Friendship results in great work with Rahman: Bharatbala (With Image)

Tamil director Bharatbala says that friendship is the pillar of the relationship he shares with Oscar-winning composer A.R. Rahman, with whom he has teamed up again in forthcoming Tamil romantic-drama "Mariyaan".

The two had earlier joined hands for music videos "Vande Mataram", "Jana Gana Mana" and the 2010 Commonwealth Games anthem "Jiyo Utho Bado Jeeto".

"I don't know Rahman as a great musician, but as a very close friend with whom I always enjoy working. It's the years of friendship between us that has resulted in great work every time we have collaborated on a project," Bharatbala told IANS.

"It's because of our friendship and the fact that we trust each other so much that Rahman agreed to work for the film without even listening to the script," he added.

Rahman has not only composed music for "Mariyaan" but has also penned the lyrics and crooned for the film.

"Most of us contributed to the lyrics in the film, including Dhanush. Rahman did too as I insisted because I felt it was important to make use of his expertise," he said.

Rahman collaborated with Revathi and penned the songs "Nenjae Ezhu" and "Enga Pona Raasaa" in "Mariyaan".

Are you not comfortable working with other composers?

"That's not true. I worked with London-based composer Nitin Sawhney for my debut film 'Hari Om' because the project needed international sensibilities. Nitin is an international composer and I believed his music would be apt for the film," Bharatbala said.

Dhanush and Parvathi Menon play the lead in the film, produced by Venu Ravichandran. The film is slated to release May 31.

Bharatbala says music breathes life into "Mariyaan".

"Music serves as a narrative in the film. It will elevate the film to greater heights and prove that how music can also be used as an effective tool to narrate," he added.

The film's music, which released recently, has already generated quite a buzz in the industry.