‘Uyirinaiye’ Music Album Launch Ceremony!
Produced by Glady Gerard on behalf of Drums Jerry Entertainment, the launch ceremony for the music album titled “Uyirinaiye”—themed around “Uravugal” (Relationships)—was held at Prasad Labs in Chennai.
Renowned music composer, lyricist, and director Gangai Amaran, along with music composer Sada Sudarsanam, Kannan, Thavaseelithanraj, Sago Ganesan, and producer Ravikanth, attended the event.
Speaking at the ceremony, music composer and director Gangai Amaran stated the following:
“Back in those days, at AVM Studios, there was a time when musicians were booked and retained for months on end. Be it Janaki Amma or M.S. Rajeswari, they were kept on a monthly salary right there at the studio specifically to sing for children’s songs. It was an era where artists were paid a monthly retainer, requiring them to show up daily to learn songs and conduct rehearsals.
However, in this modern era, music is generated simply by inputting data into a computer. When reflecting upon the lineage of music, one realizes that had it not been for fathers like him (Sada Sudarsanam), the field of music would not have evolved to its current state today. We belong to a generation that would simply go, sit, watch, and admire the work being done at our elder brother Ilaiyaraaja’s home. Sada should undertake many more such projects; and, of course, he should invite me to write lyrics for his songs from time to time.” “To speak of Sadha—considering the lineage he hails from—he was truly an exceptional guitarist. We all trained under the same master: G. Dharmaraj Master. Ilaiyaraaja *Anna* (brother), myself, and Sadha—we all learned from him. At that time, Sadha was an incredibly busy guitarist; he played for everyone—including Devaraj Master, Dakshinamoorthy Swamigal, Arjun Master, and—in the Telugu industry—Raja-Nagendra and G.K. Venkatesh.
I had the privilege of playing the guitar right alongside *Anna* (Ilaiyaraaja) for some 150 to 200 of his films. Take any song—for instance, ‘Paruvame Puthiya Paadal’—and if you listen to the rhythm section, we were simply the best. Philips was, without a doubt, the finest guitar player in the entire film industry; he was the one who played the background scores for M.S. Viswanathan Sir. To be playing on the very same microphone as a legend of that stature, and to hear him say, ‘Of all the people I’ve seen, you are the best rhythm guitar player’—that was a moment of immense pride for me.” “A re-recording session was underway, but I wasn’t skilled enough to play a solo piece of that length. I could play any chord progression handed to me on the guitar, but playing a melody—that was a different story. The call sheet ran from 7:00 AM until 1:00 PM. At Vauhini Studios—specifically in the ‘G Theatre’—everyone stood in awe of Master Devaraj. This was because absolute silence prevailed there; he remained as quiet and composed as an elder brother.
After watching the footage, he simply said, ‘Amar, play a solo right here.’ If I were given specific musical notes, I could play them perfectly; but a solo requires improvisation—playing freely, straight from the heart. It was getting late—past eight o’clock—and the session couldn’t end until that specific reel was completed, allowing everyone to finally head home. This particular scene appeared right at the very end of the reel. In those days, if anyone played a single wrong note, the entire sequence had to be restarted from the beginning; the whole orchestra had to play the music again, right from the start of that ten-minute reel.
My hands were trembling. My specific cue came at the nine-minute mark. He had instructed me to play a solo for the entire duration of the scene—from the moment the girl descends from the terrace until she receives a letter from the postman. I began to play… ‘Da-da-da-da…’—I played that much, but then my mind went blank; I simply didn’t know how to proceed. The take was ruined. This happened three times in a row. The violinists and other musicians started urging me, ‘Amar, hurry up and get this right! We need to go home!’ I was still shaking with nerves. We are the kind of people who learned our craft through experiences like these—facing criticism, enduring scoldings, and even taking a few blows along the way.” “Nowadays, if we take a melodic line—inputting details like where it is pitched and its rhythmic beat—and feed it into AI technology, the system generates the entire composition for us. We wouldn’t even have to lift a finger. A significant portion of today’s music scene is driven by songs produced through AI. I state with absolute conviction that AI-generated work is truly stifling our capacity for original thought.
If we rely on such tools to perform our work, our own brains will eventually cease to function in the future. If one simply feeds a tune into an AI system and then merely writes lyrics or sings over it, how can one legitimately claim authorship? The AI creates and delivers the composition; is it truly honorable to then affix one’s own name—say, ‘Music by Gangai Amaran’—to it? The children of the future must learn to think for themselves and to write based on their own independent thoughts. My heartfelt wish is that you raise the next generation with this mindset—encouraging them by saying, ‘Bring forth and express your own unique, authentic self.’”
“I must truly commend Claudie for creating such a wonderful opportunity. We have found ourselves a truly excellent producer. I know that your vision is undoubtedly profound; I can sense your deep-seated desire to select a compelling story and bring it to life as a feature film.”
**Clarification Regarding the ‘Bayilvan Ranganathan’ Controversy and Ilaiyaraaja**
“I have a request for all my friends in the press: Please write only about positive and constructive matters. I implore you—do not write sensationalist nonsense like Bayilvan Ranganathan does, making baseless claims such as, ‘He doesn’t even have the means to afford an idli or a dosa.’ We actually reached out to Bayilvan directly and confronted him, asking, ‘Why are you writing such things? Why are you fabricating and spreading such malicious falsehoods?’ I feel it is my duty to address this matter from this very stage. Is it truly appropriate for us to cast aspersions upon individuals who have risen to such towering heights of greatness by fabricating and publishing such malicious untruths?”
“They are going through hardships; the children are all staying together at home. I even told him, ‘If you want, come and stay at our house for a week and see for yourself.’ Yuvan has settled in Dubai, and Karthik is also living there. Why are you fabricating some narrative—claiming, ‘The elder brother is all alone, like an orphan, without anyone by his side’—and dragging Ilaiyaraaja’s reputation through the mud? This is a man who has stood tall and remained a dominant force for 50 years; is it right to disparage such a person? Think about it carefully: was what Bayilvan wrote accurate? Bayilvan must offer an unconditional apology for that.
Please treat us with affection and respect. After all, we have lived a full life—50 years in the industry—and my elder brother is now over 82 years old. Therefore, please write in a manner that protects and supports us. We are still actively working to this very day. When I called Bayilvan to speak with him about this, he immediately said, ‘Sorry.’ He pleaded, ‘Oh no! I wasn’t aware of the facts; I merely published something based on what someone else told me. Please, I beg your forgiveness.’
Ilaiyaraaja is currently seeking solitude. Even when I visit him, he rarely speaks; he simply remains engrossed in his writing—that is his sole focus. I do not disturb him; please, just let him be himself. Our entire world—our dreams, our memories, and our very consciousness—revolves around music. As the song goes, ‘Where there is music, there is no death’; true to that sentiment, have we ever strayed from the path of music even for a single day? Given the wealth and resources we possess, we could have easily constructed buildings, rented them out to earn substantial profits, and established ourselves as major real estate developers. Yet, such thoughts never even crossed our minds. We remain immersed solely in the world of music; therefore, please refrain from writing baseless accusations or negative stories about us.”
“I would like to express my deepest gratitude to our dear Babu—specifically, ‘Diamond’ Babu—who served as the fundamental pillar of support in organizing this event. Babu is truly an invaluable companion and a steadfast ally—not only to my elder brother (Ilaiyaraaja) but to all of us.” “No matter the task, he can arrange it in a matter of minutes. Back in the day, when we were playing for stage plays, we were well-acquainted with his father; in fact, it was his father who practically raised us during that time. Looking at him today, he embodies the very same spirit as his father—approachable, inclusive, and embracing of everyone. Thank you so much, Babu,” concluded Gangai Amaran, bringing his speech to a close.
Speaking at the event, music composer Sada Sudarsanam said:
“Greetings, everyone. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Mr. Claude Gerard for giving me the opportunity to work on this song. The absolute highlight of this project was having Gangai Amaran *Anna* (brother) write the lyrics. I remember—we were traveling in a car—when I played the tune for him; he listened to it right then and there, and within just ten minutes, he had written the entire song and handed it over to me. This song has turned out absolutely fantastic; have you all had a chance to watch the video yet?
Furthermore, the sole reason I have come this far in my musical journey is Mr. Ilaiyaraaja. The experience of working with him… He encouraged me to master a wide array of instruments—from the xylophone and vibraphone to the electric and acoustic guitars. The experience of working under his guidance is something I could never forget—not in this lifetime, nor in any lifetime to come. Ilaiyaraaja, I love you… Thank you so much,” he concluded.
Speaking at the event, producer and director Claude Gerard said:
“My heartfelt greetings to all the friends from the press, media, and online portals who have gathered here today.” I would like to express my gratitude to the esteemed elder brother, Mr. Gangai Amaran, and to the veteran musician, Master Sada Sudarsanam, who are seated here on this dais alongside me.
Although I reside in France and other European nations, I have always harbored an immense love and passion for the Tamil language, as well as for Tamil arts and culture. It is as an expression of this passion that we established the company ‘Drums Jerry Entertainment’ and, through it, created this music album titled ‘Uyirinaiye’.
In today’s modern era, the majority of songs and musical compositions are produced within a computerized environment, relying heavily on digital loops. However, I aspired to create a timeless, gentle, and pure romantic melody—one that would endure through the ages. I was steadfast in my conviction that, to achieve this, we must utilize only authentic musical instruments (acoustic and natural instruments).
I have always held a profound sense of respect and affection for the family of ‘Isaignani’ Ilaiyaraaja and for their illustrious musical journey. In this spirit, when I approached Mr. Gangai Amaran to pen the lyrics for this song, ‘Uyirinaiye’, his immediate acceptance felt like a tremendous blessing to me. He has contributed lyrics to this album that are both exquisitely beautiful and deeply profound.
Similarly, Master Sada—a veteran guitarist and composer in the realm of Tamil cinema—has breathed life into this song by composing a truly magnificent melody for this album, showcasing his extraordinary talent.
Our ultimate objective is not to confine this song, ‘Uyirinaiye’, solely within the borders of Tamil Nadu; rather, we aim to carry it to the hearts of all Tamils living across the globe—be it in Europe, the United States, Dubai, or elsewhere. We remain steadfast in our efforts to ensure that Tamil music continues to scale even greater heights on the global stage.
“This music album marks merely the beginning of my artistic journey. Drawing strength from the support extended to us by Tamil people across the globe and the media in Tamil Nadu, I plan to very soon produce and direct a full-length feature film in Tamil cinema. Preliminary work on the film’s storyline and concept has already commenced. Official announcements regarding this project will be released shortly.”
“My heartfelt congratulations and gratitude go out to the young singers—Thavaseelan and Farhan Nawaz—who have sung so beautifully on this album, as well as to all the technical crew members who contributed their efforts to this project.
Likewise, I wish to express my sincere gratitude to our Public Relations Officer (PRO), Diamond Babu, for organizing this music launch ceremony with such grandeur and elegance. I earnestly request that you—our friends in the media—continue to extend your unwavering support to independent artists like us, as well as to producers who embark on new and innovative ventures,” concluded Glady Gerard, bringing his address to a close.
