Visually challenged music composer notches another hit

Chennai: Visually challenged music composer Afzal Yusuff is pleased as his composition `Mazhayil nirayum puzhapole` from upcoming Malayalam film `Parankimala` has registered over 17 lakh hits on youtube.

"To be precise, it is 17.10 lakh hits and counting...The song has gone viral. It is picturised on new actress, Uttar Pradesh girl Vinutalal based in Bangalore, and Biyon Gemini. It is basically a love song, depicting the feelings of a boy and girl, shot in Kothamangalam," Yusuff told reporters. The duet is rendered by popular young singer Najim Arshad and Mridula Warrier. Directed by debutant Sennan Pallassery, `Parankimala` is a remake of the 1981 critically acclaimed movie by late director Bharathan, he said. `Mazhayil` was picked up by radio stations first. It figured in the top five before it made its way to TV stations and Youtube. In the first four days itself, there were some 3-4 lakh hits, Yusuff said. Yusuff said he had done two songs in the movie and this one "really clicked". The lyrics of the composition have been penned by Murugan Katakkada. He has also done the background score in `Parankimala`. "It is only because I am a keyboard programmer, I am able to do it. It is difficult." He acknowledges the efforts of the director and others in this as the scene has to be explained to him before he can compose the score as he cannot visually experience it. He had also composed the background score and music for `God for Sale` and the Lal Jose directed Mammooty starrer `Immanuel`. He considers Lal Jose as his godfather in the industry. `Immanuel`, which went on to become a hit, instilled in him the belief and confidence to do the score in other movies. When he finished the final work on `Immanuel`, the recording of `Mazhayil` was over and he played it for Lal Jose. "He appreciated my effort," Yusuff said. The 36-year-old made his film debut in 2008 and during the past five years he has had several singers including veteran K J Yesudas, P Jayachandran and Shreyas Ghosal crooning to his tunes. Yusuff was a former keyboard programmer for national-award-winning music composer Bijibal, before branching out on his own. He has a special equation with Najim Arshad who has rendered many a song for him. Some of his top compositions this year include `Manathudichathu`, `Alolum Thenolam` (both Najim-Mridula) and `Illathalum Kai Marrumbol` (P Jayachandran-Mridula). On remixes, he said he is not against it but one should do it in a way that does not mar the original beauty of the song. He has committed himself to some projects including one by debutant director Prashant P Nair. He is looking forward to the movie as the lyrics are penned by renowned lyricist-poet Yusuf Ali Kecheri.