Pa Vijay
With 'Gnyabagangal', l is turning producer and actor. Apart from penning lyrics for the film, he has written the story, screenplay and dialogues. “It’s actually difficult when you produce as well as act. Each day is a learning experience,” says Pa Vijay, who feels the character has suited him very well. “The movie has no violence or glamour. It’s like a poem to be seen as a film. The audience will feel like they are reading my poem.'Gnyabangangal' is about Kathiravan, who lived with me in a mansion in Choolaimedu in my initial days,” says Pa Vijay. He wants to direct his third movie. “I want to gain experience before directing a movie,” says the lyricist, who is planning to do a film based on social issues next.
Youreka
A lyricist who is in the limelight at present is Youreka, director of 'Madurai Sambavam'. After writing lyrics for almost 32 films, Youreka forayed into direction. “It just happened all of a sudden. Being born and brought up in Madurai, I had an idea of doing a film based on the town,” he says. When he approached director Vikraman to write lyrics for his film, he asked Youreka to work as assistant director. He is penning the lyrics, story, screenplay and dialogues, apart from directing the movie 'Madurai Sambavam', which will release in July.
Snekan
“Ameer is my dearest friend and when he asked me to act, I first thought of it as a joke. But when he stressed and defined my character, I was not able to refuse. In his film 'Yogi', I am doing a very important role. If I’ve acted well in this film, it’s because of Ameer,” admits Snekan.
He has written more than 1,400 songs and received two state awards. “If directors can turn heroes why can’t a lyricist act? Cinema is a family and you can’t confine yourself to just one thing,” adds Snekan, who is waiting to see his face on the big screen.
Kabilan
When 'Ulaga Nayagan' Kamal Haasan called lyricist Kabilan to accompany him, Kabilan thought it was just going to be one of their casual talks, but the car went to the shooting spot. “I told him that I didn’t know acting. He responded, ‘You’re acting as yourself - Kavignar Kabilan.’ This was for the movie 'Dasaavatharam',” recalls Kabilan. The movie left him with a lot of offers pouring in, but Kabilan wanted to stick to his job - writing lyrics. “I left my Central Government job for my passion for writing lyrics and as it was 'Ulaga Nayagan' I was not able to refuse,” says Kabilan.