The audio CD of the movie titled Vinnai Thaandi Varuvaayaa (Will you come across the sky?) was released in London by Oscar winning music composer:ARR

Tamil music launched in UK

By Swaminathan Natarajan
BBC Tamil service

It is the first time a music track of a South Indian movie launched outside India
For the first time in the history of South Indian films, a music launch of a film has taken place outside India.
The audio CD of the movie titled Vinnai Thaandi Varuvaayaa (Will you come across the sky?) was released in London by the Oscar winning music composer A R Rahman.

Over 200 selected guests turned up to watch the event which included a live performance by the singers at the prestigious BAFTA Hall.

The director of the movie, Gautham Menon says this is an effort to take Tamil films to a global audience.

"Overseas markets bring us lots of revenue. We need to understand the market. When it comes to marketing we are at least 10 years behind Hindi cinema. They have moved far ahead and are doing movies aimed at overseas markets. We want to do the same,” says Menon.

US premier

He plans to have a premier for the movie in the US. He says that the movie will be released overseas with English sub-titles for the benefit of international audience.

For decades, Tamil movie makers have gone to different parts of the world to shoot song and dance sequences. But not much effort has been made to engage western audiences.


Overseas markets bring us lots of revenue. We need to understand the market. When it comes to marketing we are at least 10 years behind Hindi cinema


Director Gautham Menon

Tamil-speaking population of Sri Lankan and Indian origin, living in Western Europe, North America, South East Asia and the Middle East constitute the traditional foreign market for the Tamil industry.

The London music launch is billed as an attempt to take this movie beyond this group.

"This is a good beginning because in the West people equate Bollywood (Hindi film industry) with the whole of Indian film industry. We have so many languages. We have well established film industries in Tamil, Telugu, Bengali, Malayalam etc. This type of events will help to establish the identity of Tamil cinema", said A R Rahman.

Over 100 Tamil films are made in the capital of Tamilnadu, Chennai, and every year.

First movie after Oscar

About 40 people who played key roles in the making of this movie, including the lead actors Silambarasan and Trisha were flown from Chennai for the special event.

The movie which is said to have been made with a budget of over four million dollars is considered as a big budget film, in the context of Tamil cinema.


"In the West people equate Bollywood with the whole of Indian film industry"

“I have not seen anything like this in my seven years experience. It is a great honour to walk on red carpet here. We are much exited. It gives us great publicity” says Trisha, who is the heroine of this film.

Vinnai Thaandi Varuvaayaa is scheduled to be released on 12 Feb.

This is A R Rahman's first Tamil movie after he won two Oscar awards earlier this year. Apart from composing music he has also sung a song in this movie.

"I feel at home when doing Tamil movies. Tamil audience are my dearest" He said amidst thundering applause.

Some feared A R Rahman may not accept many projects in India, as his stock in Hollywood is rising.

But, he continues to work with Indian film makers. In 2010 Tamil fans will hear him in at least in 4 big releases including Tamil super star Rajini kanth’s Robot.

"This year I got Oscar awards. I performed in White House before the Obamas and now I got nominated for Grammy. In terms of international exposure, you can say this is the best year in my life so far", says A R Rahman in a reflective mood.

bbcsinhala.com