Sai Abhyankkar is only 20, but the buzz around him would make you think he’s a seasoned chart-topper. The Chennai-based musician first captured attention with independent tracks like Katchi Sera, which exploded across social platforms and catapulted him into the spotlight. Since then, his music has become a fixture on reels and playlists, and his journey has been a textbook case of how digital virality can fast-track a career.

Now, Sai is making his entry into Malayalam cinema with Balti, a bilingual sports action drama from director Unni Sivalingam, fronted by Shane Nigam. The film marks a daring bet on the young composer — one that has already set a record in Mollywood.

Producer Santhosh T. Kuruvilla recently revealed that Sai was paid more than ₹2 crore for Balti, making him the highest-remunerated music director in the industry’s history. What’s more striking is that this staggering sum went to a debutant in Malayalam.

Betting Big on Balti

Asked why he was willing to take such a leap, Santhosh pointed to instinct and numbers. “When you see someone’s songs drawing two to three crore views online, you know there is something special,” he explained in an interview. His gamble has already shown early signs of paying off: Jaalakaari, the film’s first single, has gone viral in Tamil Nadu, especially on Instagram reels, amplifying the pre-release buzz.

Since signing on for Balti, Sai has reportedly been flooded with offers, landing 11 Tamil films and two Telugu projects. His rapid ascent is not just hype but a reflection of his growing footprint across South Indian cinema.

A Project of Scale

Balti itself is a project of scale. It is Shane Nigam’s 25th film, shot extensively across Kerala and Tamil Nadu. In its Kerala release, the film will be presented in a 60–40 mix of Malayalam and Tamil, while the Tamil Nadu release will be fully in Tamil. Dubbed versions in Telugu and Kannada are set to hit screens on October 9, with a Hindi release also being planned.

Backing the film are producers Santhosh T. Kuruvilla and Binu George Alexander, whose confidence in both the story and its young composer suggests they are positioning Balti as a cross-over entertainer.

For Sai, this debut is more than just a soundtrack. It is a test of whether his digital success can translate into a cinematic legacy. If the response to the singles is anything to go by, Balti’s music could well become one of the film’s biggest talking points.

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