The musical movie of Singeetam Srinivasa Rao is all set to unfold on the silver screen soon. Sing Geetham, produced by Nag Ashwin under Vyjayanthi Movies and Swapna Cinema, is releasing worldwide on June 11. Ahead of the grand release, music director Devi Sri Prasad interacted with the media and shared his insights about the unique cinematic experience.
Unmoved by trends, Singeetam Srinivasa Rao garu has built a legacy on entirely unprecedented ideas. His filmography is defined by this rare originality, exemplified perfectly by Pushpaka Vimanam, which remains ahead of its time even today.
The core concept behind Sing Geetham is entirely fresh and unparalleled. Stories rooted in art and music possess a timeless quality, much like K. Viswanath’s Sagara Sangamam. A narrative where an entire village communicates solely through song is unprecedented in cinema.
While Sing Geetham features comedy, the film is anchored by deeply moving emotions. One can only marvel at Singeetam garu’s vision. Nag Ashwin and Swapna Dutt hold immense respect and admiration for him. That collective passion reflects in how the entire team dedicated themselves to this film.
This film has been the most challenging of my career, requiring me to convert every single dialogue into music, a task demanding a strong command of language. Since childhood, inspired by Michael Jackson and Ilaiyaraaja, I practiced turning everyday syllables and newspaper articles into tunes. That lifelong habit proved invaluable here. When I played my first musical scene for Singeetam garu, his enthusiastic approval and validation felt like a massive compliment.
For this musical film, we had to invent an entirely new format, completing and delivering the music before filming even began. The process was incredibly complex: unlike normal films where dialogue changes can be adjusted in editing, a change here altered the musical scale, requiring the entire piece to be redone. We collaborated closely with Singeetam garu and Nag Ashwin, and even trained the actors to sing. Because of the film's unique nature, I was responsible for every aspect and worked around the clock, but I loved every moment of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
This project has brought immense professional satisfaction; even though every dialogue is set to music, it feels entirely natural. You are never conscious that you are listening to songs and simply feel immersed in the village. The script’s wonderful emotions and goosebump-inducing moments will impress the audience.
Audiences will experience something unique. I believe they will leave the theater playfully singing their own conversations. The film will inspire people through Singeetam garu, who created this fresh, enthusiastic project at 94.
We have kept several wonderful songs hidden to protect key story elements. Kamal Haasan garu watched the film in the studio. He remarked that he wished he could have been a part of it.
So much work on Yellamma (a film fronted by DSP himself as the hero) is already underway, including a few completed songs and the background score for a flashback sequence. We are moving forward with a structured approach. I really appreciate Dil Raju's request for me to dedicate ten days each month to the project. While I cannot reveal specific story details yet, the film is set against a rural backdrop. (It is directed by Venu Yeldandi of Balagam fame)
