Santhosh Narayanan

Santhosh Narayanan, born on May 15, 1983, in Thiruchirapalli, Tamil Nadu, is one of those rare music directors who doesn’t just follow the crowd—he pretty much drags the crowd with him, kicking and screaming into new soundscapes. If you’ve ever caught yourself humming along to the electrifying background scores of films like Pariyerum Perumal or Master, you’ve got Santhosh to thank (or blame, depending on your taste). The man’s got a knack for mixing raw folk vibes with heavy electronic beats, and honestly, sometimes it feels like he’s just showing off at this point. He kicked off his film composing career back in 2012, and since then, he’s become a go-to name for directors who want something fresh, gritty, and just a bit unpredictable. What’s wild is how he’ll throw in a thumping kuthu song one minute, then suddenly hit you with a haunting Carnatic-inspired piece the next. His work on Kalki 2898 AD, that massive sci-fi spectacle everyone’s buzzing about, is just the latest feather in his already overcrowded cap. Santhosh’s collaborations read like a who’s-who of modern Tamil cinema, and he’s not shy about experimenting. Whether it’s working with indie musicians or established legends, he just keeps pushing the envelope. Outside the studio, he’s married to playback singer Meenakshi Iyer—honestly, imagine the jam sessions in that household. All in all, Santhosh is the kind of composer who keeps you guessing and never lets the music get stale.