"Naa Ready" (transl. I Am Ready) is an Indian Tamil-language song and the first single in the soundtrack of the 2023 film Leo, directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj. Starring Vijay, Sanjay Dutt, and Arjun Sarja, the film is produced by S. S. Lalit Kumar under Seven Screen Studio. The track is composed by Anirudh Ravichander, and is sung by Vijay himself with the former as the co-singer and rap verses written and performed by Asal Kolaar, while the lyrics for the track were written by Vishnu Edavan.[1]
| "Naa Ready" | |
|---|---|
 Official song cover | |
| Single by Vijay, Anirudh Ravichander and Asal Kolaar | |
| from the album Leo | |
| Language | Tamil |
| Released | 22 June 2023 |
| Recorded | 2023 |
| Studio | Albuquerque Records, Chennai Studio DMI, Las Vegas |
| Genre | |
| Length | 4:08 |
| Label | Sony Music |
| Composer(s) | Anirudh Ravichander |
| Lyricist(s) | Vishnu Edavan |
| Producer(s) | Anirudh Ravichander |
| Leo track listing | |
| |
| Music video | |
| "Naa Ready" on YouTube | |
The single was released on Vijay's birthday (22 June 2023),[2][3] and became the second-most viewed Tamil song in a span of 24 hours.
Background
edit"Naa Ready" marked the fourth time Vijay had sung for Anirudh's composition after previously doing so for "Selfie Pulla" from Kaththi (2014) "Kutti Story" from Master (2021) and "Jolly O Gymkhana" from Beast (2022).[4] Vishnu Edavan, an assistant director of Lokesh had written lyrics for the song, after previously doing so for Master and Vikram.[5]
Music video
editThe music video was shot at the Adityaram Studios in Chennai during 6 to 11 June 2023, with Vijay, Sanjay Dutt, Mansoor Ali Khan, Arjun Sarja and Madonna Sebastian amongst others featuring.[6] Originally supposed to be shot in May, with around 2000 background artists, the shooting was postponed due to scheduling conflicts.[7] Over 500–600 background dancers participated in the song which was choreographed by Dinesh Kumar.[8][9] The producers spent ₹7 crore (US$840,000) for shooting the song in a week.[10] The music video for the song was released on 19 November 2023.[11]
Reception
editCritical response
editPriyanka Goud of Pinkvilla said "The first single promises a perfect mass anthem. The actor's singing and dance moves make for a perfect treat to fans",[12] The Indian Express said "Naa Ready is a typical Tamil 'Kuthu' number, which is sure to find lot of takers",[4] while India Today called it as "the season's perfect dance number".[5]
Records
editNaa Ready garnered 20 million views and 1.6 million likes in 24-hours on YouTube, setting the second highest viewed and liked Tamil song in that time span, behind Vijay's own song "Arabic Kuthu" from Beast.[13][14] The song was streamed over a million times on Spotify upon release.[15]
Charts
edit| Chart (2023) | Peak
position |
|---|---|
| India (Billboard)[16]
Naa Ready |
14 |
| United Kingdom (Asian Music Chart Top 40)[17] | 4 |
Controversy
editSmoking criticism
editDespite the song's success, it also garnered criticism from politicians and activists over the glorification of smoking and drugs in the film, with Pattali Makkal Katchi president and MP Anbumani Ramadoss demanding Vijay to stop promoting smoking in his films.[18] Chennai-based RTI Selvam filed an online complaint against the film with the Chennai Police Commissioner asking for action against Vijay under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, stating that he was glorifying consumption of drugs. Selvam later submitted his complaint in person as well.[19][20] Later, the makers added health disclaimers in the lyrical video whenever stills of Vijay smoking in the song appears.[21]
On 9 September 2023, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) instructed the team to modify the visuals and lyrics of the song for its screening in theatres.[22][23] The song was further changed in the film as well.[23]
Non-payment for background dancers
editOn 10 October 2023, one of the background dancers who worked in the song accused the producer Lalit Kumar in a video statement over the non-payment of dues, with several freelance dancers reached the office of the production house demanding the same.[24] The production team clarified that the payment has been sent to the Tamil Nadu Film, Television Dancers & Dance Directors Union (TANTTNNIS) for the registered members.[25]
R. K. Selvamani, the president of Film Employees Federation of South India (FEFSI) also clarified the aforementioned statement while adding that Lokesh interested on filming the song with 2,000 dancers. However, the union employs only 600, hence with the help of choreographer Dinesh Kumar, the team brought 1,400 freelance dancers who were not part of the union. The makers agreed to pay ₹1,750 per day with conveyance charges and bata, and deposited a sum of ₹9,460,500 (US$110,000) for the registered members and a sum of ₹10,500 (for six days) per person were credited to the respective bank accounts of the non-union dancers. He further added that the allegations against the producers were baseless.[24]
References
edit- ^ "Here's the lyrical video of 'Leo' first single 'Naa Ready'; a birthday treat to Vijay's fans!". The Times of India. 22 June 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 23 June 2023. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
- ^ "Here's the lyrical video of 'Leo' first single 'Naa Ready'; a birthday treat to Vijay's fans!". The Times of India. 22 June 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 23 June 2023. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
- ^ Desk, Online (16 June 2023). "'Naa Ready': Vijay's Leo first single to be out on June 22". DT Next. Archived from the original on 23 June 2023. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
{{cite web}}:|last=has generic name (help) - ^ a b "Leo song Naa Ready lyric video out: Vijay brings his infectious energy and charisma to Anirudh Ravichander track". The Indian Express. 22 June 2023. Archived from the original on 5 July 2023. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
- ^ a b "Video: 'Naa Ready' full song out. Thalapathy Vijay's track from 'Leo' is this season's perfect dance number". India Today. 22 June 2023. Archived from the original on 22 June 2023. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
- ^ "Vijay shoots for his introduction song from Lokesh Kanagaraj's 'Leo' in Chennai". The Times of India. 6 June 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 24 June 2023. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
- ^ "Lokesh Kanagaraj takes up a huge challenge for Vijay's 'Leo'". The Times of India. 28 April 2023. Archived from the original on 28 April 2023. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
- ^ "Thalapathy Vijay shoots mass intro song for Leo in Chennai. Here are the deets". India Today. 7 June 2023. Archived from the original on 24 June 2023. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
- ^ "Shooting Of Thalapahy Vijay-starrer Leo's Introduction Song Underway In Chennai". News18. 6 June 2023. Archived from the original on 9 June 2023. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
- ^ "Leo: Thalapathy Vijay's Naa Ready song budget revealed". OTTPlay. 18 June 2023. Archived from the original on 23 June 2023. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
- ^ "The 'Naa Ready' video song from Vijay's 'Leo' is out now; the extended version is streaming digitally". The Times of India. 19 November 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 24 May 2024. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
- ^ "Leo Naa Ready Song OUT: Thalapathy Vijay's mass signature step can be the next viral thing on the Internet". PINKVILLA. 22 June 2023. Archived from the original on 3 July 2023. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
- ^ Kollywood, Only (23 June 2023). "Naa Ready from LEO breaks records on the internet!". Only Kollywood. Archived from the original on 24 June 2023. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
- ^ "Leo's Naa Ready: Vijay fails to beat himself". 123telugu.com. 23 June 2023. Archived from the original on 25 June 2023. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
- ^ Sony Music South [@SonyMusicSouth] (23 June 2023). "Over a humongous 1️⃣ MILLION STREAMS on @spotifyindia just within 24 hours! 🤩❤️🔥 It's #NaaReady from #Leo for y'all !😍✨" (Tweet). Retrieved 29 November 2023 – via Twitter.
- ^ "India Songs – Billboard". Billboard. Archived from the original on 29 November 2023. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
- ^ "Asian Music Chart Top 40: 30 June 2023". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 29 December 2023. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
- ^ "'Vijay should keep his word and not smoke in films': MP Anbumani Ramadoss". The Indian Express. 19 June 2023. Archived from the original on 19 June 2023. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
- ^ "Police complaint against Vijay for allegedly glorifying drug use in Leo song Naa Ready, ban on film demanded". Daily News and Analysis. 26 June 2023. Archived from the original on 26 June 2023. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
- ^ Staff, T. N. M. (27 June 2023). "Police complaint lodged against actor Vijay over smoking scene in Leo". The News Minute. Archived from the original on 24 May 2024. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
- ^ "After police complaint against Vijay, health disclaimer added in Leo song Naa Ready". The Indian Express. 28 June 2023. Archived from the original on 29 June 2023. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
- ^ "CBFC modifies some visuals and lyrics of Naa Ready song from Leo". Cinema Express. 10 September 2023. Archived from the original on 10 September 2023. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
- ^ a b "Remove lyrics on drinking & smoking in Vijay's Naan Ready song from Leo: CBFC". The News Minute. 10 September 2023. Archived from the original on 13 October 2023. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
- ^ a b "'Leo' background dancers accuse makers of non-payment. Film body issues statement". India Today. 11 October 2023. Archived from the original on 26 December 2023. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
- ^ "'Leo' background dancers accuse production house of non-payment". OnManorama. Archived from the original on 12 October 2023. Retrieved 29 November 2023.