A.R. Rahman on working with Kamal Haasan in Thug Life: I feel like from the screen he's looking at me what are you going to do...

Musical mastermind A.R. Rahman talked candidly about his experience working with two of Indian cinema's most recognisable characters, Kamal Haasan and Mani Ratnam, at the grand unveiling of Thug Life's debut single, Jinguchaa, in Chennai. Rahman provided sincere insight into the creative pressures and excitement of writing for Thug Life while considering the enormous legacy of their previous work, especially the seminal movie Nayakan.

“I don't know what to say. I think Kamal sir, his movie, he's done everything and he's looking and telling what are you going to do. Like that, every scene which I'm scoring, I feel like from the screen he's looking at me what are you going to do,” Rahman said with a smile, capturing the unique pressure of scoring for a legend like Kamal Haasan.

He also acknowledged the cinematic brilliance of Mani Ratnam and Kamal Haasan’s earlier collaboration: “And Mani sir and Kamal ji have created Nayakan, which is sort of the most iconic movie, reinventing cinema in a way with Mr. Ilaiyaraaja, and they've done amazing work.”

While comparisons to Nayakan were inevitable, Rahman made it clear that Thug Life is forging its own path. “And this movie is not Nayakan, it is different from Nayakan, and so I didn't have that weight on me. It's got a very forward-thinking, more of a today's sound, but still has that magic of what they did together I think in portions.”

Also Read: Kamal Haasan on reuniting with Mani Ratnam for Thug Life after 38 years: The mistake was with us