Chennai witnessed the launch of Missu Mela Crushu, a unique music video album featuring child artist Siddharth Panneer, who not only performs but also sings the track in five different Indian languages: Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, and Hindi. The event, held at the Kamarajar Arangam, drew significant attention from the Tamil film industry and beyond, with veteran lyricist Vairamuthu officially releasing the album.
Produced by Dr. Sathya Karikalan under the Neo Castle Creations banner, the project marks a notable debut for Siddharth in the music video sphere. The song itself was composed and directed by Aswamithra, who shared insights into the collaboration’s origins. Initially approaching Siddharth for a different, peppier song which the young artist declined, Aswamithra was later surprised to hear him humming along proficiently to a new melody being developed. “His ability to grasp things quickly was impressive,” Aswamithra recalled. “When I asked if he could sing it, he confidently said yes if taught. That led to this project, and his talent allowed us to have him sing in all five languages himself.” Aswamithra also revealed further collaborations are planned, including a song highlighting Siddharth’s skills in Silambam, a martial art in which he is reportedly a national champion.
The launch event served as a platform for numerous industry veterans to express their views on the young performer. Actor-director Thambi Ramaiah praised Siddharth’s potential, drawing a parallel to the screen presence of MGR upon first meeting him. He emphasized the importance of nurturing talent, quoting an industrialist: “‘Giving birth to a child is easy, but raising them well is the challenge.'” He commended Siddharth’s parents for fostering his abilities and predicted success, noting the young artist’s command over both his physique and voice (‘Sareeram’ and ‘Sariram’).
Actor and politician Karunas added a personal note, claiming he was the first to recognise Siddharth’s dancing talent and had cast him in an upcoming film, even introducing him to his dance master. He viewed the successful launch as an auspicious sign for Siddharth’s burgeoning career. Director Bose Venkat, familiar with the family, expressed astonishment at the multi-lingual singing achievement, having previously only seen Siddharth’s dancing. He strongly predicted a significant future for Siddharth as an actor in Tamil cinema, suggesting his debut would “surprise even more people.”
Director Ira Saravanan shared anecdotes reflecting early industry buzz. He recounted showing the video to actors Sasikumar and Soori; Sasikumar apparently advised securing Siddharth’s dates immediately, while Soori expressed regret at not having known about him earlier to cast him in the film Maamannan. Saravanan highlighted the “Namma Veettu Pillai” (like one of our own family) connection audiences might feel and foresaw Siddharth potentially reaching Bollywood.
Director Sargunam focused on Siddharth’s performance skills, noting his proficiency as a dancer, singer, and actor within the video. He particularly praised the ability to replicate the performance flawlessly and with visible enthusiasm live on stage, calling it a hallmark of a natural performer. Choreographer and actress Gayathri Raghuram drew comparisons between Siddharth’s diverse talents – singing, dancing, martial arts, and potential acting – and the multi-faceted skills demonstrated early in their careers by artists like Silambarasan, Kamal Haasan, Dhanush, and Prashanth. She stressed the crucial role of parental encouragement alongside professional training and noted the venue’s history of launching successful careers.
The launch event served to introduce Siddharth Panneer’s multi-lingual talents, presenting his performance and singing across five languages to an audience that included numerous industry figures.