GV Prakash Kumar on ‘Happy Raj’: I am returning to my ‘Trisha Illana Nayanthara’ zone

GV Prakash Kumar, along with debutant director Maria Raja Elanchezhian, speaks about his upcoming comedy-drama ‘Happy Raj’, completing 20 years as a composer, and how it is impossible to predict the effectiveness of film promotions

In 2015, music composer GV Prakash Kumar made his debut as a lead actor in the horror-comedy Darling and followed it with the adult comedy Trisha Illana Nayanthara. The Prakash we saw in these films was animated and eruptive, in contrast to the timid, soft-spoken composer audiences had known. “Then I abandoned that scale of acting, and I started doing serious films. Comedy is a very risky zone. Which is why many films will either be a blast or a dud; there’s no two ways about it. That is why I had stayed away from it for so long,” says Prakash.

And now, after more than 10 years since Trisha Illana Nayanthara, Prakash seems to be returning to that zone in the upcoming comedy-drama, Happy Raj, directed by debutant Maria Raja Elanchezhian. “I watched Trisha Illana Nayanthara when I was in college, and the vibe of that film, start to end, was quite something. So I wanted to bring him back in that zone, but in a more family-friendly story,” says Maria. Happy Raj’s trailer promises a riotous comedy surrounding the titular character’s romantic escapades and a one-of-a-kind equation with his father, played by George Maryan.

Prakash chips in to mention how many, like Pradeep Ranganathan, whom Maria assisted, have been fans of Trisha Illana Nayanthara. “In fact, Pradeep narrated Comali to me after watching that film. I had even suggested a couple of corrections. We were supposed to do that film, but that didn’t fall through. But Pradeep has been in touch with me ever since. Then we had films like Love Today, and Vignesh Shivan did Kaathuvaakula Rendu Kaadhal; Trisha Illana Nayanthara has inspired many such films. And now, Maria has taken the energy of that film and has done a jolly, family-friendly movie,” says the actor.

Music composer and actor GV Prakash during an interaction at The Hindu office in Chennai on Wednesday, 05/11/2025 | Photo Credit: Shivaraj s

As comedy is a risky zone, Prakash was initially sceptical about Maria’s script. “He had worked out the humour quite well, but I wasn’t sure how it would turn out, and so I asked him to shoot a few scenes. He took some of his friends and shot a few scenes on his mobile phone, and it turned out to be phenomenal,” he says, adding that the writer-director has struck a great balance between emotions and humour. “Audiences will get to see me in a brighter zone again, but at the same time, they will also see and relate to the emotions.”

Everything Prakash and Maria say might paint the image of an over-the-top protagonist, but Happy Raj, Prakash stresses, is an introverted character whose situations force him to reach a certain way. “Moreover, we have only shown the high moments in the trailer. He is an introvert who sometimes laments. He’s a bit timid, and he can’t approach something head-on; he would run away if we put him in a difficult situation.”