For every star vehicle, there is one thing that is as important as slo-mo shots — theme music. Anirudh not only delivered massy themes for the stars, but ensured even non-stars got elevated to stardom
Every time Dhanush defied gravity and landed a kick. Every time he delivered a monologue and walked away in slow motion. Every time he proved he was no Goliath but VIP. Every time... There was Ani broFor someone who never attempted a stunt sequence till then, transitioning into a boxer was no mean achievement. While transition wasn't perfect, Anirudh's Maan Karate theme helped impose trust in SKA benchmark for Dhanush's masala movies. A benchmark for mass themes in Tamil cinema. One moustache twirl here, one round cooling glasses there, masala was Maari's middle name. D and A strike again.In what was clearly his biggest film then, Anirudh got to highlight not just one hero but got double duties. In addition, he provided the necessary build-up for the suave corporate criminal too.Can love stories have memorable massy theme music? It can, if it has Rowdy in the title. A film about the journey of a wannabe and a nobody becoming the titular Rowdy needed just one thing — AnirudhAdvantages of playing two shades in a character is that, with the right moves, the audience laps up the transformation. Vedhalam was one such movie. And roping in Anirudh, was one such right moveCan you forgive betrayal? Not if it is accompanied by guitar riffs. Can you save your loved ones in time? Yes, if you are in La La, the Surviva La La Land. Can you imagine Vivegam without Anirudh? NOSuriya returned to safe zone with TSK, and it was no wonder he took Anirudh along. This morally upright heist drama relied on individual moments, and no prizes for guessing who elevated such momentsWhen Lady Superstar undergoes a transformation, a rumble gave way to a flute bit and percussions. KK was a film that needed its music to hold things together. And Anirudh definitely knows that trickSUPERSTAR. Anirudh's BIGGEST film. There was no subtlety. Everything was magnified in this Karthik Subbaraj film. Be it Petta Paraak or Singaar Singh theme, Anirudh owned Petta like only he couldAnirudh's second collaboration with Rajinikanth gave us Kannula Thimiru, Tharam Maara Single, and Chumma Kizhi!! It also gave us Rajinikanth and Suniel Shetty fighting it out with some electrifying themes!!What an album! What an experience! Also, probably the music that cemented Anirudh's place in the modern era of greats. For Vijay... Vijay Sethupathi... the kids... their lives, their successes, their failures... every single emotion was heightened by AniIt was not just an experiment for Sivakarthikeyan. It was also an experiment of sorts for Anirudh too, and his carnatic fusion theme became quite the rage in 2021, and continues to be so even today... Pa pa ga sa dha niiiiii... foreverWhen you picture Vijay walking towards the camera with an axe in his head, our minds automatically start playing the music, right... right?? that is the power of Anirudh now. He is just brilliant.Anirudh's first collaboration with Kamal Haasan, and it is safe to say that the soundtrack is one of the finest in recent times. Actually, cut that... one of the finest even in the not-so-recent times too.Right from the announcement video to the introduction of Muthuvel Pandian, the stage has been set for Anirudh to come and deliver an electrifying score for the most electrifying man in Indian cinemaAll I'll say is... Anirudh seems to reserve the best of his best for the man who is in the prime of his career. Let's just from Kaththi to Master to Leo, the VnA combo has been... Bloody Sweet!