'Appa' promo clips gain popularity

Chennai: Creating an emotional connect with a movie can work magic for its promotion. And that's exactly what Samuthirakani did for his latest 'Appa'. He brought together celebrities to talk about their fathers, share the deepest and fondest memories of them.
Even before the movie was released, the promos created the right buzz among audience. This is also the first time that fans got to see their favourite stars - Ilayaraja, Mohanlal, Suriya, Manju Warrier and Nithya Menon - talk about their father, and the role he played in their lives and not about the movie or the director.
Samuthirakani, who directed 'Appa', said he first thought of recording the clips of each one in the crew talking about their father.
"I approached Suriya who immediately accepted the idea. The response was good and we recorded more celebrities remembering their father," he said.
"The only thing I asked them was not to talk about the movie and its director. I am happy that the promo clips are gaining popularity," said Samuthirakani, who has also acted in the movie.
'Appa' is a tale of three fathers and the important role they play in their children's lives. They have different views and opinions about how children should be brought up.
With more than 45,000 views, the promo clip of veteran music composer Ilayaraja, who scored music for the movie, tops the list.
"Because of my father, I talk about my mother. He is still with me," he said. Narrating an event that took place decades ago in Kerala, Ilayaraja said, "I found my father playing tennis with friends in a rare photograph that I happened to see at a friend's house. I was working in a tea estate in Kerala then. It was a great feeling," said Ilayaraja in an emotional seven-minute clip.
The promo clips are not only limited to film celebrities, IAS officer U Sahayam, police officers and journalists also remember their fathers.
"We have released seventy promo clips so far. There are more to come. We are happy that they are getting great response even after the release of the movie," said Nikhil Murugan, who handles the public relations for the movie.