Yuvan Shankar Raja recalls when Ajith Kumar gave him the big break with this hit film

Composer Yuvan Shankar Raja has been one of the most successful musicians in Kollywood, with his songs featuring on almost every Tamil cinephile’s playlist. But did you know that the popular composer once struggled to find work? In a recent interview with television host Gopinath, Yuvan opened up about a phase in his career when he faced a shortage of opportunities.

When Ajith offered Yuvan Shankar Raja Dheena

The popular composer revealed that after the release of the Suriya and Jyotika-starrer romantic drama Poovellam Kettuppar, he did not receive any work for the next 3-4 years. He shared that it was actor Ajith Kumar who personally came to his residence to offer him the opportunity to compose music for his film Dheena (2001).

He said, “I got my big break when Ajith sir offered me Dheena. After Poovellam Kettuppar, I didn’t receive much work. But then Ajith sir came to my residence and offered me Dheena, saying, 'Yuvan, I have a project for you, and I want you to give your best.' Dheena was a success and gave me a major break in my career. From then on, things picked up for me.”

For those unversed, the 2001 film was a success upon its release. Directed by AR Murugadoss in his directorial debut, it revolves around Ajith’s character, Dheena, who works as a henchman for his brother Aadikesavan. The movie also marked the Tamil film debut of Malayalam star Suresh Gopi, while Laila played the female lead. Yuvan Shankar Raja’s compositions were an instant hit with audiences, which opened many opportunities for him thereafter. The song 'Vathikuchi Pathikadhuda', crooned by late legendary singer SP Balasubrahmanyam remains a fan favorite.

Yuvan Shankar Raja’s latest film The GOAT

The popular music composer recently scored the soundtrack for Thalapathy Vijay's action thriller The Greatest of All Time. However, his compositions received mixed reviews, with some fans feeling that the music did not appeal to Thalapathy's fanbase.

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