Anirudh at 35: 10 Songs You’ll Keep Playing Again and Again
As Anirudh turns 35 today, here are ten absolute bangers that already define his legacy- and if they aren’t on your playlist yet, they definitely should be.
Published: Thursday,Oct 16, 2025 08:02 AM GMT+05:30
From being a lanky, unknown young kid in 2012 having one song being dropped on YouTube, and becoming a viral sensation before even the idea of virality existed to now being one of the most sought-after, highest-paid and knockout composers in the industry, Anirudh Ravichander's journey has indeed been one to witness. Over the years, if you have found yourself humming to, or popping those extra weights in the gym and much more while listening to a tune you don't exactly know, chances are it has been an Anirudh tune.
Today marks Anirudh's birthday as he turns 35 years old. And while it is tough to single but here's listing down 10 banger tunes that already are, and if they aren't they definitely should be on your playlist at the soonest.
Hukum – Jailer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1F3hm6MfR1k&list=RD1F3hm6MfR1k&start_radio=1When Hukum dropped, it wasn’t just a song. It was an attitude. This track marked a phase where Anirudh stopped chasing trends and became one himself. The beat pounds like a heartbeat that belongs to Rajinikanth’s universe, while the lyrics mirror the kind of unshakeable self-belief that both the star and the composer share. Interestingly, Anirudh did a Rajinikanth film earlier and there were a couple of good bangers there but Hukum was unique, different and still fitting the mammoth presence of Rajinikanth.
There is something primal about the way the rhythm builds, layering chants, drums, and swagger into a single statement. Hukum doesn’t need to tell you it is a mass number. It makes you feel it.
Monica - Coolie
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qCpY38ompo&list=RD2qCpY38ompo&start_radio=1One of the more recent drops, Anirudh’s “Monica” has that playful confidence that makes his music instantly addictive. As he went on to admit himself that the song is a tribute to his love for the actress Monica Bellucci, the song is a high beat energetic number at the same. Featuring Pooja Hegde and Soubin Shahir, it mixes vintage influences with a sly modern touch. There is a mischievous rhythm at work here, as if the track is winking at you while keeping a straight face.
What’s refreshing is that it feels light on its feet. It doesn’t aim to dominate, it invites you to move. Monica is not built to impress through volume. It impresses through its easy groove and throwback charm.
Maari Theme – Maari
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OViH68fJUhM&list=RDOViH68fJUhM&start_radio=1Some songs just don't let you sit easily and are capable to immediately have you up your seats. Maari Thara introduced a new kind of heroism into Tamil cinema’s sound. Gone were the grand orchestras and loud choruses. Instead, we got whistles, electric guitars, and a mood that smelled of the streets.
Dhanush’s Maari was meant to be a rowdy with charm, and Anirudh caught that pulse perfectly. The music didn’t glorify the hero; it made him human. It gave swagger a sound. It is the kind of tune that enters your head uninvited and stays there like an old friend.
Naan Pizhai – Kaathuvaakula Rendu Kaadhal
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RsrErWWf24&list=RD5RsrErWWf24&start_radio=1A huge shift from the usual Anirudh bangers we are used to. The musician was able to invoke your tender most feelings with Naan Pizhai. Few breakup songs manage to sound beautiful without forcing sadness. This one did. It walks that fine line between hurt and hope. Anirudh’s arrangement here feels delicate, almost shy. The melody doesn’t cry; it reflects.
There’s a certain honesty in the way the tune loops, as if it is trying to process its own feelings. The vocals float rather than land, and that softness is what makes it powerful. This is Anirudh’s emotional intelligence as a composer at work, never overselling pain, just acknowledging it.
Marana Mass – Petta
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88iypMO9H7g&list=RD88iypMO9H7g&start_radio=1This one is pure celebration. “Marana Mass” is the definition of entry music that refuses to age. The beats, the chants, the whistles, all of it screams theatre. Yet, underneath the volume is precision. Every sound lands exactly where it should.
That is Anirudh’s real talent, he knows how to build hype without chaos. When you hear this track, you can almost see Rajinikanth walking in slow motion, sunglasses on, crowd erupting. “Marana Mass” doesn’t just introduce a scene. It creates an atmosphere.
Vaathi Coming - Master
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRD_3vJagxk&list=RDfRD_3vJagxk&start_radio=1The entire soundtrack of Master deserves its own mention otherwise but there is something oddly freeing about “Vaathi Coming.” It is both chaos and charm stitched together. The track is not built on complexity. It thrives on repetition and energy.
What Anirudh managed here was cultural more than musical. He gave people a beat they could own. From weddings to school assemblies, this one turned ordinary spaces into dance floors. The song doesn’t pretend to be anything more than what it is, yet it still carries the infectious simplicity of something unforgettable.
Chaleya - Jawan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAdGW7QDJiU&list=RDVAdGW7QDJiU&start_radio=1Another tender entry which has been a rage ever since its arrival. Chaleya feels like a song meant for sunshine. It’s light, catchy, and completely unbothered by pressure. Shah Rukh Khan and Nayanthara glide through the video, but the credit goes to the way Anirudh makes the melody do all the heavy lifting.
He doesn’t clutter it with heavy instrumentation. Instead, he lets the tune breathe and loop around simple beats. It is the kind of number you hum without realizing it, and that effortless quality is exactly what defines his best work.
Vikram Title Track - Vikram
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7shUeR3-Go&list=RDw7shUeR3-Go&start_radio=1Another album that definitely can have its own separate article but Vikram's title track coupled with the experience of Kamal Haasan's big reveal of the video in the movie, it amplified the experience multiple folds. It feels like walking into a dark alley with a hero you know will win but not before breaking a few bones. Anirudh builds tension through tempo instead of noise.
The bassline crawls, the percussion punches, and the vocal growls carry Kamal Haasan’s legacy in their tone. It is not a celebratory anthem, it is a cinematic heartbeat. What stands out is how Anirudh resists the urge to overdo it. He keeps it tight, cold, and menacing. This song showed how he could go beyond catchy hooks and write music that breathes the mood of an entire film.
Megham Karigena – Thiruchitrambalam
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IdqwA2GXgY&list=RD0IdqwA2GXgY&start_radio=1This is Anirudh at his most tender. Megham Karigena is quiet, but not dull. It captures that bittersweet stage between affection and confession. The jazz tunes, the La La Land treatment, the melody carries a certain hesitation, just like the characters it represents.
There is no dramatic rise, no unnecessary flourish. It flows like a lazy afternoon thought that refuses to leave your head. What makes it stand out is the restraint. Anirudh could have gone grand, but he let silence do the work. In doing so, he created a love song that feels lived in, not manufactured.
Why This Kolaveri Di
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YR12Z8f1Dh8&list=RDYR12Z8f1Dh8&start_radio=1Anirudh might create a million other bangers ahead but the OG will always remain the OG. The song that propelled him into the big leagues. This is where it all began. “Why This Kolaveri Di” wasn’t just a viral hit. It was a cultural moment that changed how Indian music travelled. Before TikTok or Reels, this was the song that turned into an internet language of its own.
Its casual tone, conversational lyrics, and playful rhythm made it accessible to everyone. Anirudh didn’t try to make a masterpiece. He made something honest, and it worked beyond imagination. Looking back, the song still carries that youthful innocence that defined his early years. It’s raw, a little messy, and completely unforgettable.
Across his songs, one thing defines Anirudh Ravichander- instinct. He doesn’t overthink emotion; he feels its rhythm. From the raw charm of “Kolaveri Di” to the cinematic pulse of “Hukum,” his sound has evolved without losing its emotional core. His music gives films identity and connects generations raised on Ilaiyaraaja and A R Rahman. Every beat feels deliberate, every silence meaningful.
He bridges heart and hype with rare ease. At 34, Anirudh’s work has already become the heartbeat of modern Tamil cinema and beyond. His songs live beyond screens, shaping weddings, heartbreaks, and celebrations alike. He hasn’t just composed music; he has defined an era. The man who turned South India’s sound into a national rhythm continues to chase freshness with heart.
Happy Birthday Anirudh Ravichander.
Poll
Which one is your favorite from this list?
Anirudh Ravichander turns 35 today, and his music continues to dominate playlists everywhere. From the viral charm of “Kolaveri Di” to the swagger of “Hukum,” his tracks capture every mood. Fans can’t get enough of his catchy beats, clever arrangements, and melodies that stick. Whether it’s mass anthems or mellow tunes, Anirudh keeps proving why he’s one of India’s top composers.
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