Mumbai (commonwealth Union)_ Music has long been an integral element of Indian cinema, often serving as its emotional and cultural heartbeat. In a country where the power of music transcends boundaries, one name has recently risen above the rest as the highest-paid musician in the industry. That name is Anirudh Ravichander, a prodigious composer who has taken the music scene by storm. While AR Rahman has long been regarded as the face of Indian film music, commanding crores per film for years, Anirudh’s meteoric rise has eclipsed even the legendary composer’s fees. In 2023, Anirudh Ravichander made headlines for charging an eye-popping ₹10 crore for his work on Jawan, a Bollywood film starring Shah Rukh Khan. This fee marked a significant leap from AR Rahman’s typical ₹7-8 crore per film, making Anirudh India’s highest-paid musician at the age of just 33.
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The young composer’s rise to fame began with his viral sensation, Why This Kolaveri Di, from the 2012 Tamil film 3. The track became an instant hit, gaining millions of views on YouTube and bringing Anirudh into the limelight. From there, his career only accelerated. Over the years, he composed music for numerous Tamil blockbusters such as Petta, Vikram, Master, and Jailer, earning widespread acclaim for his innovative approach to music. Anirudh’s signature style has brought a refreshing energy to Tamil cinema. Known for blending techno beats with traditional Tamil sounds, he is also recognized for integrating the real-life personas of the actors into his compositions. Additionally, his work with major stars like Rajinikanth (Petta and Jailer), Kamal Haasan (Vikram), Vijay (Master and Leo), and Shah Rukh Khan (Jawan) has made him a go-to composer in the industry. His tracks have become anthems for these stars, with Hukum from Jailer standing out as one of the most popular tracks of recent times.
Despite commanding a premium for his compositions, Anirudh has demonstrated flexibility in his pricing, adjusting his fees depending on the project. After Jawan, he scaled down his charges to ₹8 crore for Leo and Jailer, yet his status as the highest-paid musician in India remains unchallenged. Anirudh’s success is further underscored by the fact that he is now outpacing his peers in the industry. Composers like Pritam, Vishal-Shekhar, MM Keeravani, and Yuvan Shankar Raja typically charge under ₹5 crore per film. The figures for singers are even lower, with top vocalists earning ₹15-20 lakh per song and rarely crossing ₹1 crore per film. However, private album projects, such as those by Diljit Dosanjh, can fetch over a crore.
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Looking ahead, Anirudh shows no signs of slowing down. In 2024, he composed the music for Devara, a Telugu film starring N.T. Rama Rao Jr., directed by Koratala Siva. He also collaborated with popular actor Ajith Kumar for the upcoming film Vidaamuyarchi, directed by Magizh Thirumeni. These projects further solidify his position as the most bankable and sought-after composer in the Indian music industry. At just 33, Anirudh Ravichander has not only transformed the soundscape of Tamil cinema but has also set a new benchmark in the Indian music industry, proving that talent, innovation, and strategic collaborations can propel a composer to unprecedented heights.
