Music director Harris Jayaraj has done 18 films in Tamil. From his first film ‘Minnalae,’ his songs have found a special place in the minds of people, and his recent films ‘Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu’ and ‘Unnalae Unnalae 217; have made him a household name. He has another half a dozen films in his kitty. Harris Jayaraj talks about his way of working and also his forthcoming ventures. Excerpts from the interview:
What kind of person is Harris Jayaraj?
I talk less and observe more. I am a calm person. I like humour and I am God fearing.
Before and after ‘Minnalae’
I was a busy keyboard player. ‘Minnalae’ happened suddenly. Cameraman Rajasekar came to me with Gautham Menon for a jingle. After a few months he came up with a film proposal. Then through Gautham I was introduced to Dr. Murali Manohar.
==
You don’t accept too many films. Why?
Music is my passion. I can sleep well every day only after I am convinced I have created good music. I choose films which suit my music taste and which will make my fans happy.
You may have been introduced in ‘Minnalae’ but it was also other films which made you popular.
‘Minnalae’ was a city-based subject and did it not do very well in other areas? Two films, which made me a known name among all sections, were ‘Kaakka Kaakka’ and ‘Samy.’ Particularly ‘Samyshowed me that I can give songs for rural folks also.
Then came ‘Chellamae,’ ‘Anniyan,’ ‘Gajini,’ ‘Vettaiyaadu Villaiyaadu’ and now ‘Unnalae Unnalae.’ By God’s grace all have hit songs.
==
About your training in music.
I did the music course in Trinity College, London, and passed the eighth grade. When
I was six or seven years old, I began learning Carnatic music.
Then came guitar lessons from Abdul Sattar. Later I grabbed the synthesiser and got used to modern technology. For this there was no tutor.
==
Who are your favourite music directors?
In the West, Hans Zimmer and James Newman, in the North it is Salil Chowdhry and in Tamil it is M.S.Viswanathan. But I listen to all composers.
==
What do you have to say about the music directors you’ve worked for?
I am happy to place on record that I’ve worked with gems like A.R.Rahman and Sivamani. I was known as ‘keyboard’ Jayaraj then. I never dreamt of becoming a composer. I had just wanted to play for famous International music composers.
==
Earlier, music directors completed hundreds of films in a short span. Comment.
They have abundant talent and both M.S.Viswanathan and Ilaiyaraja have their own group of talented musicians permanently in their orchestra. Earlier, the practice was that they would compose the songs and the musicians would play it. So they were able to record even two songs in a day. Now things are different. I compose the tune and sit with the lyricist. Sometimes it takes even 10 days for a song. Then I do the recording and mixing myself.
People say that your songs from ‘Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu” and ‘Unnalae Unnalae’ are similar. I don’t think so. However, at some point my own songs could have influenced me. If the directors spot it a nd point it out, I will certainly change it.
==
Why are you always using Bombay Jayashree’s voice?
There are many favourites, like S.P.Balasubramaniam and K.S.Chitra. I did not know her before the ‘Vaseegara’ song. I heard this charge and so I decided to use Madhushree’s voice for the ‘Unakkul Naanae’ song in ‘Pachaikili Muthucharam.’ Madushree had sung it remarkably. A week before the audio release Gautham Menon felt that something was missing in the song and we recorded it again with Bombay Jayashree. Both the songs are in the album. I have no favourites.
==
Why have you not worked in village-based subjects?
I am eagerly waiting for one.
==
What is your speciality as far as composing is concerned?
After the release of ‘Minnalae’ I understood that background score is very important for a film and I began to concentrate more on it. My song bits and background score have even been released as a separate album.
==
What is new about your forthcoming ventures?
My forthcoming films include ‘Bheema,’ ‘Vaaranam Aayiram’ and ‘Dhaam Dhoom.’ As for other films, I have not begun working on them so I can’t say anything now. For ‘Bheema’ I have decided to compose melodies. Why should we always underestimate the taste of people?
==
What do you want to be remembered as?
As a quality music maker.
==
Old songs are still popular. Do you think your songs will endure?
I hope so. I think I have produced some soulful numbers.
==
Which do you prefer? Live orchestra or computer generated music?
My roots are in live orchestra. But now I fuse both acoustics and electronic music for convenience. Both are good.
==
Will you work as a keyboard player now?
Why not? If I’m called I would certainly go and work. I earned money and name as a keyboard player. I bought my house and music instruments then. I am ready to play for anybody.
==
Courtesy: S.R.Ashok Kumar - The Hindu
Thank you Ashok !
What kind of person is Harris Jayaraj?
I talk less and observe more. I am a calm person. I like humour and I am God fearing.
Before and after ‘Minnalae’
I was a busy keyboard player. ‘Minnalae’ happened suddenly. Cameraman Rajasekar came to me with Gautham Menon for a jingle. After a few months he came up with a film proposal. Then through Gautham I was introduced to Dr. Murali Manohar.
==
You don’t accept too many films. Why?
Music is my passion. I can sleep well every day only after I am convinced I have created good music. I choose films which suit my music taste and which will make my fans happy.
You may have been introduced in ‘Minnalae’ but it was also other films which made you popular.
‘Minnalae’ was a city-based subject and did it not do very well in other areas? Two films, which made me a known name among all sections, were ‘Kaakka Kaakka’ and ‘Samy.’ Particularly ‘Samyshowed me that I can give songs for rural folks also.
Then came ‘Chellamae,’ ‘Anniyan,’ ‘Gajini,’ ‘Vettaiyaadu Villaiyaadu’ and now ‘Unnalae Unnalae.’ By God’s grace all have hit songs.
==
About your training in music.
I did the music course in Trinity College, London, and passed the eighth grade. When
I was six or seven years old, I began learning Carnatic music.
Then came guitar lessons from Abdul Sattar. Later I grabbed the synthesiser and got used to modern technology. For this there was no tutor.
==
Who are your favourite music directors?
In the West, Hans Zimmer and James Newman, in the North it is Salil Chowdhry and in Tamil it is M.S.Viswanathan. But I listen to all composers.
==
What do you have to say about the music directors you’ve worked for?
I am happy to place on record that I’ve worked with gems like A.R.Rahman and Sivamani. I was known as ‘keyboard’ Jayaraj then. I never dreamt of becoming a composer. I had just wanted to play for famous International music composers.
==
Earlier, music directors completed hundreds of films in a short span. Comment.
They have abundant talent and both M.S.Viswanathan and Ilaiyaraja have their own group of talented musicians permanently in their orchestra. Earlier, the practice was that they would compose the songs and the musicians would play it. So they were able to record even two songs in a day. Now things are different. I compose the tune and sit with the lyricist. Sometimes it takes even 10 days for a song. Then I do the recording and mixing myself.
People say that your songs from ‘Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu” and ‘Unnalae Unnalae’ are similar. I don’t think so. However, at some point my own songs could have influenced me. If the directors spot it a nd point it out, I will certainly change it.
==
Why are you always using Bombay Jayashree’s voice?
There are many favourites, like S.P.Balasubramaniam and K.S.Chitra. I did not know her before the ‘Vaseegara’ song. I heard this charge and so I decided to use Madhushree’s voice for the ‘Unakkul Naanae’ song in ‘Pachaikili Muthucharam.’ Madushree had sung it remarkably. A week before the audio release Gautham Menon felt that something was missing in the song and we recorded it again with Bombay Jayashree. Both the songs are in the album. I have no favourites.
==
Why have you not worked in village-based subjects?
I am eagerly waiting for one.
==
What is your speciality as far as composing is concerned?
After the release of ‘Minnalae’ I understood that background score is very important for a film and I began to concentrate more on it. My song bits and background score have even been released as a separate album.
==
What is new about your forthcoming ventures?
My forthcoming films include ‘Bheema,’ ‘Vaaranam Aayiram’ and ‘Dhaam Dhoom.’ As for other films, I have not begun working on them so I can’t say anything now. For ‘Bheema’ I have decided to compose melodies. Why should we always underestimate the taste of people?
==
What do you want to be remembered as?
As a quality music maker.
==
Old songs are still popular. Do you think your songs will endure?
I hope so. I think I have produced some soulful numbers.
==
Which do you prefer? Live orchestra or computer generated music?
My roots are in live orchestra. But now I fuse both acoustics and electronic music for convenience. Both are good.
==
Will you work as a keyboard player now?
Why not? If I’m called I would certainly go and work. I earned money and name as a keyboard player. I bought my house and music instruments then. I am ready to play for anybody.
==
Courtesy: S.R.Ashok Kumar - The Hindu
Thank you Ashok !
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