The music and teaser launch of the film Mailanji produced by Dr. Arjun and directed by Ajayan Bala and starring Sriram Karthik, was held in Chennai. Symphony Selvan musician Ilayaraja has written the songs for the film and director Vetrimaaran has provided the music.
At this event, Mrs. Akila Balumahendra and musician Gangai Amaran released the music and teaser, and Naam Tamil Party Chief Coordinator Seeman, directors R. V. Udayakumar, Perarasu, A. L. Vijay, Meera Kathiravan, and Senior Superintendent of Police Dinakaran (ADGP) were present as special guests along with the film crew.
Writer and Tamil literary thinker Ajayan Bala’s directorial debut, ‘Mailanchi’, stars ‘Kanni Madam’ fame actor Sriram Karthik as the hero of the story, paired with actress Krusha Group. Munishkanth, Singam Puli, Thangadurai and others have also acted with them. Cinematography by genius Chezhiyan has done the cinematography for this film, and music by Symphony Selvan and musician Ilayaraja has composed the music. This film, which is being prepared to celebrate the noble feeling of love, has been produced by Dr. P. Arjun on behalf of Ajay Arjun Productions.
At a function held in Chennai to release the music and teaser of this film, which will be released in theaters soon, the film crew was accompanied by Mrs. Akila Balu Mahendra, Gangai Amaran, Naam Tamilar Katchi Chief Coordinator Seeman, directors R. V. Udayakumar, Perarasu, A. L. Vijay, Mysskin, Meera Kathiravan, producer Dhananjayan, and police officer Dhinakaran were present. Trend Music has released the songs ‘Mylanchi’.
Producer P. Arjun said, “This is a flexible platform. The world is big, but my world is very small. I am working as a psychiatrist in a small village at the foothills of the Western Ghats. My world is a collective home called Annai Illam. I do not know the outside world. I have not seen this outside world after learning about diseases, especially mental illnesses and patients.
When I told my relatives and friends that I was going to make a film, they were nervous. They looked at me with surprise, and some were sad. But the film ‘Mailanji’ has taught me a lot of experiences. Take the good from the lessons of experience and leave the bad. You never know for sure whether we will be here the next morning. Human life is impermanent.
My hero introduces me to director Ajayan Bala to tell the story. He tells me four stories, and I listen to them all in silence. The hero and the director kept looking at me because I did not react to any of the stories. Since I am basically a psychiatrist, it is my It became a habit. Then I asked them if they had any other stories.
I like directors like Bhim Singh, Sridhar, Mahendran, Balu Mahendra, Balachander, Bharathiraja and others. They convey human emotions to the audience. I asked them to tell stories that transcend the medium of entertainment and convey human emotions.
After that, he told a story in five minutes. That story is ‘Mailanji’. No feelings are new, all people have the same feelings. Love is a noble and flexible feeling until the end of this world. Even though the feeling of love is old, the way to give it should be new.
This film has taught me friendship. We keep talking about the fact that the respect and value of friendship is decreasing. I learned that it is not. Cinematographer Chezhiyan joined this team because of friendship.
I asked musician Ilayaraja to be the one for this story that can softly convey the feeling of love. Ilayaraja agreed to work in it because of Chezhiyan’s friendship. Editor Sreekar Prasad joined this team because of Chezhiyan’s friendship. Friendship is also the reason why Vetrimaaran presented this film. Mysskin has also come here to congratulate us because of friendship. He has also come here because of the friendship between my brother Seeman and me. I welcome my childhood classmate ATGP Dinakaran, who is not interested in participating in film festivals, and everyone who has come here because of friendship. I also thank everyone.
At a time when love is going in a different direction, we have created Mailanji to say that love is not different, love is always love, and true love should always be love. I want this younger generation to know this,” he said.
Speaking, cinematographer Chezhiyan said, “Ajayan Bala is my friend. In 2000, when I worked as an assistant to P. C. Sriram, we became friends when Ajayan Bala worked as an assistant to another director. During a conversation that took place at that time, he asked me, ‘If I direct the film first, you should do the cinematography for it.’ Not only did he ask, he took a rupee coin from his pocket and said, ‘This is your advance.’ 25 years have passed since then. One day, he suddenly came to the office and asked if I would agree to work in the film. Then I told him, ‘The advance you gave is still there. Let’s go for shooting’.
While working on every film, one or two people become close friends to me. In that way, Sriram Karthik, who played the hero in this film, has become a close friend to me. He has given his all for this film. I wish him to become an important actor in Tamil. Producer Arjun has been with us for the last two years and he has also become a close friend.
When we think of Ooty, Balu Mahendra comes to mind. We have searched for locations that he has not shown and recorded for this film. I have made this film colorfully and classily after twenty years. I thank my friend Ajayan Bala for giving me such an opportunity. I dedicate this film to him as a tribute to Balu Mahendra, whom I respect a lot,” he said.
Actor Singam Puli said, “The producer of this film, Dr. Arjun, is my uncle. My hometown is Sethur. We have moved due to time. But Arjun has said that he will stay in the same town and is still there. His father is a driver for the State Transport Corporation. He studied and became a doctor.
Even now, he is treating the poor without taking any money. Father, mother, Bharathiyar, Valluvar, Kambar… This is his world. He does not eat in any hotel. He does not even drink water in the open. He does not stay in an air-conditioned room for long. He is a person of high moral character.
Ten years ago, I met him when I went to worship my ancestral deity. At that time, he asked me how much it would cost to make a film and told me his desire to make a film. He also told me some stories.
A few years later, when director Ajayan Bala met him and told me the story, he liked the story and produced this film. I wish this film success. If Ajayan Bala, Chezhiyan, Lalgudi Ilayaraja, Sreekar Prasad, and Isaignani are in the film, then you can understand how much the producer loves cinema. He would talk to me on the phone for a long time about cinema,” he said.
Director Mysskin said, “Director Ajayan Bala is very loving. He can examine my cinema research and knowledge. He always puts forward a healthy discussion about cinema. Ajayan Bala is also one of the reasons why I came to cinema. He is a kind and polite person. That is why he did not get a cinema opportunity easily. There are some very good people in cinema who are unnecessary. Ajayan Bala is one of them like Meera Kathiravana. To be honest, Ajayan Bala should have been a director before me, before Vetrimaaran.
What I liked most about this film is the inclusion of musician Ilayaraja. I listened to and watched the songs of this film. His uniqueness was evident in some places.
The producer mentioned friendship. I don’t know if there is friendship in any other field. But there is no field that values friendship like the cinema industry.
Every creator’s desire is to share what he has discovered with the society. A producer’s desire is to give back to the people something he has collected with difficulty. No matter from which angle you look at cinema, it is always the best. Friendship is the foundation of this. Cinema is a huge ocean of friendship.
This film is a very important film. The director is also a psychiatrist for this society. Good films are a therapy for this society, and therapists who think like this for the society have never been happy.
I will share what I have understood in this cinema for the last 30 years. You all must be familiar with a shape called a triangle. It is said that there are five types of triangles, and a triangle with three sides of the same size is unique. This is the same with this cinema. If these three are equal, the work will be good.
Cinema in our time was a dream. But now it is not like that. In this Tamil cinema, where 365 films were made, only 35 films are currently being made. Only five films are successful. The producers who come to the next generation of cinema should come with a plan to make one or two films. The first film is an experience. The second film will give you experience on how to make a film without failing and how to succeed. In the third film, they will select suitable actors, actresses, and technicians and gain experience in how to deliver a successful film. This is my prediction,” he said.
Producer Dhananjayan said, “Writer Ajayan Bala’s dream for many years was to become a director. It has come true today. I congratulate him for that. I have read many of his books. Everyone has come here because of their friendship with Ajayan Bala.
I see the songs of musician Ilayaraja as the biggest strength of this film.
Seeman, who is very active in politics, watches movies and shares his views. This is the reason for the success of the film. So I would like to make a request to him that you must watch what is praised as good works by the media and share your views. Through that, your followers will watch that film and make it successful. So I request you to continue supporting small films,” he said.
Director R. V. Udayakumar said, “Eight months ago, a film called Mayilanchi came out. This is Mayilanchi. My congratulations to Ajayan Bala, who has become a director after a long journey.
In 1976, I was the first student in Coimbatore. I got a place to study in Coimbatore Medical College and Coimbatore Agricultural College. But I had to pay Rs. 4500 as fees. Since my father did not have the money for that, I could not become a doctor. When I spoke to my father about this, he said, ‘You will become a great person in the future.’ My father is a communist. The one who converted him to a communist was Pavalar Varadharajan. After that, I asked him how much he could pay. He said 150 rupees, so I immediately paid 140 rupees and enrolled in a Botany degree course at the government college.
I sincerely appreciate the producer who gave Ajayan Bala a directorial opportunity in this film. On behalf of the Directors Association, I also express my gratitude.
Films will do business only if they advertise that Isaigniani Ilayaraja is composing music. Isaigniani Ilayaraja is such a personality in this film industry. He would have given the film exactly what it needed. His brother Gangai Amaran has come here in his place, and I thank him too.
Director Ajayan Bala should have won sometime. Late but never. Thank you to everyone who worked on this film,” he said.
ADGP Dinakaran, speaking, “This stage is new to me. The environment is new. The people are new. This is the first film industry event I am attending. I have come here as a friend of the producer. First of all, I would like to express my gratitude to him.
As a schoolmate of Arjun, I would say that he worked hard to become a doctor. If he had to walk 15 kilometers from his house to school, he would have to do it. He did not have a bicycle. I would take him on a bicycle. Today, I have become an IPS officer. He has become a doctor.
He lives a simple life in a small village called Chettur, and even today his house does not have an AC or a bridge. He lives in such a house. His wife, son and daughters all support him.
I also know how much he struggled to make the film ‘Mailanchi’. He was interested in cinema even when he was in school.
I have been surprised at many moments about the musician Ilayaraja. We who work in the police do not have holidays. We cannot even turn off our phones. We cannot go on foreign trips. We cannot spend time with our family. In such an environment, the biggest drain for us is the songs of musician Ilayaraja.
I wonder how Mysskin thinks like a policeman. If I had the power, I would appoint Mysskin as a CBCID officer.
I am surprised when I see Seeman. He is the only leader who can speak Tamil without mixing any other language in his speech. I say this with joy. I see Seeman as someone who loves Tamil with all his heart.
When I see the songs and teaser of this film, it is as good as a pot of rice for a pot of rice. I wish this film a huge success,” he said.
Speaking, Seeman, the chief coordinator of the Tamil Party, said, “When we meet someone, we only ask how they are doing. No one asks how they are doing mentally. No matter how much money they have, if their mind is not right, it will be useless. Only those who are affected know its value. Therefore, the greatest medicine in medicine is mental health.
It is a pleasure to have Arjun, a doctor who heals mental health, producing this film. Producer Arjun is a great doctor who, in his own right, does not care much about money but rather heals the mind, believing that the education he has acquired should be used for the benefit of the people of his land.
My brother Ajayan Bala must have met all the best creators in the Tamil film world. In states like Kerala, writers are respected first. There, they first buy the story and then decide on the director and actor. But that is not the case here. Ajayan Bala is a great writer. I am a fan of his writing. Many times, when I do not have time to read, he writes brief essays on leaders. He has written articles about leaders in leading weekly magazines.
The book he wrote will help today’s generation to know who Ambedkar is. There is an attraction in his writing. Once they start reading the book, they will continue reading till the last page.
I am happy that the writer Ajayan Bala has come as a film creator. Literature can lie. Mythology can lie. History only speaks the truth. Ajayan Bala is the one who can record such a historical truth.
Director Vetrimaaran makes novels into films. But now a writer has come as a film creator. This is the first time in the Tamil film industry in this generation. I applaud him for this.
Many of my close relatives like cinematographer Chezhiyan and art director Lalgudi Ilayaraja have worked on the film.
When there was a conversation about how to live to be a hundred in Japan, the people there laughed. Because they are all 110 years old. When I asked them how they live so long, they mentioned first the language. Next is our nature. Third is happiness.
If my brother Singampuli is nearby, you will not get any disease. Because he will always make you laugh.
‘Vazhve Mayam’ is a philosophy of life. If there is a music composer who has made a film successful by putting a song scene in the climax scene without a fight scene, then he is the only one. That is a great achievement.
Humans do not value breast milk and water because they are cheap. Such artists are sitting next to us, so we do not understand their greatness. This is the problem here. I express my gratitude to all the special guests who have come here.
I am happy and excited to attend this event because Mrs. Akila Balu Mahendra is present. I express my gratitude to the producer for making me meet them here.
If I choose some people as the best creators of South Indian cinema, they will include Bharathan and Mani Ratnam. For all the creators, Balu Mahendra was the cinematographer in their first work. They have learned a lot from him.
Here, Ilayaraja is referred to as ‘Symphony Selvan’. In every song he composed, if you ignore the lyrics and listen to the music alone, each of them is a symphony. That is why we say that he is not a Symphony Selvan, not a musician, but the Lord of Music. Why is the Lord? He will give whatever he asks of the Lord. He will greet everyone wholeheartedly. That is why he is the Lord of Music.
When I was watching a film when I was a child, I got applause that the hero did not get when he was named as a musician Ilayaraja. If there is any applause in the Tamil film industry when he is named as a music composer, then it is only for Ilayaraja.
We were watching the movie ‘Phoomani’ directed by my friend M. Kalanjiyam with friends in the cinema. The heroine is sitting in a car and the hero is driving the car. In that context, Ilayaraja was the one who got the audience excited by introducing a song that starts with ‘En pattu en pattu’. When the lines ‘Nenjait duvaikkara ragam etu’ were passed, everyone in the cinema stood up and said ‘One more’, I realized the aggression and attraction of music.
‘There is no pleasure that cannot be achieved by music. There is no sorrow that cannot be erased by music’. If there is a medicine for all diseases, it is music. “My father, Ilayaraja, is a great doctor who gave such music to this land. It is special that the music of a doctor of psychology, Ilayaraja, has composed the music for this film, which was produced by a psychiatrist. My best wishes for this film to be a great success,” he said.
