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Hello my dear followers, friends, well-wishers and family members! I hope you are well and pray for your happiness. Since my film debut in 2012, I am indebted to you for your continuous support over a decade. It is also an inspiration for me. Going into other languages and the indie music space, I’ve been busy distributing the work that came out after the covid pandemic.
I would like to tell about my journey with the song ‘Enjoy Njami’.
In December 2020, Dhee came up with an idea to create a Tamil song that speaks to the importance of our roots and celebrates nature. I later composed, arranged, programmed, recorded and sang along to the song. As many in the independent music scene already know, I am known to have produced the above work globally.
Dhee, Niraj and I were working together with a lot of love for each other and a love for independent art.
Any artiste excels at singing in Enjoy Enjami
We decided that everyone would co-compose their part or write the lyrics for their parts.
When Dhee and Anwariv agreed to sing the song, both were involved in the creative process. Navva agreed to pen the lyrics and Dhee to co-compose the tunes for many of her lines. I composed the rest of the raga and arranged the melody of the parts of knowledge.
Our team thanks director Manikandan for carefully choosing the basis of the lyrics of these songs, inspiring Awariv by telling many real life stories and cultural history and spending hours with Awariv to create the song flow and script. Enjoy Njami is based on his inspiration from his movie ‘Kadaisi Vivasai’.
The Oppari lyrics in the songs are contributed by Pattis and Thattas of Arakkonam and surrounding villages. Thanks for the knowledge to respect their writing. Pantalula Pavaka is one of my all time favorite traditional opparis.
As with many of my songs like Rakita Rakita, Amma Nana, Ennadi Mayavi, I usually have a reference word or phrase while composing the song, and Enjami is one of them. I am very happy that knowledge has built a wonderful narrative around this irrelevant text of mine.
The whole process of concept, composition, arrangement and recording by Enjoy Njami was recorded in 30 hours with all the lyrics. With only a few hours to record the song before the shoot, our process was fast, fun and came naturally.
I would like to make it clear that all the revenue and ownership of this song is shared equally by Dhee, Knowledge and me. I have endorsed artistes Awariv and Dhee without prejudice on all platforms under my control. My speech on knowledge at the audio launch of the song is proof of that.
Now let’s talk about Dhee and Jejuzhi Mariyammal’s Enjoy Njami performance at Chess Olympiad in 2022. The organizers were told that they could not participate in the event as they were out of the country that day. The absence of knowledge then was a loss. But the recording of the knowledge was retained in the performance.
I have always felt that knowledge is a great artist. My most favorite work of Arivin is the song ‘Keeche Keeche’ which is about to be released in the movie ‘Anel Mele Panituli’ by Vetri sir producer and I am the music director. As an artiste, ‘Keeche Keeche’ should be given the same love that he gave to Enjami.
I have always used my platform to be the voice of the oppressed. My personal life and art are proof of that. The work ethic, culture and camaraderie we follow inside and outside my home is an open secret. I have only love for art and all artists from our country. In the coming months we will see an epic rise in many new Tamil voices globally.
Thank you all for reading my long letter and for your support all these years. I am willing to discuss this song in public or private with anyone. My goal is to create more art and bring people together!
‘Wanko Vanko Onnagi’ (Come Together)
with love
Santosh Narayanan c. R