Will history repeat with Mungaru Male 2?

The men behind the music of Mungaru Male 2 are ecstatic about having been able to meet the expectations of listeners, what with the music album trending just hours after its release online. They speak to Bangalore Times about what went into the making'
Ganesh, actor: We didn't know that we were creating history
Ten years ago, we worked on a film with the intention of doing something fresh.We did so with enthusiasm and honesty. Little did we know that the film, Mungaru Male, would create history. It became the longest-running film here, and the music reached the top slot in the country and not just our state. It was my wife Shilpa's idea to work on Mungaru Male 2. And with the idea came the much-expected pressure of being able to meet the expectations set by our first film. Today, the music of Mungaru Male 2 is out, and the kind of response we have received already is nothing short of overwhelming. I understand that if the film's music does well, it means that we have already won half the battle. I personally love the songs on the album and my favourite ones are Sariyaagi, Neenu Irade and Gamanisu.
Jayanth Kaikini, lyricist: It's a personal celebration of my decade-long journey of writing lyrics
Over the last decade, there have been so many times when I have heard filmmakers come up with requests asking for work that is 'just like Mungaru Male'. And I have often told them that if they want that, they might as well just take that. Personally, there is so much more that one can offer than what has already been done. Having said that, it is no doubt that Mungaru Male created a sort of benchmark. Whatever one does, it is bound to be compared to that benchmark. It is a lot like first love ' you can't get over it. But you also need to learn to love as long as you are on this planet. It is always deeply reassuring and inspiring when your latest work is well received. It's exactly a decade since I started my career as a lyricist with Mungaru Male, so this overwhelming response now is a personal celebration of my decade-long journey of writing lyrics.
Shashank, director: The songs of Mungaru Male 2 have a universal appeal
There is bound to be a lot of speculation about the music of a sequel, especially when it is not done by those who worked on the original. To match up to the expectations, we initially wanted music maestro AR Rahman to be a part of this venture. We were in touch with his managers for the same. However, budget constraints did not allow that to happen. But we have our own Rahman in the Kannada film industry in the form of Arjun Janya. We worked on the music for a year and Arjun composed at least 100 tunes, out of which we recorded 15, and then finally brought it down to the eight tracks that are now part of the album. This does not mean that the other songs were not good, but to be able to meet the expectations set by the first film in 2006, we worked together to bring together a set of songs that would have a universal appeal ' irrespective of the language or background of the listener. I am a strong believer in the content of a film, and every individual associated with the film needs to contribute to the script. The music launch is our first step and I cannot express how delighted I am to see that our music is touching the audience the way it has touched our hearts.
Arjun Janya, music director: I have never got such a huge response for my work
I was so touched that the film team of Mungaru Male 2 chose me to compose the tunes for a film of epic relevance. But once the thrill of being part of this film settled down, did the enormity of the task at hand dawned on me. Over the last year, I composed so many tunes that I liked, but I would scrap them and work on a better one. There were so many times when I sat back and wondered if I would ever be able to do it at all. I credit director Shashank for helping ease my tension. Every time I felt pressure, Shashank stood by my side with a cool head and reassured me, even though I know that the pressure must have got to him too. This is the 60th film I have composed music for, and I have never before got such a huge response for my work. I have had people call and tell me that they have liked my work before, but when the call is for Mungaru Male 2, the feeling is different. I feel proud.