KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 2 — Most filmmakers write the script, shoot the film, then bring in the composer.

But Indian director Gautham Vasudev Menon does it the other way round.

“That’s how I’ve shaped my films — I already have the songs in my head first,” the acclaimed Tamil director told a press conference here last week, explaining the unusual creative process behind a filmography that has produced some of Indian cinema’s most enduring soundtracks.

That philosophy is now the centrepiece of “Ondra Renda — 25 Years of GVM”, a live cafe style concert celebration marking Gautham’s quarter-century in the industry, to be held at The Arch Galeries in Kuala Lumpur on October 10.

Unlike a conventional concert, the event will see Gautham himself take the stage to narrate the stories, emotions and creative inspiration behind the songs from his films — from Minnale to Vaaranam Aayiram and beyond — while a line-up of singers and musicians perform the tracks live for fans.

A journey shaped by music, since childhood

Speaking alongside Radhikaa Sarathkumar — veteran actress and chairperson and managing director of India’s Radaan Mediaworks, which is co-organising the event with MyEvents International — Gautham was reflective about the milestone, choosing not to dwell on the number of years but on what they represented.

He traced his love of music back to his childhood, growing up in a household where songs were a constant presence — played on the radio and cassette player long before the age of streaming — with his mother in particular instilling in him a deep appreciation for film music, often telling him the origins of songs from classic MGR films.

That early influence, he said, shaped his approach to filmmaking from the very beginning. His first film was conceived as a musical, and even his crime thrillers and cop dramas have been driven by music at their core.

For the concert, Gautham has curated a selection of songs from his career — created with composers including A.R. Rahman, Ilaiyaraaja and Harris Jayaraj among others — around which he will share the stories of how each track came to define its film.

Decades of soundtrack hits on the setlist

Fans can expect a set list drawing from some of Gautham’s most beloved soundtracks.

From Vaaranam Aayiram (2008), the tender “Nenjukkul Peidhidum” is expected to feature, alongside the emotionally-charged “Ava Enna.”

His 2003 action-thriller Kaakha Kaakha gave Tamil cinema the enduring “Uyirin Uyire,” while his romance drama Neethaane En Ponvasantham (2012) is expected to bring hits such as “Idhu Kadhala” and “Nazarey Nazarey” to the stage. 

Earlier favourites from Minnale, including the breakout hit “Vaseegara,” are also tipped to feature, while the A.R. Rahman-scored “Thalli Pogathey,” from Gautham’s 2016 film Achcham Yenbadhu Madamaiyada, could possibly make an appearance too. 

Together, the line-up promises a sweeping musical journey through Gautham’s filmography.

MyEvents and Radaan Mediaworks join forces

The event brings together MyEvents International, a full-service event management organisation with a track record of staging large-scale exhibitions, business showcases and entertainment events in Malaysia and abroad — including past concerts featuring regional artistes such as playback singer Karthik — and India’s Radaan Mediaworks, the company behind some of Tamil television and cinema’s biggest productions.

Radhikaa, who is in Malaysia to promote the event, said the show would mark a new milestone in the country’s entertainment scene, combining top artistes, a live band and storytelling in a single experience.

“We have always sought to connect emotionally with audiences across borders, and Malaysian fans — who have an immense love for Indian cinema — have always been close to our hearts,” she said, adding that she was proud to partner with MyEvents International to bring the event to Malaysia.

Programme director Inba, who also spoke at the press conference, said the event is expected to draw more than 5,000 cinema enthusiasts and families.

Joining Gautham on stage will be singers Karthik, Shruti Haasan, Sathya Prakash, Saindhavi, Paal Dabba, Blaaze, Haripriya and Krish, backed by a line-up of live musicians.

The concert will be staged at The Arch Galeries, a new 600,000 sq ft lifestyle and cultural destination on Jalan Tun Razak billed as part of KL’s emerging “new golden triangle.”

The venue’s concert hall spans close to 36,000 sq ft with seating for up to 5,550, and is directly connected via skywalk to the TRX MRT station.

Tickets for “Ondra Renda — 25 Years of GVM” are available now on Ticket2U.