With the release of Boys, the music whiz kid speaks about the controversies and clears the gossip about the film. He reveals his future moves in an exclusive interview

The sales figures of Boys are not high as before says the audio industry some say you lost interest in scoring music for Tamil films.

It's all in the game. Sometime back cricket was not a favourite. But again it's come back. Music market is also like that. In 1996 it was very low. Between 1998-2000 it went up to 400%, which I never expected. Then again it came down. It has got to do with the world situation and the trauma going around. Technology advancement - Internet downloading and also films failing to create an impact are the reasons. It doesn't happen with one film. In 1999-2000 there were too many films released like a chain and got locked. Then I was away doing 'Bombay Dreams'. Since I was away they assumed that that I was no more interested in Tamil and things like that. The reason is that the three filmmakers with whom I am passionate about scoring music were not there to fall back. Shankar got bogged down with "Nayak" in Hindi and lost 2 yrs here, Rajeev Menon was not making any film and Mani's film "Kannathil Mutthamittal" was the only film that happened. It got its due by bagging the National Award. The others (directors) are ok. Some are good and some bad.

Was it the clash with Shankar that the Boys got delayed?

(Laughs) Clash with Shankar? It's true the project got delayed. I had gone to Kazakhstan to be the jury of the 'International Film Festival'. I could not turn down the invitation. It could have delayed the project for a week.

What is the 5.1 Technology all about?

It's a total impact of certain things designed for 5.1. When I upgraded my studio we wanted to use this during "Kannathil Muthamittal", but by that time we decided the film was almost complete. Now when Shankar came with 'Boys' I suggested this. "Boys" had the right kind of story. It also created hype in the market and people would love to listen in 5.1 when you hear a song you will feel as if you are in the studio. It has a fantastic impact. It will loose 70% of its impact once you go in to mono track. If you watch in DVD, you will get the real impact.

Are you attempting a new kind of fusion music for Krishna Shah's Tansen?

When I was doing a concert abroad, Krishna Shah narrated the script. I liked the script very much and it is a modern interpretation of Tansen. I offered to do the music if he is making the film. It's still in the primary stage.

Could you tell us about the Chinese film?

I have been watching Chinese films for the last 6-7 yrs. - the award circuit films. Sony Classical and Columbia Pictures are the producers of this film. It was Sony's head who had offered this film 'Warriors of Heaven and Earth'. It's about the silk route from China to Turkey and to India. Music has Indian, Turkish and Chinese mix. The director Hei -Ping has heard my "Lagaan" and Vandhe Mataram albums and liked it so much that he made a 'temp-track' and has used it in his film, which quite impressed me. Musical score was done in Prague, London and mixing here in Chennai in my studios with a sound engineer from the U.S. There is also a song in the film, which is sung by the famous Taiwan singer Jolin, and Sunitha from Chennai sings the English version.

Your choice of films in Tamil like Parusuram seems baffling?

In Tamil, the expectations are very high. When a film gets released and if it's not up to the audience expectations they tell me not to do such films. I get lot of mails and from the websites about this. They want me to go in for only important ones. The film 'Parasuram' was committed in 1996. The film storyline had serious stuff. It changed half a dozen directors and finally it came to Arjun whose taste of music was different. I was very busy with my other projects but I went ahead since I was committed to do it. It is up to the director to conceive a song. If you don't work with passion things would turn out cheesy.

What are your future films?

I am doing this Mani's bilingual in Tamil and Hindi, "Enakku 20 Unakku 18" for Jyothi Krishna, "New" for S.J Surya and Bharathiraja's "Kangalal Kaidhu Sei".

You are taking part in the CBSO - Beethoven to Bollywood at Birmingham Symphony Orchestra 2003 / 04. How do you feel?

Yes I feel honoured to be selected for this orchestral composition from India. I will be doing two live shows. It is basically orchestral interpretation of most of my works. The other one is based on the original book 'conference of the birds'. I never thought that I would be invited to do the symphony. When your time is good it pushes you to take a small step, which drags you to greater heights. (With a pause)- God is great.

About the National Award?

I value this award very much. When "Kannathil Mutthamittal" came I don't think it was given the due credit it deserved.-the movie as well as sound track. I felt very happy when I heard it got the national award.