Tamil Music Composers Make Waves in Tollywood, Challenging the Status Quo

In a surprising turn of events, Tamil music composers are taking the Telugu film industry, fondly known as Tollywood, by storm. As the industry witnesses an influx of talented musicians from across the border, it appears that the era of Telugu composers like DSP and Thaman may be facing stiff competition.

The legendary A R Rahman, maestro of Indian music, is set to score the music for a highly anticipated Telugu film featuring the charismatic Ram Charan, under the direction of Buchi Babu. Simultaneously, Anirudh Ravichandar, who is still riding high on the success of ‘Jailer,’ is composing music for ‘Devara,’ starring superstar Jr. NTR. Moreover, Anirudh is reportedly in talks to lend his musical prowess to Vijay Devarakonda’s 12th film, directed by Gautam Tinnanuri.

Notably, Tamil composer G V Prakash Kumar has also entered the Telugu music scene, providing tunes for the action-packed ‘Tiger Nageswara Rao.’ This marks his debut in composing music for a straight Telugu film, earning praise for his exceptional talent and professionalism from the film’s producer, Abhishek Agarwal. Other prominent Tamil composers like Ghibran, Yuvan Shankar Raja, Hip Hop Tamizha, and Harris Jayaraj have recently made their presence felt in Telugu cinema, further intensifying the competition.

Some insiders suggest that a few Telugu composers have grown complacent and preoccupied with financial negotiations rather than focusing on musical innovation. Consequently, the influx of Tamil composers is seen as a potential threat to the status quo. However, director Hemanth Madhukar dismisses this notion, emphasizing that leading Telugu composers have a strong and enduring connection with music lovers. He points out that the practice of roping in Tamil composers has existed for decades, with illustrious names like K V Mahadevan and maestro Illayaraja making their mark in Telugu cinema.

While Tamil composers’ remuneration is a topic of discussion, Hemanth Madhukar believes that it should remain confined to individual producer-composer agreements. Regardless of remuneration, the return of maestro A R Rahman and Anirudh Ravichandar to Tollywood is eagerly awaited, promising exceptional music and background scores that could elevate Telugu films to new heights.In a changing landscape where background music holds increasing importance, the competition between Telugu and Tamil composers may lead to a musical renaissance in Tollywood, benefitting both the industry and its discerning audience.