maximum.

Pilot announced it was chilly 11 deg centigrade outside. I was prepared for even worse. But suddenly my Jacket zipper suddenly seized to work.

As I got out of the airport, I realized how huge the airport, my other realization and feeling being at one of biggest airports in the world.

As I walked to train to get to the next building, my thoughts began to work, when Bangalore is going to get the metro running like this. However why think about that now.

I walked into the transit line and got into security check where literally I removed everything. Good India has stopped our good old tradition of wearing the waist thread. I remember my grandfather telling me Women wear silver thread and men gold. With gold shooting to sky rates, I think people have to work their way only thru artificial gold threads.

As I finished my security check, I went on to check when my connecting flight is. To my disappointment it was not till the next 3 & half hours. My major disappoint was lying ahead. I settled down in a comfortable chair, pulled my laptop to make some calls to home & friends thru Skype. Surprise! Surprise! There is no free internet at the world’s largest airport. You need to buy internet time. Bangalore airport is way off better. You need to send a sms & boom! You have a password to browse the net FREE!

Thought let me call my friends in London from a pay phone, the dumb me had the phone numbers on the net. The first thing tomorrow is to write it down the numbers as soon as I am connected.

So I caught up a light nap and among strangers of different countries, watched the BBC news on the Samsung 72 inch screen, walked around aimlessly. tried the sample of Baileys new Mint flavor drink, even though showed interest to impress the salesgirl to buy 2 bottles for 20 Pounds, I had no intention of doing it.

At last thought let me write to put it up on a blog, so write now typing it. Will upload it when I find a connection....now it’s time to catch my flight to Copenhagen....Ciao