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Sandiyar is Virumaandi
Music
-Ilayaraja
It's
not Sandiyar any more. It is Virumaandi -- the title of Kamal Hassan's film
which got bogged down in controversy following an agitation by some parties like
the Puthiya Tamizhagam against the title of Sandiyar.
On Monday, the audio cassette
of Virumaandi will be released at the Campa Cola ground in Guindy, Chennai. The
cassette will be released by film producer M Saravanan while ace director K
Balachander will receive it.
The film is written and
directed by Kamal Hassan. Needless to say, he plays the title role of Virumaandi
too.
Kamal Hassan has already paid
tributes to music director Ilayaraja for his contribution to the film. With the
film concentrating on nativity, Ilayaraja was naturally Kamal's first choice as
music director. The two vibe well in any case.
Kamal Hassan had decided to
change the name of the film after there were objections to the word Sandiyar.
Kamal tried to explain he was not casteist and that he had no intention of
casting aspersions on any community.
 However,
there were problems over security arrangements for his unit which was shooting
in Theni district a few months ago. The unit was also peeved over the local SP's
attitude of non-cooperation in terms of security arrangements.
Finally, Kamal managed to meet
Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa at the Secretariat and sort out things. He decided
to drop the word Sandiyar from the title and proceeded with the shooting
schedule without announcing the changed name.
At a press conference last
month, Kamal Hassan said there was no pressing need to announce the title of the
film at this stage. When the film goes to the censor board, that's the time when
we will announce the new title, he said. When pointed out that the title would
have to be out soon as the audio cassette, planned to be released, had to have a
title, Kamal grinned and agreed that the name would be out then.
Thus, the title is now out on
the eve of the cassette launch.
 However,
at his press conference a month ago Kamal was clearly upset over the controversy
of his choice of Sandiyar for the title. Though he would go in for a new name,
he said it was clear that the name had got stuck in the minds of the media and
the people. That can't be erased, he added, tongue in cheek.
The Virumaandi audio cassette
will be released at a colourful function on Monday and Kamal's fans hope that it
would be a huge commercial success unlike Hey Ram, Aalavandhan, Pammal K
Sambantham, Panchathanthiram and Anbe Sivam.
Kamal Hassan's name figures in
the titles as having written the story and directed the film besides working as
dance director along with K S Raghuram, and as a lyricist with Muthulingam and
Ilayaraja also having written the songs.
The film is produced by Kamal
Hassan and his brother Chandrahasan for Raajkamal Films International.
The grapevine has it that Kamal
plays the title role of Virumaandi. "Even if I call it Nayakan II or
Sakalakala Vallavan II the film will run", was Kamal's bold assertion a
month ago. Call it by whatever name you want, let the film be a superhit, is
what his fans say.
R Rangaraj
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