EXCLUSIVE: Mani Ratnam reveals a big unknown detail about the 'Chinna Chinna Aasai' song in Roja - WATCH VIDEO!

Mani Ratnam and A. R. Rahman's Ponniyin Selvan: 2 is all set to take a grand opening in theatres worldwide on April 28. The film will pick up from the events of the 2022 box office blockbuster, Ponniyin Selvan: 1, which went on to earn more than 500 crores in collections, and currently features in the watch-list of movie buff and film aficionados everywhere. Recently, Mani Ratnam and A. R. Rahman sat down for a heart-to-heart conversation with National Award-winning film critic Baradwaj Rangan, the Editor-in-Chief of Galatta Plus to talk about Ponniyin Selvan: 2, including their journey together in Tamil cinema. 

During the interview, Mani Ratnam opened up on how A. R. Rahman came up with the tune for the 'Chinna Chinna Aasai' song in Roja (1992), which continues to be revered by fans even today. He said, "I must have told him the idea of the whole film. Those days, I had worked enough with Ilaiyaraaja sir. And, when you go to Raaja, you have this much window, but you have to say exactly what you want and how we're going to shoot. If it's a song situation, you have to say what you want in the BGM. Otherwise, the song will come into your hands. So, I was used to preparing detailed thing for each song." He further stated, "With Rahman, I came and I must have narrated the story and things like that and planned the song situation. He just listened to the story. He went back and then he had produced one scratch, which finally became 'Chinna Chinna Aasai'."

Explaining how he never told him the situation for the 'Chinna Chinna Aasai' song to Rahman, Mani Ratnam said, "It was just outstanding and he had done that for a situation where I had never told him that situation. I just told him the story and he composed it for when Roja gets married and  leaves the family and goes. It was composed for that with nadaswaram. It was brilliant. That was not a situation I had in my mind. That's when I started changing. With Rahman, I realized that you don't have to work with a situation. You work with a film, you work with the sound, and then see how it flows into a film. So, it was a totally new experience." 

A. R. Rahman added, "When you get inspired by your story, the director and the sensibilities, then... what happens is, I worked in the movie industry for almost 12 years at that time. So, my mind would automatically go on to how other composers would do this. And, that thought I would always fight and get it out. I don't want you. I want something new. I don't want that thought. For me, it was like, not to look at the movie, take what is in, and how can I get a soundscape, which could match. I don't know where it's going to come, but the director would help me to place it." 

Watch Mani Ratnam and A. R. Rahman in conversation with Baradwaj Rangan in the video below: