The Iru Mugan Audio Launch enters our list of ‘best events’ this year, for one very specific reason – they started the event on time! The trailer was screened to a tremendous response from the crowd whose chants of ‘Chiyaaaaan’ took some time to die down. Between the speeches of the guests, lyric videos of the songs were played. The event, unlike most other audio launches, did not have a slew of guests coming up on stage. A limited number of guests, mostly only prominent members of the crew took to the stage and surprisingly kept their speeches short, prompting the host to make a joke saying Anand Shankar would cast those who kept their speeches short in his next film.
Highlights from the event:
- Shibu Thameens, the producer of the film fell on his knees while talking about Vikram saying that he is the life and soul of the movie. He thanked every member of the cast for the hard work they put into the film.
- Lyricist Thamarai, seems to have not forgotten the issue about Vikram not getting a National Award for his performance in Shankar’s I. She went on to say that his performance in the film will be remembered always and that people will go ‘How could he have not won the award for this!’
- Sivakarthikyen was welcomed with shouts calling him ‘Remooo’ (The name of a character played by Vikram in Anniyan). Sivakarthikeyan, who plays the role of a female nurse in Remo, says that his role is nothing compared to the effeminate role that Vikram plays in Irumugan. “I’m just an apprentice,” he said.
- “He believed in me – that I would one day become a lead actor, even when I was just a TV anchor. I used to think he was just making fun of me. But he has always been supportive and encouraging,” said Sivakarthikeyan about Vikram.
- Nivin Pauly, who was making his debut in Tamil movie events, seemed slightly nervous. But his Malayalam-ish Tamil (like what he spoke in Premam) was well received by the audience.
- Harris Jayaraj was a tad late to the event (we are guessing that his dilemma in choosing the right pair of shoes, caused it). His clack and grey shoes even caught the fancy of the host who said that he couldn’t take his eyes off it. He said that RD Rajasekar was the one who introduced directors like Gautham Menon, AR Murugadoss and Anand Shankar, to him.
- Harris also spoke about the first film of Vikram’s that he did – Samurai. He said that Moongil Kaadugale remains one of the best songs he has composed. Vikram later said that the song is still his caller tune.
- The biggest surprise of the event was director Hari’s announcement of his next film with Vikram. Also on board the film to be produced by Shubu Thameens, were Harris Jayaraj and cinematographer Priyan. If that was not exciting enough already, Hari went on to say that the film was a sequel to his 2003 blockbuster Saamy. The crowd went ballistic, so did we, the journos, competing with each other to post the first tweet.
- Anand Shankar, the director, said straightaway that there’s no way he can keep his speech to three minutes. “I do films only once in two years,” he said. Fair Enough. He thanked Vikram for believing in the script and waiting for almost 10 months for the project to kick off.
- “Nayanthara has the knack of elevating the scene with her screen presence. She was so involved with the film that, while shooting for the Halena song, she went on to make sand castles on the beach just to make the shot more interesting,” said Anand Shankar.
- For once, the host accepted that TRP rules apply for such events as well, and said that is why Vikram will be the last one to speak. The actor obliged for the photographers and then on request from his fans, made the popular ‘O Podu’ pose from his film Gemini. Vikram, in turn, thanked Anand Shankar for sticking to the project, even when he got the opportunity to direct another film with a leading actor.
- Vikram personally thanked Sivakarthikeyan and Nivin Pauly (in Malayalam) for taking time off their schedules to make it to the event. He said that he felt happy when his fans called Sivakarthikeyan, Remo, and that he hopes Remo releases a few weeks after Irumugan. He went on to thank everyone in the crew, including every assistant director for helping complete the film on time.
Photos from the event, by Dani Charles:
