Malaysian talents continue to break new ground in the entertainment industry, raising the bar with their creativity and ambition. Among them, the dynamic duo Nimalan and TS Mathan have been making headlines with their standout work in music and recreation videos. Now, they’ve taken a significant step forward with their first international collaboration. The pair have teamed up with renowned Singaporean artist Stephen Zechariah for a music video titled Thanga Thaali. Directed by Nimalan and shot by TS Mathan, the video features Stephen Zechariah alongside Keerthanaah Parthipan. The song, composed and sung by Stephen himself, marks an exciting cross-border artistic venture.
Stephen Zechariah is a well-known musical icon with a massive global following. Despite being based in Singapore, his popularity extends far beyond, with sold-out concerts in countries like India and the United Kingdom, where his fanbase remains exceptionally strong. In particular, Stephen shares a special connection with Malaysia—he is no stranger to Malaysian audiences, having performed to packed venues in the country. Malaysian fans are among his most devoted supporters. In this context, the collaboration between our homegrown talents and a celebrated artist like Stephen Zechariah is truly a remarkable milestone.
Notably, it was Stephen Zechariah’s team who initiated the collaboration by reaching out to TS Mathan and Nimalan, having been impressed by the duo’s previous work and the creativity showcased in their Instagram reels. This recognition from an established artist’s team is a strong testament to the quality, originality, and growing influence of Nimalan and TS Mathan’s work in the digital space. Their distinct style and visual storytelling clearly resonated beyond borders. Following a few discussions, both parties decided to join hands and collaborate on the music video.
Nimalan Munusamy is a true multi-talented force in the creative industry, having taken on a wide range of behind-the-scenes roles throughout his career. His experience spans across directing, assistant directing, production design, grip, gaffer, assistant cinematography, editing, writing, and more. He has even showcased his acting skills in a short film, proving his versatility both behind and in front of the camera.
His pilot film, Vizhi Neerum Veenaaga, earned critical acclaim and garnered recognition on international stages at various film festivals. At Varnam Malaysia, we’ve had the privilege of interviewing and featuring Nimalan’s inspiring journey. Click HERE to read more about his story.
TS Mathan’s passion for the entertainment industry began during his school days, driven by a deep love for cinema. He started his journey by watching short films and creating his own video content. His early steps led him to take on the role of assistant director in Kavi Nanthan’s Venpa, and he later contributed as a lyricist for Karthik Shaamalan’s film Sughamaai Subbulakshmi.
He has also worked in Adai Mazhai Kaalam, one of the biggest blockbusters in Malaysian Tamil cinema, and soon after, he stepped into the role of cinematographer—a path he has continued to follow passionately. TS Mathan has since worked on numerous projects, often teaming up with Nimalan on well-received recreation videos. He also served as the cinematographer for Nimalan’s acclaimed pilot film Vizhi Neerum Veenaaga.
Additionally, he worked on Saresh D7’s Naam Katra Isai, contributing to both the popular track “Come Achi” and an exclusive seven-minute visual piece. TS Mathan and Nimalan also worked in the viral hit Yennode Macha by Zubir Khan.
A multi-talented and driven figure in the Malaysian Tamil entertainment scene, TS Mathan’s journey continues to grow. Now, together with Nimalan, he has made a significant leap by marking their first international collaboration—an exciting milestone for both creatives.
As TS Mathan and Nimalan continue to collaborate on numerous projects, the duo has now marked a major milestone with their very first international collaboration. When asked how he felt about this achievement, TS Mathan shared:
“We were absolutely thrilled. I’m truly grateful, and I believe that the years of hard work and dedication we’ve consistently poured into our passion have led to this incredible opportunity. It was a great learning experience that has helped us grow and prepare for the next chapter. We’re always committed to learning, gaining experience, and delivering better work. Our goal is to continue growing together as a team.”
Nimalan shared his experience working on the music video, saying:
“This was a very different experience for me, as it involved a much larger creative team and a bigger crowd than I was used to. Collaborating with Stephen was truly a pleasure—he respected our creative process and workflow, which made the entire journey smoother. We spent a great deal of time in pre-production to ensure everything went according to plan during the shoot.
My team was the backbone of this production. A special shoutout goes to TS Mathan, our cinematographer, and Kishen Rao, who served as the assistant director. Their dedication and hard work were instrumental in bringing this project to life.
One of the biggest challenges was directing and coordinating such a large-scale set, which included managing numerous dancers, extras, and crew members. It required many sleepless nights, but seeing the final result made it all worthwhile. Personally, I had a lot of fun working on this project. It was a truly fulfilling creative journey, and we enjoyed bringing our vision to life.”
Many talented Malaysian artists contributed to this project. The dance choreography was led by the renowned Malaysian dancer and dance master, MS Vemal, who is known for his exceptional skills. He led the dance team, which featured a range of talented Malaysian performers. The list of contributors is as follows:
Director
– Nimalan Munusamy
Assistant Director
– Kishyen Rao
Cinematographer
– TS Mathan
Assistant Cinematographer & Focus puller
– Gurubaran Ganeson
Gaffer
– Navinthan Perumal
Grip
– Nilesh K
Best Boy
– R.Uvan
– Sashwin Chandrasegeran
Behind The Scene & Stills
– Shyaam Chandran
Production Manager
– Simren Deep Kaur Ji
Handy man
– Pravin
Art Department
– Gaayatri
– OCTO
Choreographer
– M.S.VEMAL
Assistant Choreographer
– Monish Ananthan
Dancers
– Kiran Raj
– Pavithran
– Kyshen kumar
– Vinsen
– Shankera
– Shuren Nair
– Abiramy Jeevajothy
– Shuvasheena
– Dharshini
– Sri Neha
– Keshveena
– Renjida
– Sri Nissha
When asked about his first international collaboration, especially with such a widely recognized musical icon, he said, “Our team felt incredibly energized and proud to be part of this international project. It’s exciting to see our platform expanding and our local talents gaining recognition on a global stage. Working with such a renowned artist was both rewarding and challenging. Personally, I felt very comfortable, thanks to the creative freedom he offered us. It allowed our team to showcase our best work, and for that, we are truly grateful.”
It is truly a proud moment to see our homegrown talents making their mark through international collaborations. Nimalan and his team are rising stars who continue to bring pride to our nation with their exceptional work. Emerging talents like them deserve recognition for their dedication and creative contributions. The quality of their work speaks volumes, showcasing their hard work and passion, which has led them to this significant achievement. Malaysians are eagerly looking forward to the release of the music video, excited to see these talented individuals shine on the global stage.
All the information and images are provided by Nimalan and TS Mathan.
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