[Interview] This is Why Kolaveri Di

Pa pa pa ppaan- Pa pa pa ppan- Pa pa pa ppaan pa pa ppan

sariyaa vaasi ..

This half-song in half-English teaches almost half of India the importance of half-hearted efforts.

Say Whaat?

‘Why This Kolaveri Di’, a song written and sung by Tamilian actor Dhanush has taken Youtube hostage. With a million views in just four days flat, it’s allegedly the most viral video ever.

Of course, Inspector Mochachilo had to find out more. How did this sensation start? What made it so special in the first place? Well, there’s nothing better than talking face-to-face with a Tamilian. Enter Prajwal (name not changed), a 20-something techie based in Bangalore who’s guzzled Tamil movies (and chicken) since his childhood.

The Interview

Me: Yo! Wasaaap? How’s it hangin’ yo? Dawg man yo yo!

P: Huh?

Me: *clears throat*. Okay. Hi. Let’s start this interview, shall we? First, have you heard Kolaveri Di?

P: Of course. It’s plastered over everyone’s Facebook page.

Me: Very true. So what’s your first impression about this song?

P: It sounds like a common south Indian number, but it’s become a viral hit. My first impression was that it was brilliant in terms of the lyrics. Imagine hearing soup song by the soup boys!

Me: Or flop song by the soup boys!

P: Yeah. Lyrics were really funny and if you knew Tamil it would have been even better!

Me: Right. And how would you compare this song with, say, other hits from the Tamil music industry?

P: It’s an offbeat song, basically made as a promotion for a movie. But it will in no way compare to A.R. Rahman because there’s hardly any music in this. It’s a funny song, sung in a funny tone of voice by Dhanush, a big star.

Me: Oh that brings me to another question. Do you think this song suits the persona of Dhanush? If anyone else sang it would it have made a difference?

P: Ya, probably a Simbu singing it would have been the same as Dhanush as both of them have the same image. It shows from the movies they’ve done, how they dance and how they talk. You know, the old Madurai kind of Tamil. This definitely suits him.

It’s the Indian version of Rebecca Black

Me: I read somewhere that this was a ‘bathroom singers’ song. You agree?

P: You’ve heard the song, you can sing it too. Damn, even I can sing it! (If Prajwal is saying it, that really means something.)

Me: Okay now for a meaty question: are you amazed at how every Indian, regardless of background, loves this song?

P: Ummm .. a little bit. You know, there have been songs like this even in the Kannada industry, like one sung by Puneet Rajkumar, but they didn’t reach such a large audience. But then again, a Tamilian song brings out more comments and views than a Kannada or Telugu song.

Me: Oooooooohhhhhhh! Did you just say that or am I going to get four bullet holes in my right thigh?

P: Both. Seriously, I’m both a Tamilian and Kannadiga so I know both worlds. The Tamil industry reaches a bigger audience.

It’s not a big thing, it’s a normal song. It definitely doesn’t deserve 1 million views. In fact, it’s the Indian version of Rebecca Black.

Me: *laughs so hysterically that the security guard comes running*. Oh gawd. I am going to quote you for the rest of my life. But Rebecca Black reminds me of my next question: this song was pretty much in English. Is that why it reached a larger audience?

P: Mostly, but it wasn’t completely English. Like “handula glass-u”, which means “I have a glass in my hand”. “Glass-la scotch-u” means “in the glass I have scotch”. So it’s not completely English.

Me: It’s Tamil English?

P: Tanglish! And this is why it’s funny. “Moon white-u white-u”. Stupid things but funny.

Me: I think that’s why it’s connected so well with so many people.

Okay, last question: Shruti Haasan.

P: OH MY GAWD. She looks really amazing in this video. I’m sure she was the reason for half the views.

Without makeup she looks pretty cute. It’s her natural pose, not an acting face and I’m sure a lot of people liked that.

But what a change from her previous movies. She acted in a couple of Tamil and Telugu films, like ‘7aum Arivu’ which was a big banner film but had nothing for her in the movie. She was like Nargis Fakhiri in ‘Rockstar’, in a dummy role.

And a lot of credit goes to the kid music director, the guy who plays on the piano. He’s 20 years old for godssake! It’s great that he’s working with such great stars.

Me: All hail Shruti Haasan!

Well, that’s it. Thanks a lot for this interview, hope you have a very kolaveri day!

P: *facepalm*. Please don’t ever try learning Tamil.

And There You Have It …

It’s amazing how a simple Taminglish song has transported us ‘outsiders’ into this world of Tamil films and music. Of course, it’s also helped us ‘outsiders’ appreciate how awesome Shruti Haasan is, but then that is another matter.

Till next time, enjoy your scotch-u scotch-u!

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