Feb 19, 2026 8:48pm IST
‘Seyon’ Composer Santhosh Narayanan Forays Into Kannada Cinema With ‘Balaramana Dinagalu’; Director Shares Details (EXCLUSIVE)
Tamil composer Santhosh Narayanan who has won multiple awards for his music in Telugu and Tamil films has made his debut in the world of Kannada movies. The movie is "Balaramana Dinagalu," an upcoming movie by filmmaker KM Chaitanya. One of the best known composers of the Tamil industry, he has worked in movies like "Karnan," "Vada Chennai," "Irudhi Suttru," "Jigarthanda," "Pizza," "Pariyerum Perumal" to name a few. The song, "Shuru Shuru" is out from Chaitanya's movie "Balaramana Dinagalu" and people are in love with the melody and vocals of Sanjith Hegde. The director tells us that he was initially doubtful if he could get Narayanan on board.
Related Stories
Bringing Santhosh Narayanan on board
KM Chaitanya reveals he fell in love with his music after watching Karthik Subbaraj’s Jigarthanda. “I found his musical sensibility different from what I had heard usually in films. I had heard he is a big music composer in the Tamil industry working with all the top filmmakers. The Kannada movie market is not as big as Tamil or Telugu states. Having him could be a risky proposition,” says KM Chaitanya. However, his producers convinced him that if he thought Santhosh Narayanan was a great fit, they would “afford him” for the movie.
Music elevates emotional arc
KM Chaitanya reveals music for him decides the second level of a film’s screenplay. “People react best to music. I discuss with the composer how I want the emotional journey of the film with the music. More than the script, the music carries the emotional arc of a film. I have had the good fortune of working with some brilliant composers who have multiplied my ideas ten times to make a much better version. From Guru Kiran to Ilaiyaraaja and Santhosh Narayanan, they have been a blessing,” he gushes.
Balaramana Dinagalu has Vinod Prabhakar in the lead. It is expected to release in the first half of 2026.
Comments are moderated. They may be edited for clarity and reprinting in whole or in part in Variety publications.