For all the obvious reasons, Pawan Kalyan and Sai Dharam Tej’s upcoming film titled Bro has been the much awaited film of the year. Not only does the film stars Pawan Kalyan, but it is for the first time that the uncle-nephew duo will be seen sharing the screen together.
Bro is a remake of a Tamil movie, Vinodhaya Sitham. The film has the music by renowned composer S Thaman, who also has a number of other projects. Well, scoring music for “remake films” is a tough challenge for any music composer. And adding to it, rendering the music for such film Bro which boasts a star like Pawan Kalyan could be no less than a task. SS Thaman, who recently interacted with the Hyderabadi media, couldn’t agree much, as he said, “It’s like scaling Mt Everest,” without a flicker of hesitation. “All the three films with Powerstar Pawan Kalyan garu starting from Vakeel Saab, Bheemla Nayak and now Bro — have all been remakes. I am trying to make it more musical. Even if you notice the song Maguva Maguva song in Vakeel Saab, we had to use the same theme for the fight sequence in Metro Rail. We had to use it for the massy look of the Powerstar. Bro will surely make an impact on the psyche of audiences with its screenplay and dialogues. Trivikram’s touch has added a new flavour to the story. And a star like Pawan Kalyan on board, the film has taken massive form. Definitely, Bro will have its moments after it hit the screens worldwide.”
He further reveals that he had to work much on the music of Bro. He further stated, “There’s nothing much to ponder about the original music in Vinodhaya Sitham. There were no songs specifically. The background score was good, there were variations, moods and patterns attune to the story, but here since Pawan Kalyan is the standalone figure, the size and Pawan Kalyan’s stature matter the most. So I had to work a lot on the music in Bro.”
When it comes to scoring a song for the combination scenes of Sai Dharam Tej and Pawan Kalyan, he states that we can just not make a song massy for the sake of it. One has to deal with it as if one tells a proverb. However, with Bro they did have a few restrictions when it came to delivering the music.
One might wonder that the film could have some older tunes. Well, did you? However, the composer straightaway denies it saying that every tune in the film has freshness. “We’re doing a promotional song on ‘time’. How time is more significant. It may not feature in the film, but it might get a place in the rolling titles. Another duet featuring Dharam Tej is about to release soon. Another song based on a sloka will be up for release. Apart from these, a montage song is being planned for the climax,” he says adding, “Pawan Kalyan’s performance in Bro is extraordinary, says Thaman. Pawan Kalyan and his niece Dharam Tej’s combination sequences are of a different level altogether, he said. “Their characters speak so simple as if they’re are conversing on a topic sitting at their home — so simple and profound. Many surprises you get to see in the film.”
Thaman feels that as a fan, it is a pleasure to score a music for Pawan Kalyan, but he feels pressured from the fans of Pawan Kalyan. “Pressures are quite common from all corners, but the experience that I’ve gained over the years made me understand the seriousness of the story. When Trivikram garu narrated the story, we felt a spasm of goosebumps after hearing it. Definitely, Bro will have its moments. The story has an undercurrent and subtle message that influences audiences. A big film for family audiences. All the cast and crew including the producer, TG Vishwa Prasad, watched the film, and they were moved with tears in their eyes. That’s the impact this story has, and will have.”
The makers had recently unveiled the first single My Dear Markandeya, which has received mixed responses. The reason Thaman says, “Originally the song belongs to Dharam Tej. But Pawan Kalyan comes in between and utters the lines My Dear Markandeya. We can’t keep expectations for every single and every film. The music is infused into the story by the levels of intensity that the story has. We can’t oblige the requests of fans every time. It’s not just me who takes the final call. There is a lyric writer and there is a director who has to ok it. So, many factors and challenges are involved in delivering the music to a film.”
The composer has been a cricket fanatic and also reveals that he has a team named Thaman Hitters, comprising players from the software industry and others. “My only emotional let out is cricket. Every day I play a match at 9 o clock at night. It gives me good health. I’m not here to reason with someone who sits before the computer and writes whatever he likes on Twitter. I am being paid for the work I do. No filmmaker or producer have so far complained against my work.”
With all the odds, ups and downs, and all the roller coaster rides throughout his journey, Thaman has managed it all meticulously. Offlate, he says he has stopped accepting stereotype stories. For instance, OG has a different style, Bro has a different vibe, and again Mahesh Babu’s Guntur Karam has a unique shade. Everyone knows that Thaman can manage and Thaman can do it. I don’t have this thought in my mind. It needs so much space. All the more it needs trusted people to back you up. Definitely, I may venture into production in future. My grandfather was a film producer who made films under his home banner Prathiba Movies banner. I registered the title Prathiba Pictures.”
Thaman is not worried about the other musicians being roped in by Telugu producers. In fact, he says competition is always good. “We had done films like Simba and Golmaal in Hindi, later I did Varisu in Tamil. Competition is healthy, and I am happy for that. Telugu producers are always great, they don’t seem to be bothered by these borders, they would quickly rope in if they spot a talent irrespective of the region. I am feeling very good about it. Mastaru Mastaru song from GV Prakash was a massive it. Anirudh Ravichander is not a lessor known music composer. They’re all talented lot.”
On the ending note, the virtuoso recalls working on Killi Killi song from Gudumba Shankar, during which he sang the lines while sitting beside Pawan Kalyan. “I was beside him when sang the lines. The song was recorded in my computer. Mani Shankar garu asked me to take care of the things. Even the song Chitti Nadumune, I was there with him. He enjoys the music a lot – PK is a very chilled and composed actor. Bro is an amazing story. Samutharikani was in tears after watching Bro. He was all praise for the music I scored. He calls me thambi. We began promotions very late.”
