AT THE END OF THE DAY, I AM ILAIYARAAJA'S SON AND HE IS MY FATHER; NOTHING CAN CHANGE THAT: YUVAN - TOI Interview
He's never been a very forthcoming sort of guy but Yuvan Shankar Raja , surprised us this time, when he sat down for a candid chat and answered every question he was asked. The interview started cautiously , with us prodding a bit to see if he would open up, but soon, he was telling us all about embracing Islam, getting married for third time, his name change, patching up with Selva... Here is an unperturbed, cool and composed Yuvan clearing the air on all the controversies surrounding him...
Let's start with Masss... Is Thaman composing a song for the film?
Venkat Prabhu needed a kuthu song, which he had to shoot with Nayanthara. I got stuck with the re-recording of Idal Porul Eval and wasn't able to work on that song. Then, Venkat got Nayanthara's dates and had to finish the shoot within a quick span of time. So, I just composed a tune and Thaman worked on the orchestration part of it. It is still my song, Thaman is just a part of it. We are good friends and Thaman always used to tell me we should work together. That's how he got into that particular song. All is well with Masss and I have absolute ly no problem with Venkat.
This incident is a small thing that has just been blown out of proportion.
But then, you never come for ward to clear the air when your name crops up in a con troversy. Why is that?
Whenever I read what's writ ten about me, I think for a moment about why they write such things. But after a few minutes, I take it easy . Later, when people share news about me in group chats and all, I just laugh at it. What else can I do?
Some time ago, I did think of talking about all this, but then decided that I'd respond to all the news about me only when things are settled. After my mom passed away , I felt lonely and I went into a shell. But now, I feel a change in me. I have come out of that shell, and feel like talking to people about it. So, here I am...
So, how is married life?
Life is good, and though my wife has heard my music, she doesn't know much about films. And although I have work pressure outside home, I don't have any pressure at home, as she doesn't discuss films with me.
Why was your marriage such a hush-hush one?
was not hush-hush. When the news about my third marriage surfaced, the girl's family got dragged into it as well. They felt t would be too much for them o handle, and I also felt that I should decide about my wedding. And so, I called dad and explained this situation to him.When I told him that the wedding might happen within a short time, like maybe, in the next two days, he said if that is he case, he won't able to make t as he had prior commitments.He asked me to come home after the wedding, and a few days later, we met dad and got his blessings.
But did you ever imagine you'll one day get married with only your sister by your side?
No, never. I had never thought of a wedding like that. But... It happened. I also felt a bit lonely, but people from my wife's side supported me and ensured that didn't feel left out.
Rumours also said you embraced Islam to get married to a Muslim girl...
No, my decision to embrace Islam is purely spiritual. My marriage has got nothing do with it, as it was an arranged marriage. At a certain point of time in my life, I felt lonely and I told my friends to look a suitable girl for me. I wanted to get married as I still believe in the concept of marriage, family and kids.
So, are you used to your new name -Abdul Haliq -now?
My friends still call me Yuvan. I have no plans to change `Yuvan Shankar Raja' in the credit roll of films because many feel it's a brand and cannot be changed. Also, people won't be able to relate to my new name. But when I go to my wife's place, people call me ` Abdul' and I have got used to it now.
How different a person are you now, after you converted to Islam?
Being a celebrity , you sometimes feel proud yourself. When people say `wow', you will be blown away by it. At least, for a few minutes, you will feel proud of yourself. But after I embraced Islam, that proud feeling no longer arises in me. I feel extremely grounded, for, I realized now that fame is nothing. And when I realized that, I started feeling calm from within.
How has your father accepted all these decisions of yours? Are you both on good terms now?
I go with my heart. Whatever I feel is right, I will do it. I have always been like that since childhood and dad knows that. Moreover, if someone tells a father that your son is dancing with this girl in a pub, he is partying around all day and stuff like that, a father might feel bad. But when some body tells a father that your son is get ting up at five in the morning and praying five times a day and has turned spiritual, any father will be happy , right? So, my embracing spiri tuality has never been a problem. At the end of the day , he is my father and I am his son and nothing will change that. He has always accepted my deci sions, and I am on good terms with my dad. In fact, he will be performing dur ing my concert in Nellai, in May.
Rumours have it that you will be quitting music soon. Is that true?
I am not quitting, but I am certainly planning to take it easy. I used to compose for some 14 films in a year. Now, I have turned choosy and would like to focus more on concerts. When I sat for a song discussion with Venkat for Masss, we realized that there is no new genre left for me to try out any more. That was when I felt that I have to move away from my own style and try out new things. That will take time. That's why I want to concentrate on fewer films and come out with some refreshing numbers.
You and Selvaraghavan had an issue and you both have not worked together for a while now. But you are teaming up with Selva for his next. Have you patched up?
Somehow, I felt that I should work with Selvaraghavan again. So, I SMSed him one day , `Let's start working again,' and that's how we patched up. Selva's film is going to be big and I am really excited about it.
HQ Image: http://ift.tt/19DyfFV
He's never been a very forthcoming sort of guy but Yuvan Shankar Raja , surprised us this time, when he sat down for a candid chat and answered every question he was asked. The interview started cautiously , with us prodding a bit to see if he would open up, but soon, he was telling us all about embracing Islam, getting married for third time, his name change, patching up with Selva... Here is an unperturbed, cool and composed Yuvan clearing the air on all the controversies surrounding him...
Let's start with Masss... Is Thaman composing a song for the film?
Venkat Prabhu needed a kuthu song, which he had to shoot with Nayanthara. I got stuck with the re-recording of Idal Porul Eval and wasn't able to work on that song. Then, Venkat got Nayanthara's dates and had to finish the shoot within a quick span of time. So, I just composed a tune and Thaman worked on the orchestration part of it. It is still my song, Thaman is just a part of it. We are good friends and Thaman always used to tell me we should work together. That's how he got into that particular song. All is well with Masss and I have absolute ly no problem with Venkat.
This incident is a small thing that has just been blown out of proportion.
But then, you never come for ward to clear the air when your name crops up in a con troversy. Why is that?
Whenever I read what's writ ten about me, I think for a moment about why they write such things. But after a few minutes, I take it easy . Later, when people share news about me in group chats and all, I just laugh at it. What else can I do?
Some time ago, I did think of talking about all this, but then decided that I'd respond to all the news about me only when things are settled. After my mom passed away , I felt lonely and I went into a shell. But now, I feel a change in me. I have come out of that shell, and feel like talking to people about it. So, here I am...
So, how is married life?
Life is good, and though my wife has heard my music, she doesn't know much about films. And although I have work pressure outside home, I don't have any pressure at home, as she doesn't discuss films with me.
Why was your marriage such a hush-hush one?
was not hush-hush. When the news about my third marriage surfaced, the girl's family got dragged into it as well. They felt t would be too much for them o handle, and I also felt that I should decide about my wedding. And so, I called dad and explained this situation to him.When I told him that the wedding might happen within a short time, like maybe, in the next two days, he said if that is he case, he won't able to make t as he had prior commitments.He asked me to come home after the wedding, and a few days later, we met dad and got his blessings.
But did you ever imagine you'll one day get married with only your sister by your side?
No, never. I had never thought of a wedding like that. But... It happened. I also felt a bit lonely, but people from my wife's side supported me and ensured that didn't feel left out.
Rumours also said you embraced Islam to get married to a Muslim girl...
No, my decision to embrace Islam is purely spiritual. My marriage has got nothing do with it, as it was an arranged marriage. At a certain point of time in my life, I felt lonely and I told my friends to look a suitable girl for me. I wanted to get married as I still believe in the concept of marriage, family and kids.
So, are you used to your new name -Abdul Haliq -now?
My friends still call me Yuvan. I have no plans to change `Yuvan Shankar Raja' in the credit roll of films because many feel it's a brand and cannot be changed. Also, people won't be able to relate to my new name. But when I go to my wife's place, people call me ` Abdul' and I have got used to it now.
How different a person are you now, after you converted to Islam?
Being a celebrity , you sometimes feel proud yourself. When people say `wow', you will be blown away by it. At least, for a few minutes, you will feel proud of yourself. But after I embraced Islam, that proud feeling no longer arises in me. I feel extremely grounded, for, I realized now that fame is nothing. And when I realized that, I started feeling calm from within.
How has your father accepted all these decisions of yours? Are you both on good terms now?
I go with my heart. Whatever I feel is right, I will do it. I have always been like that since childhood and dad knows that. Moreover, if someone tells a father that your son is dancing with this girl in a pub, he is partying around all day and stuff like that, a father might feel bad. But when some body tells a father that your son is get ting up at five in the morning and praying five times a day and has turned spiritual, any father will be happy , right? So, my embracing spiri tuality has never been a problem. At the end of the day , he is my father and I am his son and nothing will change that. He has always accepted my deci sions, and I am on good terms with my dad. In fact, he will be performing dur ing my concert in Nellai, in May.
Rumours have it that you will be quitting music soon. Is that true?
I am not quitting, but I am certainly planning to take it easy. I used to compose for some 14 films in a year. Now, I have turned choosy and would like to focus more on concerts. When I sat for a song discussion with Venkat for Masss, we realized that there is no new genre left for me to try out any more. That was when I felt that I have to move away from my own style and try out new things. That will take time. That's why I want to concentrate on fewer films and come out with some refreshing numbers.
You and Selvaraghavan had an issue and you both have not worked together for a while now. But you are teaming up with Selva for his next. Have you patched up?
Somehow, I felt that I should work with Selvaraghavan again. So, I SMSed him one day , `Let's start working again,' and that's how we patched up. Selva's film is going to be big and I am really excited about it.
HQ Image: http://ift.tt/19DyfFV
