In an exclusive interview with South First, Sam CS spoke about his entry into the movie at a later stage, his hopes about the movie and other thoughts about music.
Published Dec 04, 2024 | 5:13 PM ⚊ Updated Dec 04, 2024 | 7:00 PM
Sam CS. (Supplied)
Allu Arjun’s much-anticipated movie—Pushpa 2: The Rule, is set to release on 5 December. The movie has huge expectations with the first part Puspa: The Rise (2021) becoming a huge hit earning around ₹400 crore.
However, the film had its fair share of controversies and issues, especially pertaining to its music. While Devi Sri Prasad composed the music, on Tuesday, 3 December, music director Sam CS announced on his social media that he had composed the background score of the film.
In an exclusive interview with South First, Sam CS spoke about his entry into the movie at a later stage, his hopes about the movie and other thoughts about music.
Here are the edited excerpts:
Q. How did you join Pushpa 2?
A. I joined the team very late, so the announcement was made late. Devi Sri Prasad sir has composed the songs. With the film being made on a high budget and a pan-India release, the background score had to be done very quickly, for which I was considered.
For Pushpa 2, I have done 80-90 percent of the background music, and DSP sir provided the rest, which was basically from the first part, and some new additions.
I had some three to four hits in Telugu, and the recent release KA was also a hit, with its music being appreciated. I believe, all these also helped me get the chance to work in Pushpa 2: The Rule. Now my filmography has a mass film too.
Q. How was your experience working in a big movie like Pushpa 2?
A. I have done many films in Malayalam, Tamil, Kannada and Telugu, but working in a pan-Indian film has a different set of challenges, it is a lot of pressure. I took it as an opportunity to prove myself. When I started working for Pushpa 2, I entered the movie with the excitement of a common audience. I can confidently say that I gave it my all, as I did for my benchmark films like Vikram Veda and Kaithi.
Q. Have you used any signature music in Pushpa 2?
A. I’ve experimented with a new sound in the movie. Everyone is familiar with the soundscape and other elements of the first part of Pushpa. While we can’t change it drastically, I’ve introduced something different that can be recognized when heard. We’ve used live music with orchestral scores, which will surely have an impact in theatres.
Q. Pushpa 2 also has Oscar-winner Resul Pookutty as a sound designer. How was it working with him?
A. This is the first time, I’ve worked with Resul sir, and I could collaborate well with him. In the movie, there are many forest scenes which require raw sounds. Sukumar has a vision and the sound design will definitely elevate those scenes. We travelled with the director’s vision and hope people will like the end product. Fahadh Faasil also gave a wonderful performance in the movie.
It’s been an overwhelming journey for me on #Pushpa2 💥
Thank you for considering me and giving me this wonderful experience of working on BGM @MythriOfficial This couldn’t have been possible without the tremendous support and belief of my producer #ravishankar #Naveenyerneni &… pic.twitter.com/dTdqZ6OTOa
— 𝐒𝐀𝐌 𝐂 𝐒 (@SamCSmusic) December 3, 2024
Q. You gave many hits in Malayalam like RDX, Kondal, Thekku Vadakku etc, how was it different working there, as it is a small industry?
Sam CS worked in various industries.
A. When I work on a movie, I choose it because it is important to me, I don’t think about money. We are now using more live music with orchestral scores, so the budget mainly goes for that. In Malayalam, though the budget is low, the content is great. And our hits are recognised countrywide.
I always wish to do more Malayalam films, I am from Munnar, Kerala, and my friends are from there, so I am emotionally connected.
Q. Have you found any difference between the music audiences in Kerala and Tamil Nadu?
A. Previously there was a distinction, Tamil music was known for “Kuthu” (Masala) songs, but now there is nothing like that. There is no barrier now, Tamilaians are listening to Malayalam songs, and Malayalees are listening to Tamil songs.
Q. You have given different kinds of music, like that in Rocketry: The Nambi Effect. What is your process of making music?
A. My favourite music composer is Illaiyaraaja, he does not fit into one box, and that is why he is considered a legend. I also want to do films like that. Recently, I did a sci-fi Tamil film Black which did well in Tamil Nadu. My other movie Parking also with a simple story line did well. The music in that movie elevates the anger which is the major element in that movie.
I don’t like to be named as a composer who can only do music of certain genres. I have done emotionally driven films like Rocketry: The Nambi Effect and am now doing a Korean film, which is the first by an Indian composer.
But I would like to do films with more songs because there is a notion that I have a strong point in only doing background music. But the songs which I had done were superhits.
Q. How do you see the change in music, especially by independent musicians?
Sam CS in composing the BGM for ‘Pushpa 2’. (X)
A. Independent musicians belong to a different platform. Independent musicians belong to a different platform. In the past, Malayalam had album songs, and that type of music is now popular everywhere. Individual artists can perform on platforms like YouTube and Spotify.
Film music is different. Songs in films are fewer now, and many films don’t even have them. This is because many current movies focus on gangsters, investigations, and dark thrillers. It’s a trend, and it may change.
Today, music is mostly popular with youth. They listen to songs in languages like English and Spanish, and they don’t prefer melodic songs. In this new scenario, songs are made to go viral for a month, and after that, they’re forgotten. This commercialization of music leads to a lack of good songs.
Personally, I don’t like electronic music. People are already stressed, and this music adds to that stress. The problem is that this kind of music is labelled as “good,” which I believe is wrong.
Q. How do you deal with the social media trolls?
A. I always check YouTube to see if anyone claims that my work has been copied. I never compose music with the intention of replicating someone else’s work. If you look, you won’t find any copycat music from me.
There may be some music portions that sound similar to others, but that’s never intentional. I once faced criticism for *Vikram Vedha*, where a troll claimed I copied a part of the BGM from a comedy scene in a Malayalam movie with Mohanlal. When I saw this, I laughed. I thought, “If I can make an entire BGM from a comedy scene, that’s no small feat.”
These trolls are interesting, and I choose to face them with a smile.
Q. Will you be part of Lokesh Kanagaraj’s much-anticipated movie Kaithi 2?
A. Yes, Lokesh Kanagaraj called me and told me that we will be working together for Kaithi 2. It is confirmed now.
Q. How do you look back on your musical journey which started in 2010?
A. I accidentally started doing music as a small job a long time ago. I want to work on films with good scripts, even if they don’t have big stars. One thing I’ve always wanted to do is a musical movie like Aladdin (2019), which I haven’t done yet.
This is a competitive world full of talent, and I hope to stay in this field for a long time.
(Edited by Sumavarsha kandula)
