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The changing notes of Hey! Ram

Kamal Haasan’s ambitious period piece Hey! Ram has been in the news ever since its inception. The film was talked about for its controversial theme, for its multi-star-cast, and for its music. Kamal decided on giving a break to violin virtuoso L. Subramaniam as a composer with this film. But it’s his old favourite Illayaraja who has ended up composing a brilliant score for Hey! Ram. Kamal reveals why he dropped Subramaniam, and how his and Illayaraja’s association has resulted in something wonderful, yet again.

Since the film is a period piece with a serious theme, what kind of music does it have?
The bottomline is that we are selling tickets and we are selling the music to the company, which is selling the music to the audience, whom I am committed to. So the music has to be interesting to listen to. I am not a pundit who can predict that the audience will listen only to a particular kind of music, but we have tried to come up with music which will appeal to all. I am an audience myself and I want change, I want something different, which is what I have given in the film. The music hasn’t been approached intellectually even if the film is serious. I like it and I think the audience will like it too.

In any film, not all songs can be equally good. There are various compositions meant for various people, and different moods. A peppy song was heard by some 60 year-olds who said they didn’t like it. But I feel that it’s going to be the biggest hit and the youngsters will just love it. Youngsters, on the other hand, may not like the Sanyas mantra which will appeal to those above 50 years. It’s music for everybody, just like the film, which is for all.

How much is your contribution to the music?
Quite a lot, but I let the technician do the job. I don’t suggest a tune, because then I might as well do the job. I keep inspiring them though. I try to ignite enthusiasm in my music directors. Then it is left to his muses to come up with good music. With me and Illayaraja, who’s composed music for Hey! Ram, it’s a very long association. We haven’t worked together often in the past two years, so that gap brought us closer, after we both worked with various people. We have a mutual admiration society going. Our careers blossomed together. We have done 70 films and he is a family member.

You had earlier chosen violin virtuoso L. Subramaniam to compose the music for Hey! Ram. And now you have replaced him with Illayaraja. What happened?
It’s simple. Apart from being a musician, L. Subramaniam is also a businessman. First it’s business for him, and then art. I approached him for composing the music of Hey! Ram and we settled a deal for 10 lakh rupees, since it would be his debut film. He asked for two lakh rupees more, and I spoke to my brother, who’s the co-producer, who in turn agreed on giving him a bit more. I told Subramaniam to settle the amount once and for all with my brother. But he insisted on composing the music first, and we recorded all the songs, and even picturised them, and then he dropped the bomb by demanding rupees 15 lakhs. I told him it wasn’t possible now, but he said he deserved it. He can demand such a sum only after he has proved himself in the film industry. Also, among his other demands was that he wanted his face on the poster, since Illayaraja and Rahman’s photos are included in the film posters. Now we already have so many good actors in the film who we can’t accomodate on the film posters, so how could I put his? I explained to him that after he became famous, his photo would be featured on the poster by the producer without even his asking. Still I tried increasing the price, but we couldn’t come to a settlement. So I decided that the best thing was to drop him and opt for Illayaraja.

That must have been be a very difficult decision, to replace a composer who has already recorded the songs, which have also been picturised.
But I am like that. I make firm decisions. It got too much, so we dropped the composer. My brother, who is the co-producer, left the decision to me.

How was L. Subramaniam’s score? Were you happy with it?
L. Subramaniam’s score was good, but Bharat Shah, who presents the film, and others were not happy with it. That may be because Subramaniam hadn’t completed the score, some work still had to be done. When Illayaraja replaced him, my partners almost rejoiced. The only person capable of taking over at the critical juncture and handling the situation was Illayaraja. When I approached Illayaraja, he didn’t have an inkling that L. Subramaniam had been dropped. He thought I wanted him to do just the background music, which he was not actually willing to. But when I told him that he would be composing the complete score, he was thrilled. I also asked him that if he couldn’t manage to compose songs according to the ones already shot, I would scrap the picturised songs. But he assured me that since I had trusted him, he would compose music for the already shot songs, and you won’t believe, it has no traces or evidence of the original. And gauging by the initial response to the promos of songs, they are doing well.

Illayaraja has done something unheard of in the industry. He has done a brilliant job in a situation which no other music director would even touch. To walk into such a situation and deliver the goods is amazing. It’s not rope-walking, I’d say he did a musical Houdini.

Which of the songs are your favourites?
Of the seven songs, my favourite is the title song, Hey! Ram, since my daughter Shruti is singing it with me. So obviously I am biased. Three other songs are my favourites. One is Har koyi samjhe sung by Ajay Chakravarty, which I think is astounding. When we recorded this number, which is classical-based, we weren’t quite sure about its appeal. But it reminds one of the Yesudas number Jab deep jale aana and I am sure will be a rage just like the earlier. One should never underestimate a song with a classical flavour. Another great song is the one sung by Hariharan Sahab and Ashaji (Bhosle), Janmon ki jwala. It has a very different romantic melody.

We’ve heard that Shah Rukh Khan has also sung a song in the film?
He had. But that was for the score of L. Subramaniam. At that time, one particular song looked weak and we wanted to pep it up. So we decided on Shah Rukh singing it. The new version of that song composed by Illayaraja, is complicated and tough to sing. Since Shah Rukh is not a professional singer, he wouldn’t have been able to sing it. And he was very nervous even while singing the earlier Subramaniam number. So it wouldn’t have been fair to make him sing a tough song. Rani Mukherji has recited a Jibonananda Dass poem beautifully.

Salma Khatib