The Poomaram song was destined for me: Faisal Razi

Faisal Razi was a layman until the Poomaram song Njanum Njanumentalum��� went viral. In no time, the composer became an overnight sensation. The song is currently on every Malayali���s lips, across age groups. Faisal talks about the unbelievable amount of appreciation showered on him after he composed and sang the track.
How did Poomaram happen?
The song was something we used to sing every now and then at Maharaja���s College, Kochi.I first heard it when I was in my first year and liked it instantly. Being inclined towards music, I noted down the lines and sang it in my own way. However, I didn���t publicise it as I felt my college mates would not be too appreciative of the revamped version.
Unfortunately, I was kicked out of the college but used to visit it even afterwards. In fact, more than when I was a student there. It was then that Abrid Shine sir came to our college. Seeing me with a guitar, he asked me to sing a song. I recited Poomaram, but said that I have plans to take it into my album, when he asked me, ���Ende cinemakku thannude?���
Tracing the origin of the song...
It was Sudheesh Sudha, a former student of Maharajas College, who brought the beautiful track to the campus around 2007. Keen to find out the mystery behind the song, Abrid Shine sir and I contacted Sudheesh. He said that he got to hear the lines from a fellow worker while he used to do tiles work in Pala. A few days later Shine sir got a call at night, from a person who informed him that two people named Vinod and Kannan from Kuzhoor were the ones who sang the song first. Both of us set out in search of them right then, at midnight. When we finally met them, they explained to us that they first heard the song at a toddy shop. A stranger had sung the song and they just joined in as chorus. As the lines were simple, they learned it as well. People from Kuzhoor considered it their own.
The quest came to an end when someone called again, one Asaan Babu and Dayal Singh from Kottapuram, Kodungallur who said they were the ones behind the wondrous song. We also met Asaan, who is now a security guard, and they reminisced the song���s origin, which goes back to 25 years. They had scribbled the lines to liven up the heavy work of rowing of the ferry. It was indeed a great experience trying to find the muse behind the age-old song. It feels as if the unsung people���s creation withstood the test of time, only to conclude in me. I think it was destined for me.
When I listened to the original version, it was more like a folk song but there was so much soul in it, despite the mediocre lines. It felt like the song lifted their spirits, symbolising their hardships and camaraderie.
Tell us about your tribute to AR Rahman - Cafe Qawwali...
After listening to a lot of Sufi songs, I started getting addicted to them and made an album of cover songs with my friends at college. I had never performed any of the songs in college or released the album except the tribute to AR Rahman on his birthday ��� Caf�� Qawwali. The legendary musician���s response thanking me for the gesture made me feel out of the world. Just when I was contemplating of making more covers in the future, Poomaram happened.
What about the trolls that came out within minutes of its release?
They made me so laugh so much that I even shared some of them on my social networking page. I see them as a catalyst, as they have given me far more reach within the audience and have contributed to making them a hit. If there is so much discussion happening around a song, it means that there is something in it worth talking about.
Future plans
I am now working on another song in the same film. I have been receiving many offers too. However, as of now, I will focus only on Poomaram, following which I will decide on things.
Within a short span of time, a divine connection has developed between Shine sir and I, and he has become more of an elder brother to me. He has been a mentor, who points out my mistakes and even ensures that I correct them. I would stand by the film till the end, no matter what.