Nakul Abhyankar on AI’s impact in music, working with AR Rahman, Kannada cinema, and more

Nakul Abhyankar is busy this year as a composer with nine of his films slated for release, including the Kannada film Juni

Nakul Abhyankar’s latest film as a composer, Juni, released on February 9. As an upcoming composer, every release excites him. But Juni is close to his heart. He feels it is a story that deserves to reach as many people as possible. The Kannada film by Vaibhav Mahadev depicts the journey of a person with Dissociative Identity Disorder, a mental health condition in which someone has multiple distinct identities. Nakul believes it can foster empathy and acceptance of people with mental health issues. 

“The film navigates through sweet moments intertwined with the difficulties of living with multiple personalities,” he says, “From a musical perspective, capturing Juni’s mind space with its different personalities was challenging.”

Despite the challenges it throws, Nakul prefers such films — intimate, profound, and screenplay-driven dramas — to commercial potboilers. He says his other upcoming films, like Bisi Bisi Icecream and Chakri, also have exciting storylines.

“I prioritise authenticity in my music, avoiding trends and focusing on storytelling. Collaboration with directors allows me to infuse my ideas into the film’s narrative, ensuring that the music enhances the storytelling experience. I resist adding unnecessary elements solely for promotion, respecting the audience’s time and immersion in the story. The impact of music is subconscious yet profound, influencing the audience’s emotional response. I want the audience to leave the theatre feeling good, not with a headache,” he says.

Though hailing from Karnataka and singing and composing for Kannada films, Nakul does not want to be labelled a ‘Kannada singer/composer’. Nine potential releases are under his name this year, including a Hindi film. He has already sung in seven different languages. He has worked with AR Rahman in several languages. He also wants to compose for Tamil and Telugu films soon.

“This was my childhood dream, and I am starting to realise it,” says Nakul.

Nakul’s life has been steeped in music since childhood. Thanks to a singer brother and music-loving relatives, he grew up in a household filled with melodies and harmonies. During his engineering days, he found his voice through singing competitions. Winning the Kannada Sa Ri Ga Ma Pa and a top-nine finish in the national Hindi Sa Ri Ga Ma Pa competition fueled his aspirations to become a singer and composer, inspired by icons like AR Rahman and Shankar Mahadevan.