The success meet of Hip Hop Tamizha Aadhi’s Meesaya Murukku 2 was held on Tuesday, with the event also marking the launch of ‘Gaana Gang’, an initiative aimed at identifying, promoting and creating a platform for gaana artistes.
The event was attended by the film’s cast and crew, composer Deva, director-producer Sundar C and actor-producer Khushbu. As part of the initiative, Deva introduced the first four gaana artistes associated with ‘Gaana Gang’.
Speaking at the event, Aadhi said the idea was to take gaana artistes beyond the film and create opportunities for them through albums and other platforms.
He said the inclusion of ‘Gaana Gang’ in the film’s climax was the first step towards the initiative and that its success had encouraged the team to take it forward.
Sundar C praised Aadhi’s journey from an independent musician to a popular star and said Meesaya Murukku 2 had recreated the magic of the first film. He said the film was running to packed houses, including additional and midnight shows, across Tamil Nadu and overseas.
Veteran composer Deva congratulated Aadhi and highlighted the film’s 11 songs, saying the success of the music and the prominence given to gaana reflected the genre’s growing reach. He also traced the roots of Chennai’s gaana culture and appreciated the artistes keeping the tradition alive.
Khushbu said the film’s success belonged to the entire team, from the young creative minds and technicians to spot boys, lightmen, production workers and drivers. She also thanked the audience and media for their support.
‘Meesaya Murukku 2’—written, composed, directed by, and starring Hip Hop Tamizha Aadhi—is receiving a positive response at the box office.
Kethika Sharma, Ramya Ranganathan, Chaitra P. Achar, and Harshad Khan play key roles in the film.
The film’s success meet was held yesterday in Chennai. During the event, Hip Hop Tamizha Aadhi also launched a platform named ‘Gaana Gang’ for Gaana artists. He said, “When I screened this film for Deva Sir, he hugged me and just gazed at me for two whole minutes.
As an artist wishing to speak about this art form, the moment that legendary artist—who brought ‘Gaana’ from the streets to the silver screen—hugged and kissed me, I felt a profound sense of fulfillment and validation for having made this movie.
Right after the screening, he told me, ‘You shouldn’t call me “Sir” or “Ayya”; you can call me “Appa” [Father]—you have that right.’
There is no greater validation for me than that. Today, if we are making a film about Gaana, it would be incomplete without Deva Sir.
He is the one who brought Gaana music to the big screen. That is why we decided to launch an initiative called ‘Gaana Gang’—a platform to unite emerging Gaana artists, produce albums for them, and take them to the next level.
We even incorporated this concept into the film’s climax. The film’s success inspired us to move beyond just depicting this idea on screen and actually implement it in reality.
Deva Sir is here on stage today. The most significant and special highlight of this success meet is having him announce and launch the first four Gaana artists of the ‘Gaana Gang’ collective.”
Speaking at the event, the film’s producer and director, Sundar C, said, “A young man who came to Chennai about 13 or 14 years ago for just a single independent song has today grown into a star acclaimed by the entire nation.
Seeing everyone call him ‘Aadhi Anna’ makes me feel like I should call him ‘Aadhi Anna’ too (smiling)…
The chant ‘Aadhi Anna’ echoes not just in Tamil Nadu, but in every theater across the world where Tamil films are screened. The pride I feel witnessing my younger brother’s growth is no less than the joy a mother experiences.
When the first part of *Meesaya Murukku* began, neither Aadhi nor I expected it to become such a massive film. Aadhi started the project with the sole intention that sharing his struggles and his success story would inspire self-confidence in others.
He had no ambition back then to become a big hero or a big director. It began as a modest biopic chronicling the success journey of an independent musician.
However, it turned out to be a huge success and earned us a great reputation as producers. *Meesaya Murukku 2* was created as a continuation of that journey. Initially, the plan wasn’t to make a sequel.
Aadhi’s vision was to tell a story spanning three generations—a story about *Gaana* musicians who are still struggling in society. This wasn’t something conceived overnight…” “It isn’t a story that was just casually dreamed up.
It is a story crafted after meeting numerous Gaana artists in person, understanding their struggles and hardships, and conducting extensive research. He pitched the concept to me, saying, ‘Brother, here is an idea I have.’
I have never once objected to or disagreed with anything Aadhi has proposed. I told him, ‘If you like it, by all means, go ahead and do it.’ That is how *Meesaya Murukku 2* began,” he shared.
