Santhosh Narayanan

Santhosh Narayanan is a leading Tamil film composer known for his experimental soundtracks in films like Jigarthanda, Attakathi and Kalki 2898 AD. With a background in computer science and early work as a sound engineer, Narayanan brings a deep technical lens to music production.

In 2025, he began using the Chinese AI model DeepSeek for projects like Sikandar and Retro, cutting production time by over 60%. The model assisted with scripting and automation in Reaper DAW, which he described as a glimpse of “great times ahead for AI reasoning and GenAI”.

Narayanan believes AI should support, not replace, human creativity. While it enhances technical precision and speeds up workflows, he cautions against relying blindly or being misled by misinformation. At 42, he continues to push the boundaries of Indian film music, advocating for responsible AI integration that benefits both composers and indie creators. His openness to AI tools has resonated with indie creators and the broader tech-art community.