Thaman teases Ramajogayya Sastry over 'garu' at Narayanamma song launch

Music director Thaman turned one polite word into the running joke of the evening at the launch of "Narayanamma", the new song from Aadarsha Kutumbam. The composer shared the event with lyricist Ramajogayya Sastry, and it was the way Ramajogayya spoke to him that got things going.

When Ramajogayya addressed him as "garu", the formal term of respect, Thaman was quick to respond. "Why garu, why 'garlu' for us?" he asked in a light, playful tone. He then shared his own theory about when the lyricist decides to use such a formal word with him.

According to Thaman, Ramajogayya saves "garu" for just two situations. The first is when he is upset with the composer, and the second is when the words in a song are not audible. The remark came across as a cheeky jab rather than a real complaint, and it quickly made a simple form of address the highlight of the exchange.

Nothing in the moment pointed to any trouble between the two. Thaman and Ramajogayya have a long association and have worked together on several projects, and that comfort was easy to see. The composer was simply pulling his collaborator's leg, turning a formal greeting into an inside joke that everyone in the room was now in on.

The comment still drew plenty of attention, mostly because of the easy, playful bond the pair share in public. For fans of their work together, it was a fun glimpse of the friendship behind the songs.

So is there anything serious behind the sudden "garu"? For now, it looks like nothing more than two longtime colleagues having some fun at each other's expense, with the joke doing most of the talking at the "Narayanamma" launch.