Is Tamil actor Kamal Haasan India’s Bono? The star — known for keeping up with technology — pulled something of a U2 at the music launch for his latest film, Uttama Villain, in Chennai on March 1 by downloading songs onto guests’ phones without their knowledge.
The music was launched on a mobile phone app, surprising every guest at the event, which had a huge turnout. The reaction, unlike the negativity when U2 put their album Songs of Innocence on millions of people’s iTunes accounts without asking, was, however, positive.
Haasan, while on stage, also made a surprise call to his eldest daughter Shruthi Haasan, who lives in Mumbai. Viewers watched the father and daughter exchange notes and shared Shruthi’s delight on finding the songs of Uttama Villain downloaded automatically onto her phone.
Sound mixer Craig Mann, who won an Oscar last month for his work on Whiplash, is the mixer for the film.
Gibran, of Vagal Sooda Vaa, (remember Sara Sara Sara Kathu) has composed the music, while Haasan has written lyrics and performed on five songs (Kaadhalaam Kadavul Mun, Saagaavaram, Iraniyan Naadagam, Muthurasan Kadhai and Uttaman Kadhai) on the seven-song album. Viveka and Kalaimamani Kavignar Subbu Arumugam are the other two lyricists.
The actor also used the event to pay tribute to renowned director late K. Balachander, who discovered him and appears in the film.
Calling Balachander his ‘mahaguru,’ Haasan said that the ceremony was a public tribute to his teacher of 43 years. Balachander died in December 2014 aged 84.
“It is my pride that he acted in Uttama Villain,” recalled Haasan, who plays a dual role in the film — that of Uttaman, an 8th-century stage actor, and of Manoranjan, a modern superstar.
K.Balachander plays Manoranjan’s mentor in the film.
Haasan has written the screenplay of Uttama Villain; it is directed by Kannada actor Ramesh Arvind.
“This has two completely different stories, one from the 8th century and the second of the 20th century,” said Arvind. “While the former is a musical comedy around a folk artist, the second saga is a social drama. Kamal’s brilliance is seen in the way the two stories meet.”
“Look out for the scene between KB [K.Balachander] and Kamal, it’s remarkable,” he added.
Pooja Kumar, last seen in Vishwaroopam, is Uttaman’s love interest.
Kumar performed the song Kaadhalaam Kadavul Mun from the film.
Also at the event, Tamil actor Nasser became emotional while remembering his eldest son’s accident and hospitalisation during the shooting of Uttama Villain.
“Sitting outside the ICU, I was completely devastated,” recalled Nasser.
“I called up Kamal and told him that I wanted to return to the sets. The sets had been dismantled but when I went back I found that Kamal had put them back and we shot scenes that were not planned. Kamal would keep me updated regularly on my son’s progress.
“Working during that tough phase helped me divert my mind from the mishap. Uttama Villain is a film very close to my heart,” added Nasser, who plays Muttharasan, an overbearing dictator from the 8th-century story.
Produced by Thirupathi Brothers and G.R. Venkatesh, Uttama Villain is scheduled for an April release.
