‘Sing Geetham’ Is a Once-in-a-Lifetime Film: Devi Sri Prasad
Legendary filmmaker Singeetam Srinivasa Rao is set to enthrall audiences with his prestigious and ambitious project Sing Geetham. Produced by Nag Ashwin under the renowned banners Vyjayanthi Movies and Swapna Cinema, the film features Ayaan, Ahalya Bamroo, and Shalini Kondepudi in pivotal roles. Rock Star Devi Sri Prasad has composed the music for the film.
The teaser and songs released so far have received an overwhelming response, raising anticipation for the film’s worldwide theatrical release on June 11. Speaking to the media ahead of the release, Devi Sri Prasad shared his excitement about the project, working with the legendary director, and the unique challenges behind creating a fully musical narrative.
What was your reaction when you got the opportunity to work with Singeetam Srinivasa Rao?
I have always been a huge admirer of Singeetam garu. He is a true legend. I remember watching him interact with my father during his visits, and I would observe him with immense admiration. Many years ago, we had planned a film on Jesus with Pawan Kalyan garu, directed by Singeetam garu, but unfortunately it didn’t materialize.
During that period, he narrated the idea of Sing Geetham to me. The concept instantly thrilled me. I felt it was a film that had to be made someday.
Singeetam garu is one of the greatest innovators Indian cinema has ever seen. Films like Pushpaka Vimanam, Bhairava Dweepam, and Aditya 369 are among my all-time favorites. About three years ago, he called and informed me that the project was finally taking shape. I was delighted. When I later learned that Nag Ashwin, Swapna Cinema, and Vyjayanthi Movies were backing the film, my excitement only grew.
I consider this project a blessing. Working with Singeetam garu feels like paying tribute to a master filmmaker. It is an experience I will always cherish.
Singeetam garu conceived this story many years ago. How relevant is it today?
Singeetam garu never creates stories based on trends. His ideas are timeless and unique. They are concepts that no one has attempted before and very few can even imagine.
Take Pushpaka Vimanam for example. Even today, it feels incredibly modern and ahead of its time.
Sing Geetham is built on a similarly original idea. Art and music are eternal subjects that never lose relevance. Just as K. Viswanath garu’s Sagara Sangamam remains timeless, Sing Geetham has a universal quality that audiences can appreciate even decades from now.
The film revolves around a village where people communicate entirely through songs rather than spoken words. Such a concept has never been explored before.
At the same time, this isn’t merely a comedy. It is packed with strong emotions and heartfelt moments. Hats off to Singeetam garu for creating such an extraordinary story. I feel fortunate to have been part of it.
Nag Ashwin garu and Swapna garu have immense love and respect for Singeetam garu. All of us worked on this project with complete dedication and passion.
Every dialogue in the film has been turned into music. What was that experience like?
This has undoubtedly been the most challenging project of my career.
I was given the script and had to transform every dialogue into music. Every line had to be composed while retaining its emotional impact and narrative flow.
Projects like these require a deep understanding of language and rhythm. Since childhood, I have dreamed of creating music like Michael Jackson and Ilaiyaraaja sir. Even before I understood lyrics properly, I would compose tunes for newspaper headlines and articles. My father used to laugh watching me turn everyday words into melodies.
That childhood habit unexpectedly became the foundation for Sing Geetham.
I first composed one sequence and played it for Singeetam garu. He was thrilled and said, “This is exactly the kind of music we need for the film.” That compliment meant the world to me.
For this project, we composed everything beforehand and then the scenes were filmed based on the musical structure.
Unlike regular films, there was no existing template for a project like this. We had to create a completely new process. Music was composed in sections, reviewed by Singeetam garu and Nag Ashwin garu, and then refined repeatedly.
In a normal film, dialogue changes can be adjusted during editing. But in a musical narrative, changing a dialogue means changing the rhythm, scale, and composition itself. It often requires rebuilding the entire sequence. That made the process extremely demanding.
Every actor in the film had the ability to sing, and some even underwent special training. Their commitment was remarkable.
Since music drives the entire film, I had to stay involved in every aspect of the process. I was practically on duty 24 hours a day—but I enjoyed every moment of it. Opportunities like this come only once in a lifetime.
How did you feel after watching the completed film?
We recently watched the final version together in the studio, and once again we were amazed by Singeetam garu’s vision.
This project gave me tremendous creative satisfaction. Although every dialogue is musical, the storytelling feels completely natural. After a while, audiences will forget they are watching a musical and instead feel immersed in the world of the village.
The film contains powerful emotions and several goosebumps-inducing moments. These moments were present right from the script stage itself, which speaks volumes about Singeetam garu’s brilliance as a storyteller.
What kind of experience can audiences expect from Sing Geetham?
Audiences are going to experience something truly different.
I genuinely believe people will leave the theatre humming conversations and turning everyday speech into songs for fun. More importantly, they will be inspired by Singeetam garu himself—a filmmaker who, at 94 years of age, continues to create fresh, innovative cinema with incredible passion and energy.
There are several wonderful songs in the film that we have deliberately not revealed yet because they contain important story elements.
Kamal Haasan garu recently watched the film in our studio and thoroughly enjoyed it. He even remarked that he wished he had been part of such a unique project. Hearing that made all of us extremely happy.
Any update on ‘Ellamma’?
A significant portion of the work has already been completed. I have finished composing a few songs and have also scored a flashback episode.
We are moving forward with a well-planned approach in terms of both music and performances. Dil Raju garu suggested dedicating around ten days every month to the project, and I really liked that working style.
At this stage, I cannot reveal much about the story. What I can say is that it is set against a rural backdrop and is shaping up beautifully.
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