Koratala-NBK Film: Anirudh Over Nandamuri Thaman?

An exciting film has been announced in the combination of Nandamuri Balakrishna and director Koratala Siva. With the project announcement, the biggest talking point is the choice of music director. Industry buzz suggests that Koratala is keen on Anirudh Ravichander for this film. The idea of Anirudh scoring BGM for Balakrishna sounds like a mental mass combination, especially given Anirudh’s pan-India popularity.

However, this speculation has also triggered debate among fans due to Balakrishna’s successful association with Thaman. Over the past few years, Thaman has consistently delivered powerful background scores for Balakrishna. Irrespective of a film’s result, he has given his 100%, earning the nickname “Nandamuri Thaman” among fans. That said, he faced significant backlash for his recent work on Akhanda 2, and many fans are now calling for a change.

Anirudh’s consideration has raised eyebrows, especially after his collaboration with Koratala on Devara delivered mixed results. While parts of the background score stood out, the overall music did not meet the high expectations set by his earlier works like Jailer and Leo.

There is also a perception that Anirudh reserves his best work for Tamil films, with his Telugu output being inconsistent. On the other hand, his name carries strong brand value and could significantly boost the film’s reach and pre-release buzz.

At the same time, working with Anirudh Ravichander is not easy. It is unlikely that he would say yes to a film with Telugu senior star, even though every fandom wishes for their idol’s film to feature his score. His busy schedule often leads to delays, and a Balakrishna film may not be able to afford that.

Trade circles feel Thaman could return due to his strong rapport with Balakrishna, though a section of fans believes that, even if not Anirudh, any other talented music director would be a welcome change from Thaman.