Report by Janani K
Arya and Santhanam have a great rapport when it comes to comedy on screen. The comic timing was evident off-screen as well, as the two traded quips at the press meet for their upcoming film Vasuvum Saravananum Onna Padichavanga (VSOP). VSOP, directed by Rajesh, revolves around the friendship between two men, and the changes that occur when a girl enters their life.
The press meet kicked off with a screening of the trailer along with a couple of songs. Santhanam’s act as a ‘hip-hop dancer’ in the song ‘Luckka Maatikichi’ caused much hilarity. Rajesh’s directorial style in the trailer was reminiscent of his earlier films, Boss Engira Bhaskaran and Siva Manasula Sakthi.
Lyricist Na Muthukumar said that he had been vacationing in the US when Rajesh contacted him and wanted him to write a song immediately. So ‘Luckka Mattikichi’ had to be written there. After his return, Muthukumar and Rajesh looked for several places in and around Chennai to brainstorm the lyrics of remaining songs.
Muthukmar said they had been told that composer D Imman couldn’t join them. But they were pleasantly surprised when Imman interceded to say that initially he hadn’t know what VSOP meant, after Rajesh had narrated the story to him: “Rajesh smiled when he told me that the film’s title was ‘VSOP’. I didn’t understand why he smiled. So, I went to my father thinking that he might know. But, I was wrong. Finally, it was my wife who enlightened me.” After pausing to let the laughter subside, Imman added, “Thappa Nenachikadhenga, my father-in-law konjam…..” He then talked about how he had reworked the songs several times, and incorporated a variety of instruments, until he was satisfied that it would be his best work.
Rajesh said he had hit a low point after his film All in All Azhagu Raja had flopped, but he was grateful to Arya for being around and raising his spirits. He said that D Imman wouldn’t budge out of the studio for the composing sessions, despite being invited several times.
Santhanam, talking about his initial days with Arya, said: “When we were shooting in Bangalore, Arya wasn’t a big star and I had only been around for a couple of years. Fans wanted to take a picture with me and I jokingly said that I must be the comedy superstar. I thought no one would notice. But, Arya heard me, and shared the joke with everyone. He even added the tag ‘Comedy Superstar’ Santhanam in Vettai’s title credits. After a few years, I was shooting for Lingaa with Rajinikanth and we were having a general conversation about the tag ‘Superstar’. He immediately asked, ‘Nee kooda edho superstar dane?’ I felt like I had been caught! I told him it was Arya who had done that. Rajinikanth liked our on screen chemistry.” He added that he was shocked that D Imman hadn’t known what ‘VSOP’ meant, and jokingly said that the composer needed training.
Santhanam also warmly acknowledged that his friend Arya had done well in his growth from actor to producer. Arya also praised everybody’s work, “I would say Oru Kal Oru Kannadi was Santhanam’s best work, but after seeing VSOP, I feel that he has given his best in this film.”
