You might be doing good music, but people want a hit song: Nivas K Prasanna

Riding high on the success of Bison and Thaai Kizhavi , composer Nivas K Prasanna believes he is entering a defining phase in his career. The response to the films, he says, has opened up new opportunities — but he is choosing carefully.

“I’m getting a lot of offers after these films, but I’ve been a little picky,” he says and adds, “Right now, it feels like the next step of my career has started. I want to use this phase to the fullest and make good music. I know I’m here to do that.” Excerpts from an interview:

‘FACE VALUE MATTERS IN THE INDUSTRY’Despite his success, Nivas says the industry often places equal importance on visibility. “You might be doing good music, but what people look for is a hit song or a hit film. Face value matters — that’s how the industry works,” he explains.

‘I’M TOO LAZY FOR INSTAGRAM’Though naturally reserved, Nivas says he has slowly begun to step into the spotlight. “I don’t usually make an effort to show my face, but people kept telling me that audiences should know who composed the music. I’m a little shy about it, but I’m trying,” he shares.

That includes appearing in music videos and maintaining a social media presence — something he admits he isn’t particularly fond of. “I’m too lazy for Instagram,” he laughs. “I don’t even know my password. My friends handle the account.

Sometimes you have to accept collaboration requests from production houses or labels — otherwise they might feel offended. So, I mostly use Instagram for that.”

‘I LIKE BEING PART OF HAPPY, FUN FILMS’While Nivas enjoys working on meaningful films, he admits he also gravitates towards projects that carry a sense of fun. “I like being part of happy, fun films. People think I’m a serious person, but actually I’m quite fun,” he says with a smile. “I want that energy to reflect in my music as well.”

He explains that content-driven films can sometimes feel intense. “They can get very serious for me, so I make sure I strike a balance between fun films and intense ones. As a composer, I want to explore many genres.”

With his career expanding, his working style is also evolving. “Earlier, I handled everything by myself. Now, I have the freedom to work with a bigger team,” he says.

‘I SOMETIMES FEEL BORED WITH MY MUSIC’Interestingly, Nivas says he has recently begun questioning his own musical patterns. “I sometimes feel bored with my music,” he admits. “I see repeated musical structures in what I do. I want to break that and try something new.”
He believes it is easy for composers to slip into a comfort zone. “When something connects with people, you tend to repeat the same thought process again and again. But you have to break that pattern and be courageous enough to experiment — whether it becomes a hit or not.”

‘I’M GETTING OFFERS TO ACT; I DON’T WANT TO BE A SURFACE-LEVEL ACTOR’Apart from music, Nivas has also begun exploring acting — but cautiously. “I’m getting offers to act, but I don’t want to be a surfacelevel actor,” he says. “So, I’m doing the foundation work first. Just because you like being in front of the camera doesn’t mean you can act.”

He is currently attending acting classes and says the process has been refreshing. “It gives you a completely new perspective. I don’t see myself doing music 24x7 inside a room. I want to go out, explore the world and learn a new craft.”

At the same time, he has no illusions about stardom. “Acting is just for fun. Becoming a star isn’t my goal — and it’s not in my hands anyway. The camera is a sacred space; it won’t accept everyone. I have that clarity.”
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