Anirudh Ravichander has composed the music for Shankar's Indian 2, the sequel to the iconic 1996 blockbuster Indian, also directed by Shankar. This marks only the second time Shankar has opted for a music director other than AR Rahman for his Tamil films. The original Indian was highly praised, particularly for AR Rahman's memorable music, which became iconic. However, Shankar’s decision to choose Anirudh Ravichander for Indian 2 has sparked considerable discussion since the project's inception.

Anirudh on replacing AR Rahman in Indian 2

At the Indian 2 audio launch, Anirudh humorously addressed the topic of replacing AR Rahman by referencing a famous Rajinikanth dialogue from Sivaji: "Six ku apram seven da.. Rahman sir ku apram evan da," which translates to, "After six comes seven.. but who comes after Rahman sir?"

AR Rahman on not being a part of Indian 2

In a recent interview, AR Rahman was asked about not composing the music for Indian 2. He revealed that Kamal Haasan had approached him to recreate the magic from the first film. AR Rahman explained that he and Shankar had collaborated extensively since Gentleman in 1993, except for Anniyan and Nanban, which featured music by Harris Jayaraj.

AR Rahman admitted that he felt fatigued after composing for Shankar’s 2.0, starring Rajinikanth. He expressed a need for a break from their frequent collaborations. However, Rahman and Kamal Haasan will team up again in Mani Ratnam's Thug Life.

More about Indian 2

Indian 2, set to release on July 12, features a star-studded cast including Kamal Haasan, Kajal Aggarwal, Siddharth, Rakul Preet Singh, the late Nedumudi Venu, and Priya Bhavani Shankar. This highly anticipated film is expected to be a major highlight in Tamil cinema in 2024. Following the prequel's narrative, Indian 2 continues the story with plans already underway for a third installment, Indian 3, with many scenes already filmed.

The original Indian centered on Senapathy, portrayed by Kamal Haasan, a dedicated freedom fighter battling corruption that hampers national progress. Indian 2 will see the return of Senapathy when the nation needs him once more.