Animal' composer Harshavardhan calls working with Sandeep Reddy Vanga as recharging his system: 'He’s my first director and someone I’d call a godfather'

Following widespread praise for his work in 'Animal', composer Harshavardhan is venturing into Malayalam cinema for the first time. Recently, he discusses his strong creative connection with the filmmaker Sandeep Reddy Vanga.
Collaboration Began with 'Arjun Reddy'
In an interview with News18, Harshavardhan explained that his collaboration with Sandeep Reddy Vanga began during the making of 'Arjun Reddy', which helped establish a strong creative understanding that continued into 'Animal'. During the lockdown years, they had ample time to brainstorm and develop ideas. They aimed to create a distinctive sound, such as the Tabbar Brothers unite music and the signature whistle at the film’s opening. Their approach was driven by experimentation rather than seeking praise, and as a result, everything naturally fell into place.
A Mentor and Godfather Figure
Harshavardhan described Vanga as his first director and a mentor, someone he considers a "godfather." He mentioned that although he initially collaborated with Radhan on 'Arjun Reddy', Sandeep recognized his involvement and gave him full credit for the background score, which surprised him. He emphasized the deep understanding between them, noting that they intuitively grasp each other’s artistic language with minimal communication, a rare level of trust. Each collaboration with Sandeep energizes him, thanks to the director's clear vision and drive. He revealed that Sandeep pushes him to explore deeper emotional dimensions and create fresh, powerful music, and his confidence inspires him to deliver his best work.