CHENNAI: What does it take to go from a college guy in a band to music director in Kollywood? For Bjorn Surrao, the answer has been always saying yes to music.
In fact, had he focused solely on his ongoing MBA, he probably wouldn’t have his first hit Kullanari Kootam that went viral a few days ago. Featuring Anirudh Ravichander on vocals, the song from the upcoming film Naalu Perukku Nalladhuna Edhuvum Thappilla got 25,000 views in less than 48 hours. And that is saying something, given that this is the first kuthu song he has ever worked on.
In fact, most people who know this 23-year-old, would probably associate him with English lyrics and funk, courtesy his band Franks Got the Funk that goes back almost a decade now. But clearly, this musician isn’t to be stereotyped —
he has used everything from Punjabi-style dholak beats and mridangam to hip hop throughout the film in a genre he likes to call ‘new age kuthu’. Incidentally, the film, directed by first timer Dinesh Babu — an associate of Mani Ratnam — is a story about four friends who like to con people.
As for how Anirudh got on board, he shares, “I know Anirudh because we were college mates in Loyola and we were in a band together. So I played him the song, he liked it and things kind of just flowed from there.”
Evidently, free flow seems to work for this musician — who had never done a kuthu song in his life before this one. “Even the score for the trailer happened that way. I was walking my dog when the melody popped into my head. And once that happens, I just record it on my phone.”
Despite the success of his debut track, Bjorn will have to rely on dog walks and shower inspiration while working on tunes for a bit longer. “I still have two more exams to finish my course,” he sighs. But with more Kollywood offers in the pipeline, not to mention a desi-infused DJ label on the cards, the calendar ahead is looking anything but academic.