Sai Abhyankkar, known for the popular tracks Katchi Sera and Aasa Kooda, will make his debut as a music director with Lokesh Kanagaraj’s Benz, starring Raghava Lawrence and helmed by director Bakkiyaraj Kannan. Sai recalls that he got the opportunity through Think Music’s Santhosh Kumar and Magesh Rajendran, who introduced him to the film's script. “They told me about a great script and asked if I’d like to be a part of it. I enjoy watching a script develop with a background score and songs,” Sai said. After meeting Bakkiyaraj Kannan, Sai recognized Benz as a project he had been following since seeing its first-look poster, and he felt fortunate to be selected for the role.
Sai joins the celebrated Lokesh Cinematic Universe (LCU), which has gained recognition partly due to its association with composers like Anirudh and Sam CS. However, Sai initially wasn’t aware that Benz would be part of the LCU. “When I was told the story, they didn’t mention it was an LCU project. But during the narration, they hinted at that iconic universe connection,” he explained, adding that Benz will bring a dark yet commercially appealing style with humor and a touch of LCU magic. Sai intends to approach the score with an international sound, aiming to bring something fresh to the universe.
Despite the LCU’s established reputation for hit scores, Sai feels confident and free from pressure. “I know that the LCU scores are already loved, but my goal is to keep it original and bring a unique sound to the universe,” he shared.
Music has always been a part of Sai’s life, with his playback singer parents, Tippu and Harini, instilling in him a love for good music from an early age. “I started listening to artists like Rashid Ali, Ghulam Ali Khan, and Amir Khan when I was just four or five,” he said, crediting these early influences with shaping his musical path. He also studied under Sriram Parthasarathy and learned instruments including the tabla, mridangam, drums, guitar, and piano. “My focus is mainly on the piano, which I use a lot in my compositions,” Sai added, noting that his diverse musical training helps inspire his production ideas for the project.
