GV Prakash reveals why he didn’t take remuneration for Ken Karunaas' 'Youth'; 'friendship matters more than money'

Music composer and actor GV Prakash Kumar recently revealed why he composed music for the film 'Youth' without taking a salary. He spoke about this during a promotional interview for his latest film 'Happy Raj,' which released recently. The film stars GV Prakash alongside Sri Gouri Priya and is directed by debut filmmaker Maria Raja Ilanchezhiyan. During the interview in Hyderabad, GV Prakash was asked about his work in 'Youth,' a film directed by and starring Ken Karunas. Responding to the question, he explained that his decision was based on friendship and personal respect rather than financial gain.

GV Prakash credits friendship with Karunas for the decision

Speaking about the reason, GV Prakash said his close friendship with Ken Karunas influenced his choice, as reported by Cinema Vikatan. “The reason I worked on that film without taking a salary is Karunas. He acted in my film 'Darling,' and we have a good friendship,” he said. He also appreciated Karunas and his wife Grace for their kindness. “Karunas and his wife Grace are very good people. Because of the affection and respect I have for them, I composed music for 'Youth' without asking for payment,” he added. According to him, sometimes personal relationships are more important than money in the film industry.

GV Prakash explains audio rights challenges for 'Youth' songs

GV Prakash also shared that the team faced difficulties selling the film’s audio rights. Since the film had a newcomer in the lead role, many audio labels were unwilling to buy the songs for a good price. “Because the film had a debut actor, audio companies wanted to buy the songs for a very low amount,” he explained. As the team had already spent a lot on music production, GV Prakash decided to start his own music label. “I launched my own label and released the songs myself. Later, when the songs became hits, the same companies offered five times more money,” he said.

'Youth' cast and crew

GV Prakash also clarified that he did not compose the music thinking of profit. “I did not do the film for business or money. I did it out of affection,” he said. The film 'Youth' is directed by Ken Karunas, who also plays the lead role. Meanwhile, GV Prakash returned to acting after a long gap, with the recent film 'Happy Raj'.Get the latest entertainment updates from the Times of India, along with the latest Hindi movies, upcoming Hindi movies in 2026 , and Telugu movies.”