Sai Abhyankkar Opens Up on Family, AI & Allu Arjun's Ear for Music | Billboard India

At just 21, Sai Abhyankkar has already composed for Suriya, Allu Arjun, Silambarasan, and Karthi — but his most sacred space is still the studio inside his home. In this episode of Billboard India's Small Talk, Sai opens up about his emotional attachment to his piano, his unconventional working hours, and why he wants brutal critics — not cheerleaders — around him. He talks about the role his family plays in shaping his music, his take on AI tools in the creative process, and reveals that of all the superstars he's worked with, Allu Arjun has the sharpest ear for music and the best pulse on Gen Z. He also revisits Vizhi Veekura — one of his most underrated songs — and tells us why it still means so much to him. 🔔 Subscribe to Billboard India on YouTube. 📖 Website: www.billboardind.com 📱 Instagram: @billboard.ind #SaiAbhyankkar #AlluArjun #KatchiSera #VizhiVeekura #AasaKooda #SmallTalk #BillboardIndia #TamilMusic #IndianMusic #MusicComposer #AIMusic #TamilComposer #ThinkIndie #IndieMusic #raakamovie 0:00 – Intro 1:17 – The instrument that took longest to master 2:19 – His sounding board for new material 2:50 – Pros & cons of working with family 3:13 – The superstar who made him most nervous 4:22 – Has AI touched his work yet? 4:45 – Splitting time between film music & indie 5:06 – How he notes down a sudden idea 6:36 – Staying sharp despite crazy deadlines 7:49 – The most basic setup to start producing music 8:09 – His relationship with "the algorithm" 8:44 – Why social media matters for artists today