Allu Arjun gives Anirudh Ravichander a shock

In a surprising turn of events, young musical sensation Sai Abhyankkar has been roped in to compose the soundtrack for the highly anticipated Allu Arjun-Atlee collaboration, replacing the initially speculated Anirudh Ravichander.

The announcement, confirmed by the film’s production house, Sun Pictures, on April 8, 2025, coinciding with Allu Arjun’s 43rd birthday, has surprised many.

Rs 600 Cr project

The untitled project, a sci-fi action spectacle billed as a “beyond the world” cinematic experience, marks the first collaboration between Allu Arjun and Atlee, with Sun Pictures backing the venture with a reported budget exceeding Rs 600 crore.

Early buzz had pointed to Anirudh Ravichander, Atlee, after working with him on “Jawan,” as the natural choice for the film’s music. However, sources close to the production revealed that scheduling conflicts arising from Anirudh’s packed lineup prompted the team to pivot to the 20-year-old prodigy Sai Abhyankkar.

No official statement yet

Sai Abhyankkar, born in 2004 to playback singers Tippu and Harini, has quickly emerged as a standout talent in Tamil film music. Despite not having a feature film release to his name yet, his viral singles have garnered over 200 million YouTube views each, showcasing his knack for blending contemporary beats with emotional depth.

His signing for AA22xA6 adds to an already impressive slate.

The news has stirred a mix of reactions. Fans of Anirudh, who had eagerly anticipated another chart-topping collaboration with Atlee following Jawan’s success, expressed mild disappointment on social media.

Atlee, known for his larger-than-life directorial style, has promised a film that combines “mass at its core” with “magical storytelling,” featuring Allu Arjun in a potentially dual role set against a parallel universe backdrop. The project, which kicked off pre-production in April 2025, is slated to begin shooting mid-year, with a grand release targeted for summer 2026. The announcement video, shot partly in the USA with contributions from Hollywood’s Lola VFX, showcased cutting-edge 3D scanning of Allu Arjun, hinting at the film’s visual grandeur.