Ilaiyaraja dissatisfied with ONV's lyrics for 'Pazhassi Raja'

Chennai, Nov.20 (NR): Hariharan's magnum opus 'Pazhassi Raja' is in the news again! Music maestro Ilaiyaraja has lashed out against the lyricist ONV Kurup for having penned lines that did not match the spirit of the scene.

Ilaiyaraja was speaking at the audio release function of the Tamil version of the film at Chennai.

Ilaiyaraja pointed out that the song 'Aadiyusha Sandhya Poothathivide..' had none of the pain that was experienced by the valiant ruler when he was forced to wander around the forests of Wayanad.

According to the music director, ONV was unable to write the lyrics for a tune that had been selected by Hariharan, from among several tunes that Ilaiyaraja had presented before him. A few months later, the director had approached Ilaiyaraja again with lyrics that had been written by the famous lyricist, and had asked him to compose a tune for the same.

Ilaiyaraja said that the lyrics had the manner of a march past anthem. It had none of the anguish experienced by the warrior. Probably the lyricist must have had a different picture of Pazhassi in his mind, he added.

The music director admitted that ONV has written beautiful lyrics for songs that have been composed earlier by him. He specifically mentioned 'Thumbi Vaa Thumba Kudathil', in this regard. But he said he was not sure what had happened with the lyrics of 'Pazhassi Raja'.

He also said that it was an honour for him to set music to a film directed by Hariharan and scripted by MT Vasudevan Nair. 'Pazhassi Raja' is an exceptional film, and the Tamil people would welcome it for sure, he added. Click the Movie button below for more info:
Pazhassi Raja

Mammootty Pictures