Sekhar Menon’s Kiliye Kiliye blend has lit up social media

DJ Sekhar’s Kiliye Kiliye number, a blend of the Ilayaraja classic from Malayalam film Aa Rathri with veteran French DJ Guts’s Come Closer, has been the trending music on social media for weeks now. It has formed the backdrop for travel and lifestyle reels, not just in Kerala and nationally, but also across the world. It has had about 12 million hits on the Malayali musician’s Instagram and there are over 56,000 reels made to this music.



How the music happened
I was listening to this old Guts track when I was driving, and I spontaneously sang Kiliye Kiliye with it. I got home, went straight to my computer at 1 am and was looking at the possibilities, and it felt perfect. I did it for my pleasure. Sometimes, you sit down to make music and it won’t happen; this was just serendipitous, it just clicked.


What is the magic in this track that has made it click on this level?
I have no clue (laughs). I just made it on the spur of the moment. But my inbox has been very busy after a long with my family and friends sending me reels that have used this music. I’m so happy, as I have always listened to Ilayaraja tracks, and also I play it at home because I’d like my kids to know the classics.

What next?
I have done an original remix of Thumbi Va, another Ilayaraja-S Janaki combo, which is in lo-fi style. I also have a Telugu film with my composition coming up.