In August this year, Devi Sri Prasad, popularly known as DSP, won his first National Award for Best Music Director (Songs) for Pushpa: The Rise (2021). The film also earned Allu Arjun the Best Actor award. In his first big interview post the win, DSP, who is currently in the process of composing the music for Pushpa: The Rule, tells News18 Showsha exclusively that the team hasn’t had the time to celebrate yet since the shoot for the film is going on in full swing.
“We’re all very passionate people. We’re always into work and are very focused. I think that’s why we are blessed with the National Awards. We’ve only spoken over phone calls and haven’t met yet because I live in Chennai and they all live in Hyderabad. We haven’t partied because they’re busy shooting for Pushpa 2. I’m also in the process of making songs for Pushpa 2, Suriya sir’s Kanguva, Ajay Devgn sir and Madhavan sir’s film and Pawan Kalyan sir’s film,” he says.
Looking forward to having a double celebration once the filming of Pushpa: The Rule wraps up, DSP adds, “Sukumar (director) sir, Bunny (Allu Arjun) and I’ve been exchanging calls and telling each other that we need to meet as soon as possible. They’re shooting for a few songs and some fight sequences right now. Our celebration is pending.”
DSP’s association with the ‘Stylish Star’ goes back a long way. They had first worked on the film, Arya (2004), which made the actor an overnight sensation. Recalling their conversation they had post their respective wins at the National Award this year, DSP tells us, “That was one of the most heart-warming calls we had. He called me after the announcement was made. While he was congratulating me, the Best Actor award was also announced. And we both started screaming (laughs)! I’m so happy for him. The way Sukumar sir conceived the character and the kind of hard work Allu Arjun put in it makes him truly deserving of the award.”
Speaking about the camaraderie they share, DSP remarks, “Bunny and I’ve been friends since childhood. We grew up in Chennai but then he moved to Hyderabad. Our journeys also began together. His first big break was Arya, which was directed by Sukumar sir and I had composed the music for the film. We experienced all the lows and the highs together.”
Needless to say, Pushpa: The Rise made for a memorable experience for the trio. “The happiest moment for all three of us was doing Pushpa together. It felt like an emotional celebration. And the most unexpected thing was getting the National Awards. While on call, Bunny and I were laughing! We didn’t even know what to say. We were both so happy for each other. It felt like a family celebration,” he states.
The Drishyam 2 (2022) and Uppena (2021) composer further says that a lot many people had predicted his win at this year’s National Awards but he didn’t pay much heed to it. Talking about it, he remarks, “A lot of people told me that I might just win the National Award for Pushpa because its music became so big. I only said, ‘Let’s see what God has in store for me.’ But the fact that the songs reached so many people made me feel like I’ve already won an award.”
He continues, “When I composed for films like Khadgam, Manmadhudu (both 2002) and Varsham (2003), which became musical blockbusters and gave me the chance of working with senior instrumentalists, a lot of people told me that I might win a National Award for them too but I didn’t (laughs). But I’m happy that God blessed us with National Awards for Pushpa.”
