National award winning director Vetrimaran has been one of the long time friends of lyricist Na.Muthukumar who passed away recently at a very young age. Both of them started their film careers as the Assistant directors of veteran filmmaker Balumahendra.

In an exclusive interview to Indiaglitz, the 'Visaranai' director who is presently busy shooting the first part of his ambitious 'Vada Chennai' trilogy shared his personal and professional journey with the dual National award winning lyricist on an emotional note .

Vetrimaran revealed that when he joined Balumahendra as an assistant. Muthukumar was working as the senior director's lone assistant. Muthukumar has written poems and poetry collections by that time itself. They spent 6-7 months together in Balumahendra's camp. Vetri was doing his MA while Muthu was doing his Ph.D simultaneously and were going to college. They will go to college to mark the attendance on alternative days by asking the other to reach the director's office early.

Within a few months Muthukumar conveyed to Balumahendra that he is going out to seek chances as lyricist as he felt he does not have the ability to direct a film. The veteran appreciated him for his ability to find his strength and weakness and blessed him. He was also eager to introduce Muthukumar as a lyricist in his film but Seeman grabbed the chance by making him write songs for his 'Veeranadai'.

Vetrimaran stayed in a bachelor's room that was a couple of streets away from Seeman's office. So Muthukumar would visit his room often and spend time with his friends.

Muthukumar wrote the 'Minnalgal Koothadum' song in Vetrimaran's debut film 'Polladhavan' and that was their first professional association. 'Aadukalam' did not have Muthukumar's songs while 'Visaranai' did not have songs at all.

However Muthukumar worked in Vetrimaran's production ventures and he penned the super hit romantic melody 'Yaaro Ivan' in 'Udhayam NH4.' Vetrimaran was planning to meet Muthukumar and discuss the songs of 'Vada Chennai' but sadly the fate had other plans.

Further, Vetrimaran revealed that he has penned a script inspired by one of the poems of Muthukumar. He planned to make it as a short film in 2005 but now it has been developed as a feature film script and is ready to be made as a film. He assured he will certainly make it as a film. which may well be a fitting tribute to Muthukumar.