A dream came true for music composer Ajaneesh Loknath when the legendary AR Rahman praised his work on ‘Kantara: Chapter 1’, saying, “Music is really good.” For Loknath, who grew up inspired by Rahman’s iconic chartbusters, these words were incredibly meaningful.
Recalling a cherished memory, Ajaneesh shares how his father, captivated by the music of ‘Indian’ (1996), bought three cassettes to record the entire film. He jokingly refers to it as “piracy,” but notes that original soundtracks were rare back then. Interestingly, even Rahman himself acknowledged this approach as “educational.”
As a lifelong admirer, Ajaneesh remains deeply impressed by the technical brilliance of tracks like ‘Akadanu Naanga’ and ‘Telephone Manipol’ from the S. Shankar film. However, he highlights ‘Pachai Kiligal’ for its profound emotional impact, reminiscing about dancing to it with his father, just like the characters Chandru and Senapathy in the movie.
Music composer Ajaneesh Loknath. Photo Credit: RAVICHANDRAN N
Currently, Ajaneesh is enjoying the peak of his career with ‘Kantara: Chapter 1’ becoming India’s highest-grossing film of 2025 to date. This remarkable success, coming a decade into his journey, is a significant milestone for the composer, achieved alongside his frequent creative partner, actor-director Rishab Shetty.
Around 2014, Kannada cinema was undergoing a significant transformation, with Pawan Kumar’s ‘Lucia’ leading the charge. Driven by a desire for fresh storytelling, friends Rishab and Rakshit Shetty joined forces on two projects: ‘Ulidavaru Kandante’ (2014) and ‘Kirik Party’ (2016). Ajaneesh composed the music for both films, which quickly achieved cult status among Kannada film enthusiasts.
According to Ajaneesh, both Rishab and Rakshit hold music in high regard, considering it as crucial as the storyline itself. The remarkable soundtracks of ‘Ulidavaru Kandante’ and ‘Kirik Party’ stand as a testament to this young team’s shared dedication to exceptional music.
Ajaneesh further highlights Rishab’s profound appreciation for music by discussing the popular track ‘Brahmakalasha’ from ‘Kantara: Chapter 1’. He explains that the opening 40-50 seconds of the song are elevated by the masterful use of Alaap, an improvisational melodic introduction that beautifully sets the mood.
“In today’s music landscape, dominated by catchy hooks, it’s truly uncommon for an actor or director to embrace the use of Alaap in a song,” Ajaneesh observes. “Rishab, however, had a clear vision from the outset: he wanted the music to resonate with international quality.”
A captivating still from the ‘Brahmakalasha’ song in ‘Kantara: Chapter 1’. Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
‘Brahmakalasha’ stands out as a truly captivating devotional piece, skillfully weaving together various ragas within a soundscape that perfectly captures the ancient historical setting of the film. Abby V’s soulful vocals add another layer of power to this visually stunning song. Ajaneesh elaborates, “Abby’s voice shares a similar, soothing quality to mine—not overly masculine—which was essential for a track like ‘Brahmakalasha’.”
The melodious love song ‘Madana Mana Mohini’, featuring Rishab and Rukmini Vasanth, starts with a captivating flourish. Ajaneesh explains, “I chose to open the song with thanam—an improvisational raga elaboration technique. Since ‘Brahmakalasha’ began with an instrument, I wanted a different approach for this track, which needed a strong element of shrungara (love). The thanam created a charming effect, and Rishab instantly approved.”
This romantic track is beautifully rendered by Vijay Prakash and Ananya Bhat, the same duo behind the immensely popular ‘Singara Siriye’ from ‘Kantara’ (2022). Ajaneesh admits, “I initially worried about comparisons between ‘Madana Mana Mohini’ and ‘Singara Siriye’.” However, Vijay Prakash reassured him, confident that the new song would gradually captivate listeners. Indeed, Vijay’s prediction came true, as ‘Madana Mana Mohini’ has steadily climbed in popularity after its initial, quieter release.
Rishab Shetty and Rukmini Vasanth share a romantic moment in the song ‘Madana Mana Mohini’ from ‘Kantara: Chapter 1’. Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Ajaneesh describes ‘Kantara: Chapter 1’ as his most demanding project to date, particularly the intense week leading up to its release. “I hit a creative wall trying to compose the climax score, feeling like I’d reached a dead end,” he admits. Miraculously, just when time was running out, he managed to create the entire background score in a mere 30 minutes. Compounding the pressure, they needed to finalize the output for 25 songs, as the film was dubbed into five languages, with approvals pending until the very last moment. He concludes, “I truly believe a divine force guided me through these challenges; it’s almost inexplicable.”
2024 was a bustling year for the composer, marked by major Kannada releases like ‘UI’, ‘Max’, ‘Bagheera’, and the Tamil thriller ‘Maharaja’, starring Vijay Sethupathi. Ajaneesh attributes his knack for juggling multiple projects to his background in television, where he honed his skills creating numerous jingles and diverse background scores for various narrative moods. He advises, “However, as you become more established, it’s wiser to prioritize projects and dedicate ample time to each.”
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Looking ahead, Ajaneesh has several exciting projects in the pipeline, including ‘Mark’, starring Sudeep, and ‘Devil’, featuring Darshan. Initial fan reactions to the songs ‘Psycho Saithan’ and ‘Idre Nemdiyaag Irbek’ have been varied.
He concludes by acknowledging the unique challenges of composing for star-driven films: “Fans often compare new songs with existing favorites, and the constant pressure for catchy musical hooks can stifle creativity.” However, he assures listeners that both tracks will resonate differently when experienced on the big screen, fully integrated into the film’s narrative.