A short interlude of the song ‘Phir Se’ Ranveer SinghThe hit movie ‘Dhurandhar’ has unexpectedly become one of the internet’s favorite musical moments. The soulful instrumental segment has been widely used on Instagram Reels, with music fans praising its emotional depth and unique sound. Behind this now viral musical hook is Ramana Balachandran, a young Carnatic musician Tiruvannamalai which is continuously making its name in the classical music circuit.
How did the veena piece ‘Dhurandhar’ become viral?
According to The Hindu, Ramana revealed that the opportunity came to him unexpectedly. According to the musician, music director Shashwat used to follow his performances on Instagram before finally connecting through a mutual friend. “It happened quite serendipitously,” shared Ramana. “Shashwat bhai followed my work on Instagram, and we connected through a mutual friend.”The team behind ‘Dhurandhar’ seemed to want a sound that carried emotional weight and reflected a bittersweet mood. Ramana explained that the famous interlude came together naturally during experimentation. “I was playing some random stuff, and we came across the interlude. It was nice to get the freedom to express ourselves musically … but we didn’t know it would blow up so much,” he said.The instrumental track may be short, but it has managed to leave a lasting impression on listeners across all platforms. The viral popularity has now introduced Ramana to an audience far beyond the world of Carnatic music. The musician admitted that it was very satisfying to see such a strong reaction to the piece. “When a work touches people deeply, it’s very satisfying. It gave me joy to see such a short space resonate with people from different backgrounds,” he said.Ramana also opened up about the technical side of recording the now famous episode. “I’m very interested in the technical aspects of recording and mixing, because for my veena interval, the microphone was held 2.5 meters above the instrument, which gave a different kind of sound that was new to me.”
Childhood of Ramana Balachandran
Ramana’s journey with music began in Bengaluru, where he grew up in a musically inclined family. His father loved to sing, while his mother played the veena, creating an atmosphere where music became a part of everyday life. Recalling his childhood, Ramana said, “I would watch entire episodes of Super Singer, and my father would sing me some Kaapis at home.”Although he initially treated music as a hobby, an important turning point came at the age of nine. During a practice session, he noticed a mistake while his mother was playing ‘Saadhinchane’, one of Saint Thyagaraja’s famous Pancharatna kritis. “I kept telling him he was getting a certain phrase wrong, even though I couldn’t play it myself,” he recalled.That observation impressed his mother and she eventually made a formal veena under B Nagalakshmi. Along with veena lessons, Ramana also balanced vocal music, mridangam practice and academics.
Ramana Balachandran’s move to Tiruvannamalai changed everything
A big change happened when Ramana’s family shifted from Bengaluru to Tiruvannamalai. The decision, prompted by his father’s desire for a slower and more meaningful lifestyle, had a profound effect on Ramana’s musical and spiritual outlook. “My father had had enough of his corporate life and wanted to live a slower life in a smaller town,” explained Ramana.Growing up near one of Tamil Nadu’s most important temples, home schooled, helped shape his artistic identity. “Here, we see so many people giving up a life of luxury and doing such quality work, without making much fuss. Seeing it up close inspired me a lot,” he added.
Why are films not Ramana’s top priority?
Even after the success of the song ‘Dhurandhar’, Ramana says his heart remains rooted in Carnatic music. Although he finds film music exciting, he believes that classical music still has endless possibilities to explore. “In film music, there’s a lot of emphasis on emotional appeal,” he said, noting how modern film music now focuses on arrangements and sound design.The 24-year-old musician is now focused on making classical music more accessible to younger audiences, while continuing to celebrate the richness of the veena tradition. “My priority is not films because I am a Carnatic vainika first and foremost,” said Ramana. “I feel that as a Carnatic artist I have a responsibility to showcase its beauty, while at the same time being open to welcoming the richness that exists in other forms of music.“
