Quotes from M. Jayachandran

What really surprised me was that we had released the song 'Kondoram'... without any video and it still garnered so many views. The song had only lyrics and no visuals.

'Celluloid' is set in the 1930s. During the decade, the folk-classical genre seems to have been in vogue. It didn't take much effort to compose because my guru Neyyattinkara Mohanachandran and his guru, M. M. Dandapani Desikar, used to sing this genre.

I pick voices suitable for a particular song rendition and for that, it doesn't matter where they hail from.

'Kilikal Parannatho' sung by Rajesh Krishnan, who sung 'Julie I Love You' in 'Chattakari,' is a personal favourite of mine.

Any composer needs opportunities, but now these chances are based on personal relationships, and not on talent alone. For that, you must keep calling directors and keep them happy. So, PR plays a major part now, more than talent or success.

But it can be tough for new composers as directors tend to block you out.

I am familiar with the Odiyan legend, as my mother used to tell me that her grandmother would narrate the Odiyan tales while she grew up in Palakkad.

Ramesh Vinayakam is a maestro music composer and a dear friend, too.

In the past 20 years of musical journey, what I realized is that one need to respect their teachers, elders and parents and their blessings are more than enough for one to reach success. I believe it as my success mantra.

Vijayalakshmi is one artiste whom I admire. There is something divine about her singing.

Usually people like experimental music which is usually not the case in Carnatic classical concerts.

For me, music is God and each song I make is an offering at the temple of music.

It's very important that your work reaches people and it is marketed professionally and guarded well against piracy. For all of those reasons, I take into account the credibility of the team I work with.

It's alright to make an actor sing if the director already has an ideal sequence in his film. But I am totally against bringing in actors to sing in every film without any context and just for marketing purposes.

Acting is not at all my forte.

If a singer wants to improvise while recording a song, he has to get the permission of the composer.

The songs of Raghavan Master are timeless. There are a lot of things that a student of music has to learn from them. He expressed his thoughts not through words, but music.

Singing these days has become a mechanical exercise for many, and mostly this is because song situations that require effort from the heart are rare to come by.

Be it flute, piano or any instrument, there would always be a reason to bring in the particular feel into a song.

Times are such that poetry has been slowly drifting away from our songs and the language of conversation is used a lot more as lyrics. I believe such attempts create mundane songs, and they hardly stand the test of time.

The society has an obligation to protect younger generation and prevent them from the use of tobacco products.

The increased use of cigarettes and tobacco products among youth is worrying. Starting with cigarettes and tobacco, youngsters are soon lured into use of drugs.

Actors are given songs that suit their voice and skill. At the same time, those songs which have a complicated tune and need expertise to perform should be given to trained singers.

My work is music. That's why I could set to tune a song such as 'Kathirunnu Kathirunnu.'