"Maniratnam kavuthupputtaruda, machan"... I immediately ran to my friend with the ad and pulampified. Even he was upset to the core. But we did have a gut feeling that this new guy is going to let Mani down and will make Mani return to Raja. We decided to bad mouth this album putting our maximum efforts (If I had channeled the same efforts for my studies, I wud've become junior APJ by this time).
The D Day arrived. The album was released without much fanfare. (Idhey Raja sir albumna evlo rush irundhurukkum?). Next day in the school, I started my campaign...'Roja songs are really bad.' But the fact was that I didnt even hear the songs. That was the sort of liking I had for Raja sir. A week passed by. My neighbour friend came running.."Dei, Rojala Rukkumaninu oru paattu kettaenda..Chema beat...Paattu kandippa hit aayidum". I laughed. That is not going to happen anyways. Let me listen to that first and give my verdict. But to my bad luck, I didnt get a chance to listen to the songs till the release date of the movie.
1992 Diwali...The day Roja was released...Morning 9 am...DD-5...Oliyum Olliyum...Came the first song...Chinna Chinna Aasai... I was watching it curiously....The visuals are cool. The locations are good..thats it (Music nallayirukkunu vaayilerndhu oru vaarthai varalaiyae..). Thank god!!! The song is just like what I had expected. Not so great. Mani sir is going to come back to Raja sir. With happiness painted all over my face, I went to bed that day with a relaxed mind..
Next day...My jalagreedai padalam.. I started humming..."Chinna chinna aasai".. Oh god..Whats happening to me? Is this song growing on me?
(to be continued..)
