A still from the lyrics video of ‘Aaga Naga’ | photo credit: special arrangement
“Could you try using shorter words?” asked AR Rahman. The tune was ready; Only words were needed. Lyricist Ilango Krishnan handled the task. This was his moment; Which is what he sought a decade ago when he packed his bags and moved from Coimbatore to Chennai. He strung together words like ‘Aga Nga, Aga Nga Muga Ngaye’, and in two days, composed a song about a princess who loves her land and is a warrior’s equal. and so is, Ponniyin Selvan II’‘Aga Naga’ took shape. The song’s lyrics video, which was released last week, has garnered over 10 million views so far. The audio of the film is scheduled to release on March 29 in Chennai.
Ilango Krishnan says he is “proud and happy” about the response the song has received. Ilango says, “Maniratnam told me to incorporate the princess’ sense of possession of her people, her land, her mountains, trees and flowers, as well as her attraction to Vanthiyathevan.” But their love is such that it cannot be declared openly. “He is a war commander while he holds a high position,” he says.
For those of us humming the song without understanding what it means, here’s Ilango’s explanation: “Aga naga means ‘outer smile’,” he says. “She looks at a tree full of flowers that seem to be smiling, and compares it to herself and what she is feeling inside.” Ilango states that the song is written in a blind literary format in which the last word of one stanza becomes the first word of the next.
Elango Krishnan | photo credit: special arrangement
Ilango, with an editor DinakaranI had the opportunity to write lyrics Ponniyin SelvanI And Second Thanks to his strong literary credentials. He is a poet with four anthologies to his credit, and has also written essays. “The writer Jayamohan called my name Mani Ratnam,” says the 45-year-old, adding that the director read his work before walking out.
The film marked the first time that Mani Ratnam and Rahman chose to work with none other than lyricist Vairamuthu, with whom the duo composed some of its best songs. Did Ilango see this as a responsibility that put tremendous pressure on him? “I felt the pressure,” he says. “But both Mani sir and Rahman sir handled it well. They gave me space to write; Made me feel comfortable,” he says.
A still from the lyrics video | photo credit: special arrangement
Elango says that he did not allow himself to think that he was working in a big film. “I only thought of the lyrics, the tune and my role as a lyricist,” he says, adding that the fact of Kalki being familiar with the story convinced him. “We’ve used different styles copy, Kavya, devotionAnd Manipravalam In Tamil songs,” he says. “I found it a challenge deciding what to choose for which song.” ‘Saya Sanchare’ working in the background Ponniyin Selvan I When Kundavai and Nandini come face to face, it is written Manipravalam, he points out. “This script dates back to the 18th and 19th centuries and has a mixture of Sanskrit as well.”
Elango came to Chennai with the dream of becoming a screenwriter in Tamil cinema. “I am currently working on a few films, and one of them is coming soon,” he says. He may have finally ventured into cinema, but Ilango first identifies himself as a writer and poet. “I will work in cinema, but I will try to achieve as a writer first,” he says, adding that he is currently working on a novel on the last years of the Cholas, for which he researched for six years. What would he consider his greatest achievement? “I have four novels in mind,” he says. “For me, to finish writing them would be an accomplishment.”
Ponniyin Selvan: II (PS2) is set to release on 28 April 2023