Director Mari Selvaraj is set to collaborate with his idol, the legendary composer Ilaiyaraaja, for the first time in his upcoming film titled Manjanathi. The announcement was made during the Maestro's concert on Sunday, where Selvaraj shared his deep admiration for Ilaiyaraaja and the inspiration he has drawn from his music over the years.
A Long-Standing Inspiration
Speaking at the event, Selvaraj recalled how he used to repeatedly listen to the song Poradada from the film Alai Osai during his days as an assistant director to filmmaker Ram. "This one song helped me pen the scripts of all the five films I've made so far," he revealed, emphasizing the profound impact Ilaiyaraaja's music has had on his creative process.
Finding the Courage to Approach
Selvaraj admitted that he never found the courage to approach Ilaiyaraaja until now. "I worked crazily to create a script and started my own production house to reach him. When I finally met Raaja sir, he asked me what I wanted and in five days, he gave me five songs. I was stunned," he shared, expressing his gratitude and amazement at the composer's swift and generous response.
A Female-Centric Narrative
The director revealed that Manjanathi will be a female-centric film, a departure from his previous works. "I'm often asked why all my films so far have been about the men in our village and what about the stories of the women there. This sparked an idea to make a film about them," he explained. Selvaraj noted that while his earlier scripts were born out of anger and politics, Manjanathi is unique. "For the first time, I've penned a script that's been derived from the countless Ilaiyaraaja songs that I've heard over the years," he added.
Cast and Production
Actors Priyanka Mohan, Kayadu Lohar, and Kathir are reportedly playing the lead roles in the film. The project marks a significant milestone in Selvaraj's career, as he finally gets to work with the composer who has been a constant source of inspiration throughout his journey in cinema.
