The Wagah audio launch began with singers Jithin and Vandhana performing three songs from the film, with D Imman providing the keyboard accompaniment. Two video songs were also played. Following the ‘Ennamma Ipdi Panreengale Ma’ song, Imman sang ‘Aaniye Pudunga Vendam’ (named after the famous dialogue from the 2001 film Friends). The video had Vikram Prabhu dancing on red sand with his friends, against the blazing hot sun.
Film directors Sasi, Raj Kapoor, Kannan, Gaurav, Ganesh Vinayak, and Seenu Ramasamy greeted the team with good wises. Actors Ajay Ratnam, Ganesh Venkatraman, Shakthi Vasu also had kind words to say about the film and its team. There was confusion among the speakers over how to address Kamal Haasan. While Kannan called him ‘Padma Shri’, the very next speaker, Ajay Ratnam, said ‘Padma Bhushan’ so emphatically, that it sounded like a correction. To complicate matters, when Seenu Ramaswamy came on stage, he addressed Kamal as ‘Padma Vibushan’.
Music director and actor Vijay Antony has directed the music in all of GNR Kumaravelan’s previous films. But, Antony said that after hearing Wagah‘s script, he had advised GNR Kumaravelan to choose another music director, because he thought the subject needed a different style of music.
Actress Ranya Rao, who admitted that her Tamil was weak, managed to say ‘Anaivarukkum Vanakkam’ before switching to English. She thanked Vikram Prabhu and the team for taking care of her in the dangerous terrains of Jammu and Kashmir.
Actor Prabhu, who was beaming throughout the function like a proud father, thanked each and every guest present. The gallery was packed with fans of the Sivaji family, who cheered whenever the names ‘Sivaji Ganesan’, ‘Prabhu’ or ‘Vikram Prabhu’ were uttered on stage, by anyone. Prabhu said that Kamal had always been like an older brother to him, ever since he played a child in one of Sivaji’s films. He also said that to director Mahendran, he might be ‘Mullum Malarum Mahendran’ or ‘Udhiripookkal Mahendran’, but to this crowd, he would always be ‘Thangapadhakkam’ Mahendran.
Mahendran was his usual modest self, and said he doesn’t deserve praise for his films, and that it should go to Kamal Haasan. “There have been many times where I have wanted to leave Kollywood, but it was Kamal who always brought me back. He was the one who brought Balu Mahendra to Mullum Malarum, and he was the one who resolved a fight between us. If it weren’t for Kamal, Mullum Malarum would not have happened, and I wouldn’t be here,” said Mahendran.
Vikram Prabhu said that he heard the script from GNR Kumaravelan in August 2013, and while it took almost three years for the film to be made, the journey had been eventful.
Kamal Haasan said that many people had thanked him for attending the press meet, but gratitude was unnecessary because it was a family event for him. “Don’t forget to invite me. Even I can’t make it, I will connect with you on Skype,” he said.
By the time Kamal ended his speech, the audience for the noon show of Theri had arrived at the venue, forcing the team to hurriedly wrap up the audio launch, and unveil the customary giant cardboard replica of the Audio CD.
