‘Su from So’: Malayali music composer Sandeep Thulasidas shares magic behind fun score and songs in Raj B Shetty’s film

‘Su from So’, the Kannada movie directed by J P Thuminad and starring Raj B Shetty, is still running housefull in theatres. The horror-comedy follows a young man and how his actions lead to strange events in his village. Released nearly a month ago, the movie continues to have a dream run even in theatres in Kerala. Sandeep Thulasidas, the Malayali music programmer who also composed the background score for the movie, recalls the magic working with Raj B Shetty and the rest of the team.

So, how did this project come about?
The team was looking for a music programmer for the film and Raj reached out to composer Christo Xavier, who then recommended me. Raj then connected me with the associate director who narrated the story to me. The songs in the film were composed by Sumedh K — an incredibly talented musician who’s just 20 years old. They wanted me to work on adapting the songs for the theatre experience.

Right from the start, I loved the concept. Raj and I began collaborating, and he even came down to Kochi for a month so we could work closely on the project. That’s when he asked if I’d be interested in composing the background score and the 'Baava Theme Song'.
We had an absolute blast creating those pieces. Raj is one of the most easy-going people I’ve worked with, and the creative freedom I experienced reminded me of the kind I had when working with Shyam. Raj also rapped in Tulu in the ‘Danks Anthem’

Were the makers this confident about the film from the beginning?
Most of us knew the film would connect with the audience, but in my understanding, it was Raj who was extremely confident that the film would connect with people across languages. When we went to Mangaluru and Shivamogga for the preview shows, we were overwhelmed to see people laughing continuously. They would even laugh at portions we had not expected. This was encouraging. We hardly did promotions for the film but shared audience reaction of the audience from the theatre on social media. That worked for us and within no time, families were enjoying the film in theatres.

What do you think worked the most for the film?
The success of ‘Su from So’ made us realise that audiences were craving something different—films that made them laugh and feel light-hearted. For too long, we've been bombarded with thrillers and dark content. People genuinely missed the joy of simply laughing and relaxing. Even I, while working on several intense projects—mostly dark or crime-based—felt that absence.

That's why I'm now exploring something rare: a blend of comedy, horror, and emotional storytelling. Because at the end of the day, we all relate to laughter and sadness. Horror and comedy, though very different, both keep us on the edge of our seats—without the draining anxiety. Instead, they offer a kind of release. In today’s fast-paced world, where everyone is constantly busy, such films offer a refreshing break from reality. They don’t just entertain—they add real value to people’s lives.

It was interesting to note that each of the main characters had their own background music.
In fact, most of the ideas and suggestions for creating individual theme songs came from Raj. When you’re juggling multiple tasks, it’s easy to lose perspective—but Raj’s input and presence were incredibly helpful during the composition process. I remember being a bit hesitant while composing the Aliyan theme song. I was worried it might feel too over the top. But Raj reminded me that the brother-in-law character is over the top—and that an exaggerated musical theme would actually enhance his personality.

It was especially fun working on the theme for the brother-in-law, played by Prakash Thuminad. His character was so relatable—almost every family has that one relative who, despite having good intentions, somehow ends up creating chaos by the end of every event. That familiarity made it all the more enjoyable to bring his essence to life through music. The film had all the elements of a Mollywood film and that too worked for the movie. The director Thuminad belongs to Kasaragod and he has definitely been influenced by Malayalam movies.

There was an interesting blend of traditional and rap elements in the songs composed for the film

We didn’t consciously approach it from a cultural angle. We leaned more towards Western influences—using orchestral arrangements and even elements like pizzicato. For example, in the climax fight scene with Ravi Annan and the opening sequence with the offerings to the people and Guruji, we incorporated rap to add energy and intensity. Our goal was to create a meaningful mix. Wherever it felt right, we brought in folk elements to ground the scenes in tradition. In other moments, we used fun, experimental sounds to keep things fresh and engaging. It was all about finding the right balance that would enhance the storytelling.

Sandeeps’s discography...
My career in music began in 2019 when I started assisting Sushin Shyam, who brought me on board as a programmer for ‘Anjaam Pathiraa’. I went on to contribute to the climax music in ‘Trance’ and later worked on ‘Kannur Squad’. In the years since, I’ve had the opportunity to collaborate with Deepak Dev on ‘Thalavan’, as well as with Ranjin Raj, Sibi Mathew, and others. Each of these experiences has helped shape my approach, but it was Sushin who consistently challenged me to think outside the box—a mindset I continue to carry into every project I take on today.