Ajaneesh Loknath interview: A deep-dive into the music of Rishab Shettys Kantara: Chapter 1

“Music romba nalla irukku (music is actually good),” stated AR Rahman to Ajaneesh Loknath of their latest digital interplay. For the music composer who grew up listening to the legendary composer’s chartbusters, the phrases of reward for his work in Kantara: Chapter 1 meant quite a bit.

“My dad watched Indian (1996) at Urvashi Cinema in Bengaluru, and he was so amazed by the movie’s music that he went to SP Road, purchased three cassettes, and recorded your entire film,” says Ajaneesh. “You might name it piracy, however in these days, we wouldn’t get the OST (Original Soundtrack) of flicks. In truth, Rahman sir known as the strategy academic,” he provides.

A real-blue fanboy, Ajaneesh remains to be awe-struck on the technical mastery of ‘Akadanu Naanga’ and ‘Telephone Manipol’ from the S Shankar directorial. “That stated, ‘Pachai Kiligal’ stands out for its sturdy emotional quotient. I might dance with my dad for the tune like how Chandru and Senapathy would within the film.”

Ajaneesh is basking within the largest success of his profession, as Kantara: Chapter 1 has emerged as India’s highest-grossing movie of 2025 thus far. A decade into his profession, the success comes as a becoming milestone for the composer, and it has arrived together with his common collaborator, actor-director Rishab Shetty.

In 2014, Kannada cinema was seeing a paradigm shift. Pawan Kumar’s Luciahad signalled the start of a motion. Fuelled with ardour to ship one thing new, pals Rishab and Rakshit Shetty collaborated on twin tasks, Ulidavaru Kandante (2014) and Kirk Party (2016). Both motion pictures had music by Ajaneesh, and proceed to take pleasure in a cult standing amongst Kannada film buffs.

“Rishab and Rakshit worth music quite a bit. For them, it’s as vital because the plot,” says Ajaneesh. The excellent soundtracks of Ulidavaru Kandante and Kirik Party are replicate the eagerness for high quality music shared by the younger group.

Ajaneesh opens up on the hit ‘Brahmakalasha’ from Kantara: Chapter 1 to reiterate Rishab’s deep reference to music. “The first 40-50 seconds of the tune are enhanced by way of Alaap (the introductory and improvisational melodic part that units the tone of a tune or a efficiency).

“In the period of musical hooks, it’s very uncommon for an actor or a director to permit a composer to make use of Alaap in a tune. Rishab was very clear from the start. He wished the music to have worldwide requirements,” says Ajaneesh.

Brahmakalasha is an arresting devotional tune. It has the masterful use of various ragas mixed with a soundscape that’s genuine to historical historical past depicted within the film. Singer Abby’s soulful voice lends additional energy to the tune, which can also be a visible marvel. “Abby’s voice is quite a bit much like mine. Our voice isn’t too masculine. It has a soothing high quality that’s wanted for a tune like ‘Brahmakalasha’,” explains Ajaneesh.

‘Madana Mana Mohini,’ a melodious love observe involving Rishab and Rukmini Vasanth, begins in a charming trend. “I used thanam (an improvisational approach to elaborate a raga) to start out the tune. The ‘Brahmakalasha’ tune begins with an instrument. So, this needed to be totally different. The tune needed to have a component of shrungara (component of affection). When I positioned a thanam firstly of the tune, it had a captivating impact, and Rishab liked the thought.”

The romantic quantity is sung by Vijay Prakash and Ananya Bhat, the duo that sang the favored ‘Singara Siriye’ from Kantara (2022). “I used to be fearful that individuals would examine ‘Madana Mana Mohini’ with ‘Singara Siriye.’ Vijay ji instilled confidence in me. He stated that my tune has the flexibility to develop regularly on the listener.” Vijay was confirmed proper, because the tune has slowly gained recognition after initially being beneath the radar.

Ajaneesh calls Kantara: Chapter 1 his most difficult undertaking but, with the week earlier than the discharge testing his potential to the utmost. “I struggled to attain for the climax portion of the film. It was as if I had reached a lifeless finish. I don’t know the way, however ultimately, simply earlier than it was too late, I managed to create the background rating in simply half-hour. We additionally needed to take the output of 25 songs because the movie was dubbed in 5 languages. Till the final second, I used to be awaiting many approvals. I imagine a divine power helped me sail by way of these challenges. It’s laborious to elucidate,” he says.

The composer had a packed 2024, with big-scale Kannada movies akin to UI, Max, Bagheera, and the Tamil thriller Maharaja, starring Vijay Sethupathi. He says, “The skill to adapt to totally different tasks on the identical time comes from my time spent within the tv trade. For a serial, it is advisable create many jingles and several other background scores for various moods of the story. However, as you develop and get established, it’s higher to prioritise your tasks and take time.”

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Ajaneesh’s upcoming motion pictures are Mark, starring Sudeep, and Devil, headlined by Darshan. The two songs, ‘Psycho Saithan’ and ‘Idre Nemdiyaag Irbek’, acquired combined reactions from followers.

He concludes, “Star-driven motion pictures are a special ball recreation. Fans have sufficient songs to match the newest one with. The demand so as to add musical hooks to songs is killing creativity. That stated, each the songs will hit you otherwise while you see them on the massive display screen with the context of the plot.”