There’s something magical in the air of this city: B Ajaneesh Loknath

Born in Mysuru and raised in Bhadravathi, B Ajaneesh Loknath believes he was born for music. “My father, Loknath, was a well-known singer. At home, music was always playing — on tape or through an instrument — from the moment we woke up,” says the composer, who had a memorable 2025 with his work in Kantara: A Legend Chapter 1. “I call it divine intervention. Whether it was composing for Kantara or Kantara: A Legend Chapter 1, it felt like God’s handiwork — bringing that music out of me and making me part of those films. The same divine force brought me to Bengaluru. I never looked back,” he shares. Excerpts from the conversation: ‘AS A TEENAGER, I WAS FASCINATED BY BENGALURU’ “My father ensured I was trained in Carnatic classical, Hindustani music, keyboard, piano, violin — almost every conceivable instrument — before I turned 18. As a teenager, I was fascinated by Bengaluru. My only goal was to make it to this city,” he recalls. Destiny intervened when he travelled to Bengaluru with a musical troupe for a Shivaratri programme. “I had skipped my second PU exams. I was on the keyboard that day, and some prominent musicians were on stage. They were impressed, and when they learnt I was Loknath’s son, they insisted I stay back and pursue music professionally.” His mother sensed his conviction. “I don’t know what she saw in my eyes, but she immediately called my father and suggested I stay. My father agreed. What was meant to be a day’s trip became a lifelong journey. By then, music had already chosen me — and Bengaluru had claimed me as its own.”‘THIS CITY HAS SHAPED MY AMBITION IN LIFE’ In his early years, Ajaneesh lived in Malleswaram. “Even today, when I pass by, I feel a rush of emotions. That area saw me struggle and strive to make a mark.” His first pay cheque in 2003 was ` 1,500. Between then and 2010, he took up karaoke gigs for ` 350, paid and unpaid assignments, TV serials, school-day compositions — anything that came his way. “I never saw them as big or small. I was gathering experience,” he notes. Adjusting to Bengaluru’s pace after growing up in a quieter town took time. “But with people like Kalyan sir and Bobby CR — now my studio partner and a composer her self — life became easier. I consider Kalyan sir as my mentor. He once told me I had the talent to make it nationally. When you’re a nobody, and someone says that, it overwhelms you. I worked with Rishab Shetty and Rakshit Shet ty on Kirik Party, and after the success of that film, I never looked back. The urgency of the city grows on you. It sowed the seeds of ambition in me,” he explains.'MUSIC AND SPIRITUALITY ARE MY ANCHORS'Ajaneesh tells us that the city’s cultural fabric seeped into his soundscape. “This is the hub of bhavageethe. The music of L Subramaniam, Mysore Ananthaswamy, C Ashwath and L Vaidyanathan deeply inspired me. People often say my music feels rooted and relatable — that’s because this city has shaped my melodic sensibilities. Ee galiyalli yeno ondu magic ide (There is magic in the air of this city),” he says. A self-professed believer in the divine, he often visits a Shiva temple in JP Nagar when work overwhelms him. “Music and spirituality anchor me to this city. I came here young. I was tested until I adapted. Bengaluru rewards persistence and patience. If you stay the course, this city gives you everything,” he says.