It`s a crucial day for actor Suriya as his much anticipated film 24` had its audio launch today amid with much fanfare. Suriya the lead hero and producer of the film was perfectly doing the job of the host.

Suriya`s speech in the event was decorated with every word coming from the bottom of his heart, characterized by modesty and earthiness as always as he complimented the fans and all the technicians of the film including A.R.Rahman, without bragging anything about himself or about the film. He also had some kind advice to today`s youngsters and he said that in the tone of a caring elder brother.

Excerpts:

"When you fans applauded for the trailer that was launched here, it gave a great sense of happiness and satisfaction to me. I cannot describe that in words. Its because of you we are standing here. Your claps lasted for 4-5 seconds and that was a big blessing to me.

I am not like other heroes. It has been 2-3 years since I met you all. I could not meet you in Chennai as I was away for shooting for the last 2-3 films. I feel guilty for not meeting you for long. But you never miss any event related to me. You all come from other cities just to attend the event.

I heard a good story. I wanted to produce it. A good team has been formed. Thanks to Suraj, the younger brother of Jyothika who helped in creating this good team from Mumbai,

Thiru (Cinematographer) sir`s work for the film has been amazing. I felt like appreciating him every time after he completed a shot.

I want to thank everyone in the team, including the Assistant directors Ayyappan, Ravi and all.

Rahman sir, and his troupe of singers performed the songs here. That made this event more and more beautiful.

Appa (Sivakumar) has never spoken like this. It was an unexpected blessing to me from him. All because of you fans. You only gave me this identity to me, which has made him speak like this.

My request to you is encourage my films which are good and correct. Please out rightly reject my wrong films. Please don`t encourage a bad film just because it comes from me. That will only motivate me to go in search of good stories, good people and good team.

Vikram Kumar has been an amazing filmmaker. He has never been adamant in staying in one place. He will go to places wherever he gets an opportunity. He narrated the story to me in 4-4 and a half hours. After listening to it I stood up and clap.

We have made this film with an intention of giving a good film and not to make huge profits.

After listening to the script everyone suggested A.R.Rahman sir for music. I know he will be the apt choice for a project of this magnitude but I did not know how to approach him. I just sent him a message requesting him to listen to the script. He gave an appointment within two days. First they allotted half an hour. The story narrated to me in 4 hours should be narrated to Rahman in half an hour. But Vikram Kumar immediately said okay.

It was during Ramzan fasting time. When he started listening to the script it was the time to break the fasting on that day. He listened to the script for half an hour and left as he kept receiving calls from home, asking us to wait. He came later and spent more than six hours with Vikram Kumar discussing about the script.

Then he messaged me that it is an ambitious script and we can work together. That gave us the confidence to go ahead with this project.

Here I wish to narrate a short story. A kid went to a shop with his mother and was looking at a jar of chocolates. His mother and shopkeeper ask him to take the chocolates but he keeps refusing. Then the shop-keeper a well-built man, opens the jar, picks a bunch of chocolates with his large hands and gives it to the kid. After coming out, his mother asks he did not wanted chocolates. The kid says, my hands are small and they will hold very less number of chocolates. The shopkeeper`s hands are big and that`s why I got a lot of chocolates.

We will seek only small things from God. But God will give something big for us. Like that we cannot ask music from Rahman sir. He will give great music for us. His work for the film has been amazing.

I am an ignorant person and I wish to keep smart people like Rahman sir around me. He has achieved a lot and we are nothing in front of him. But he will treat everyone as equal to him. You can discuss about the Pani puri we get in Mumbai, with him.

(Fan crowd wants Suriya to speak about Samantha)

Heroines will be more knowledgeable as they would have worked in many films and many good directors. Samantha is one such person. She has already worked with Vikram in Manam` and that has helped her in this film. She looks more gracious in this film than her previous films.

Jyothika said it is good we had Nithya Menen in this film. She had to portray a woman in a relationship for more than 20 years with a man. She will bring that matured relationship so easily. We will have to go in for makeup and getup change to portray a character. But she will keep closing her eyes for a few seconds and perform like the character right from the first shot.

The film involves a lot of work for Art directors. 80% of the film has been shot in sets. But we never had to wait for the set to be ready even for half an hour. Art directors Amit and Subrata Chakraborty have done a tremendous job.

I wanted to avoid speaking about the film but I had to do that to appreciate the hard work of the cast and crew members.

Finally I have something to say for my fan brethren.

It was really painful to read that over 20 students across Tamil Nadu have committed suicide just because they found the 12th examination question papers to be tough.

I was a dummy piece who did not know what he needs tills he completed college life. Everyone has a weakness but your life is much worth than that. God has given you a life and sent you to the earth for a purpose. Please don`t be in a hurry to end that. Every one of us will get an opportunity to prove ourselves. Please wait for that moment.

I have done three characters in the film which will have different shades. I cannot say which one is more close to my heart as all of them are equal to me. I don`t want to utter any dialogue from the film. Please watch them on the screen.

I thank K.E.Gnanavelraja for facilitating my first meeting with director Vikram Kumar.