Sai Abhyankkar is having what many would describe as a ‘dream run’.
The numbers are staggering, to say the least. Last year, his Tamil indie, ‘Katchi Sera’, was among the most-streamed Tamil songs on music platforms, besides clocking more than 200 million views on YouTube. He followed it up with another groovy indie track, ‘Aasa Kooda’, that had Instagram users go crazy, with many trying to reprise its dance steps.
2025 has started quite well for Sai. ‘Sithara Puthiri’, his latest indie from the Think Music stable, is attracting attention. Meanwhile, Sai is busy with half a dozen projects, including Suriya’s upcoming film with RJ Balaji and the Lokesh Kanagaraj-backed Benz.
In an industry largely dominated by Anirudh and AR Rahman, Sai Abhyankkar has started making the right sounds.
And mind you, he is just 20. Sai only vaguely remembers listening to Anirudh’s Kolaveriwhen it released; he was just seven when the entire world was tripping on Tamil cinema’s first viral song. His first memorable theatre-going experience was Vijay’s Kaththi (2014), an album he tripped on.
“I’m fortunate to be showered with such love and affection. It is all due to my parents and the blessings of my gurus,” he says, with a smile.
In love with music
Growing up in Virugambakkam, with musician parents (popular singers Tipu and Harini) keeping watch over him and his sister Sai Smrithi, Sai Abhyankkar is quieter and humbler from the exuberance he brandishes in his flavourful music videos. “I like working behind the scenes. I’m in front of the camera only to be the face of my music,” says Sai, who has trained extensively under singer Sriram Parthasarathy, AT Ramamoorthy and Henry Kuruvilla. “The classes with them helped me fall in love with music.”
And that, over time, has led to his three hit singles, all of which have even given film songs starring popular actors, a run for their money. So, how does he get an indie idea? “It is the result of daily-sequencing,” he says. This means that he works on a music idea every day, based on his state of mind. “I then decide whether it fits to be in a track and put it together. Once it all comes together, I showcase it to my friends. I get my friends (Sathyan and Aadhesh) or lyricist Vivek to listen to it and add appropriate words. Once we are all happy, we are ready to take the song to audiences.”
Apart from the unique sound and beats, Sai Abhyankkar’s three tracks from the Think Music stable also have grand music videos that resemble film songs, with a leading lady starring in it as well. While his first two indies featured Samyuktha and Preity Mukundhan, ‘Sithara Puthiri’ features Meenakshi Chaudhary and was partially shot in Jaipur. “I received some feedback from my first two songs that my dance moves could have been better. So, we rehearsed for six days and then shot it,” he reveals.
All this does not mean Sai Abhayankkar considers himself good at dance or harbours acting ambitions. “Can we get views creatively and organically, instead of doing something with the sole aim of pleasing Reel-makers? Every section of my latest track is being used in Reels, which makes me very happy as an artiste. Our primary objective is anyway to entertain audiences.”
Sai Abhyankkar in the music video of ‘Sithara Puthiri’
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement
On track
It is no secret that Anirudh has dominated Tamil film music in the last decade, but Sai Abhyankkar is already being dubbed as the next “Ani-bro”. He shrugs off the comparison, saying, “People are just kind. Ani anna has ruled the music industry for the past 13 years and I have a long way to get there. I just hope I can be more consistent and deliver good music.”
And for that, Kollywood’s filmmakers are waiting with open arms. Sai will score music for the Lokesh Kanagaraj-backed Benz, said to be part of the LCU (Lokesh Kanagaraj Cinematic Universe). He is also doing the tunes for Suriya’s upcoming film with RJ Balaji, a project that originally had listed AR Rahman as the composer. There is also a Malayalam film that is confirmed and a Hindi project that is in the works.
Sai’s rise is reaching not just audiences but also celebrities. “Simbu sir called me and analysed my songs threadbare, and had great things to say. He had even heard ‘Valam Varavendum’, a small devotional song I composed even before my hits. ‘Na sedharitten’ (I was floored). Eventually, a song will find its audience.”
Sai’s favourites
MSV’s ‘Ponnai Virumbum Boomiyile’ (Aalayamani)
Ilaiyaaraja’s ‘Veedu’ and ‘Nothing but Wind’ soundtrack
AR Rahman’s ‘Kadal’ and ‘Maryan’ songs
Published – February 17, 2025 04:45 pm IST
