FROM FOREST TO FILM

AJANEESH LOKNATH'S DIVINE MUSIC HAS TRAVELLED FROM KARNATAKA TO THE INTERNATIONAL STAGE THROUGH HITS LIKE RANGITARANGA, KIRIK PARTY, DIA, RA RA RAKKAMMA AND HIS LATEST BRAHMAKALASHA FROM KANTARA: A LEGEND CHAPTER-1, (THE HIGHEST-GROSSING INDIAN FILM OF 2025, CROSSING ALMOST RS 800 CRORE WORLDWIDE) HAS TOPPED ALL CHARTS. AJANEESH SPEAKS TO US IN AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

- BY NAMITA GUPTA

Ajaneesh Loknath’s musical journey began with Ulidavaru Kandanthe, where a shared vision with Rishab Shetty laid the foundation for Kantara.

Over the years, his work across Kannada, Tamil, and Telugu cinema has earned national acclaim, with standout scores in Rangitaranga, Dia, Maharaja and Vikrant Rona. Known for his genre-spanning versatility, Ajaneesh’s research-driven approach to Kantara showcases a rich tapestry of Carnatic, folk, and tribal influences.

When was your first tryst with music-making, and how did you take the plunge?

Everything began a decade ago, when we started composing music for Ulidavaru Kandanthe. That’s when I first met Rishab. We clicked instantly, sharing similar thoughts and ideas. We always aimed to create something fresh, something unique. Crucially, we wanted it to resonate not just in Karnataka but on a national level as well. The seeds we planted a decade ago have now borne fruit in the form of Kantara and Kantara Chapter 1.

When did you start learning music professionally?

Everyone in my family is a musician, both on my father’s and my mother’s side. My father is a singer, so it all began at home, right from my childhood. It left me no choice but to follow a career in music. Honestly, I wasn’t drawn to music initially, but I had to fulfill my father’s dream.

What have been some of the biggest highlights of your career?