Raayan, headlined and directed by Dhanush is the Tamil star actor's 50th film that is all set to release in theaters on July 26, 2024. Advance bookings for the movie are already open in Tamil, Telugu and Hindi languages. Raayan is a multi-starrer with AR Rahman for music, and Sun Pictures, the production house behind the movie held a grand audio launch event earlier this month i.e. July 6, 2024 at Chennai.
The Raayan audio launch was recently (July 21, 2024) telecast to the public on Sun TV, and following the broadcast, was made available to stream on their OTT platform Sun Nxt. Some highlights from the Raayan audio launch event:
- "Raayan will be a mass commercial action film to the likes of the audience..I cannot wait for everyone to see what AR Rahman has done with the BGM score of this film" - Raayan executive producer Sreyas (also CEO of Dhanush's production banner Wundebar Films)
- "Even the sister character (played by Dushara Vijayan), we made her do real glass breaking, putting her head into the glass, and she falls down. No dupes (were used). No artists including Dhanush had dupes (for stunts in this movie). Everything was filmed raw." - Stunt director Peter Hein
- "It has been 30 years of journey with this event's star AR Rahman. My first film Duet (1994) has music by Rahman. Today Raayan has music by him. I feel very proud of the 3-decade journey when I think of AR Rahman. Because in cinema people don't grow just with talent. They grow because of the love people show. But there is something bigger than people's love, its the trust that the people place in the artists they help grow. Rahman not just sustained it, he helped the quality of Tamil cinema grow, touched horizons that had never been touched, - I am very happy and proud to be with you for the last 3 decades Sir" - Actor Prakash Raj about AR Rahman
- "30 years time also reminds me of SJ Suryah. I first saw him as an assistant director on Aasai (1995). In the 30 years, he has maintained his relevancy. He became a director, and now he is in competition with me with acting. Dhanush showed me some scenes, you (SJ Suryah) are brilliant in the film (Raayan). It is such a significant presence. When this character was narrated to me, I thought what did SJ Suryah envision in this. But when I saw the visuals, (i concluded) he (Dhanush) knew how to present a thinking actor like you (SJ Suryah)" - Prakash Raj about actor SJ Suryah and his character
- "I liked the clarity of Dhanush as a director when making a movie with the likes of me, SJ Suryah or his own brother (Selvaraghavan). (Dhanush's mantra was) I know you are all talented people, but I want only this much for my story, and you also think out of the box. To make an actor like me unlearn, and push boundaries - beautiful, brilliant, I like this growth (of Dhanush) very much...Raayan is a story that was within Dhanush for 5-6 years. He had done a lot of homework and physical training for this movie. I thing I like most about Dhanush is that he is ready to loose, he is ready to fail which is most important for an artist." - Prakash Raj about actor, director Dhanush
- "No one should reveal the story (of a film before release). There will be someone to ask, 'what is the message of this film'. I'd be sending you an SMS and not making a film would be my reply...Watch the film he (Dhanush) made, why watch a film you think he made" - Prakash Raj about Raayan's story
- "Raayan is my second film with Dhanush brother after Captain Miller (2024). Within 6 days of completing Captain Miller shooting, both of us were on the sets of Raayan..Raayan is the first film I said ok to without listening to the story..At some point a narration (of Raayan's story) was given to a gathering of everyone. After the narration, everyone was looking at me...Anyone else (in Dhanush's place) would have done this (Sundeep Kishan's role) as a double action. But he has not only given the role another hero, but also taught him and made him perform." - Actor Sundeep Kishan about Raayan and his character
- "I don't think you will find more of an AR Rahman fanatic than me. Even if he asks me to jump in the sea, I would. I view you Rahman sir as a gift from God not just to Tamil Nadu or India, but to the entire world. Our lives have been passing in wonder of how you keep improving album by album..Lifelong, we expect more albums from you" - Actor, director Selvaraghavan about AR Rahman
- "When I went for Raayan shooting, I found everyone running here and there. I stopped a person to ask why everyone was running, he told me no one was running, it was the shooting spot..even then I had a slight hope that I am his (Dhanush's) big brother (so I will not be caught in the crossfire)...But when I went near him, with the look he (Dhanush) gave me, I understood my brother card wouldn't work here..My strictness (as a director) is nothing in front of him, Getting a 'super', 'good' from him in itself was a big deal. Don't forget people, treat your younger brothers good while growing up with them, else they will wait for a day like this (said in jest)" - Selvaraghavan on shooting with director Dhanush
- "After watching Raayan, I just told him (Dhanush) one thing. Even if I had taken this story and directed, it wouldn't have come this good. There was such maturity (in his filmmaking). I even asked him who taught him to make a movie like this." - Selvaraghavan about Raayan
- "Once I was explaining a dance situation to a Bollywood choreographer named Ahmed Khan. While listening to it, he told me where he had first heard of me (SJ Suryah). 'I was sittiting with AR Rahman when someone came and said SJ Suryah had come to meet him, and Rahman sir went oh no', he said. (AR Rahman, SJ Suryah and everyone laugh at this). I have torturned AR Rahman to that extent. But even being so knowledgeable in music, he listens to everything I say without an ounce of ego. Even with two Oscars in his hand, he doesn't let anything go to his head. You will not see a great character like him in this world. He is a good soul. Only because of that his journey in music is so vast, evergreen and keeps evolving. All the songs he has done for Raayan are too good" - SJ Suryah about AR Rahman
- "One of the main reasons why it was easy for me to act under Dhanush's direction was the training I had acting for Nenjam Marapathillai under Selvaraghavan. I learnt formula 44 there, came to the sets of Raayan, added two extra formulas and managed. But when he (Selvaraghavan) came to the sets of Raayan, he forgot the formula 44 at home. Which is why he got caught by his younger brother" - SJ Suryah on working with Selvaraghavan, Dhanush
- "Adangatha Asuran with AR Rahman's voice, Prabhu Deva's chorepgraphy and Dhanush's vision is going to be a festive number" - SJ Suryah
- "He (Dhanush) knows everything, but still acts like a fan. He's a good guide, and a good fan. No matter what you do in life, you should always be a learner. I'm learning a lot from him (Dhanush). I have been watching different versions of Raayan for the last 4 months. Every version kept getting better..." - AR Rahman about Dhanush, Raayan
- "Dhanush keeps telling me from time to time about the comments that keep coming about Raayan music. Mostly they are good comments. Thank you (Dhanush) for telling me all that. All these things I don't ask outside. I only see on Twitter how they keep scolding..Oh Raaya song is mine and Dhanush's favourite from Raayan..Raayan is such a heavy weight film, a soothing number inside it was really nice. " - AR Rahman about Raayan music
- "Raayan is my 50th film. I never imagined I'd be doing these many movies..My first film was in 2000, it released in 2002...When I came into cinemas, I was slim, dark and without any talent. I do not know what you saw in me, you all have been raising me all these years. I do not even know how to speak proper English, but you all made me act in an English movie. After I knew this was my 50th film, I needed to do something in return for the audience/fans, which is why I decided to direct Raayan myself. Raayan is my dedication to audience/fans." - Dhanush on directing his 50th film Raayan
- "It is very difficult to narrate a story to my producer Kalanithi Maran (of Sun Pictures). I spent 3 hours acting out my narration with comedy, emotions, thrills, twists and turns to no reaction from his side. My confidence kept dropping gradually and I thought maybe he wasn't liking the story. But at the end of 3 hours, he said we're doing the film and gave me a budget higher than I had asked for. So thank you to him" - Dhanush on working with Sun Pictures Kalanithi Maran
- "I called up AR Rahman and said it'd be very special if I had the tag 'An AR Rahman musical' on my 50th film. He asked for 2 days time and called me back. He said 'Dhanush I'm doing 30 films right now, so it's a very tough yes, but I'm giving you an yes'. Sir I hope we as a team lived upto your yes, and I'm forever grateful for that divine blessing of an yes...I used to play him his own songs, and say we'd do a song like this (for Raayan). But he'd be like 'no we've done a lot like that, we'll try something new'...He's always keen on trying something that has never been tried before. Seeing that surprised me a lot because how can a man who has touched great heights, seen so many songs, awards, praises, stages be so into trying something new even today. Learnt a lot from him. I treasured this entire experience (of working with AR Rahman). So thank you so much Sir. He is the only music director in the world to have a punch dialogue of his own - All Praise to God/Almighty. Anyone who has watched Raayan, heard the background score has said - All praise to AR Rahman." - Dhanush on AR Rahman
- "I called Prakash Raj and said 'Sir I'm writing a script for a movie next'. (His immediate response was) when can I come for shooting. (Dhanush replies) Sir I haven't told you the story, your character to which Prakash Raj said 'That is not required, just tell me when to come'. Similarly now (during Raayan Audio launch event early July), he has undergone an eye operation and has been advised not to go out for a month... When I learnt about this I told him to not come (to the event) and rest, but he said he would come and is here." - Dhanush about Prakash Raj
- "During the first shot with SJ Suryah, he asked me why I was directing going against the norms and expectations of my fans and audience...I made up my mind at that time that Raayan should come out so well that SJ Suryah should tell me to continue directing films. He is a very sincere artist who enjoys his work, and never shows face. It was a delight working with him..SJ Suryah being in my film is a big strength for Raayan." - Dhanush about SJ Suryah
- "Sreyas told me that all my artists especially the four Dushara Vijayan, Aparna Balamurali, Sundeep Kishan and Kalidas Jayaram have been mentioning in interviews that I have tortured, scolded them a lot. I hope there is an big success waiting as a result of it all..Aparna Balamurali is a bundle of talent, I think she's the only one I scolded the least on this movie." - Dhanush
- "I told Peter Hein the outline of the (Raayan) story. He said it wasn't enough and asked me for more. I then gave him a detailed 45-minute narration. He said that wasn't enough either and asked for the full story. I told him I had explained the stunts and scenes involving the stunts. (to which Peter Hein replied) 'That alone is not stunts, you tell everything, I need to know all the emotions'. This was a first time experience for me with a stunt director. I won't say he is a stunt master as he is a director himself. Thank you so much for what you've done for the film. Fantastic stunts have come. Tomorrow the audience will know." - Dhanush about Raayan stunt director Peter Hein
- "You made me street-fit and boy did I need that...I was roaming when our dad forced me into acting, you made me act (Selvaraghavan is widely known to be the uncredited co-director of Dhanush's first film Thulluvadho Ilamai). You made me a star after I received harsh criticisms for my acting...With every other artiste I would be happy with a single take, but with you I would be a little disappointed about not being able to torture you enough for more takes (said in jest)." - Dhanush about Selvaraghavan
- "Had I known my Poes Garden house would become such a big talking point, I would have remained in a small apartment only. Why? Shouln't I buy a house in Poes Garden? If from the streets, should we remain in the streets? There is a small story behind this Poes Garden house. I was 16 years old when once I was travelling with my friend on a bike. Everyone knows whose fan I am (his ex-father-in-law Rajinikanth's). It was my desire to see Thalaivar's house..I saw Thalaivar's house happily and was returning when I noticed a big crowd on the other side. I asked 'Thalaivar's house is on that side, why this much crowd on this side?'. They told me (former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister) Jayalalaithaa amma's house was there...I got down from the bike and stood there for a second and thought..one day I should buy a house in Poes Garden someday...At that time had Thulluvadho Ilamai not run, we would have been on the streets..It was such a difficult time then...The Poes Garden house is a gift for that 16 year old Venkatesh Prabhu (Dhanush's real name) from this Dhanush who toiled for 20 years." - Dhanush about his Poes Garden house