Santhosh Narayanan, the composer known for hits like Cuckoo, Jigarthanda, Kabali, and the recent Kalki 2898 AD, is making his Kannada debut with Balaramana Dinagalu. This period drama, set in the 70s and 80s, stars Vinod Prabhakar and is directed by K M Chaitanya. Shooting for the film is scheduled to begin in October. Santhosh, who has previously contributed to the background score for Lucia, will be working as the lead music director for the first time in Kannada cinema.

Vinod Prabhakar, marking a milestone with this film, praised Narayanan’s music and its fit with impactful cinema. “This is my 25th film and Chaitanya’s 10th. We believe Santhosh Narayanan’s music will add great value to our project. His music does the talking, and his compositions especially in the gangster genre are incredibly popular. We thought he was the perfect choice for this film,” says Prabhakar, who further reveals how they brought Narayanan on board, noting, “We began discussions in May before the release of Kalki 2898 AD. His quick agreement to the script was promising. With Balaramana Dinagalu set in the retro era, we’re excited about the creative possibilities and are proud to have him involved in Kannada cinema.”

Santhosh shared his excitement about joining the Kannada film industry, highlighting his personal connection to the language. “My mother was supported by Kannada-speaking people and speaks Kannada fluently. I feel a strong bond with this language and am thrilled to work with Chaitanya and Vinod Prabhakar on Balaramana Dinagalu,” he shares.