Ajaneesh Loknath Completes Background Score For Sudeep’s ‘Mark’ In Just 25 Days

For music director Ajaneesh Loknath, 2025 has been a year of momentum, scale and creative stretch. Already celebrated for shaping the sound of films like Ulidavaru Kandante, Kirik Party, Diya and Kantara, the composer expanded his footprint this year with multiple releases and a new role behind the scenes.

In 2025, Ajaneesh also made his debut as a producer with Just Married, while major projects such as Kantara – Chapter 1 and The Devil, both featuring his music, reached audiences. Adding to the list is Mark, starring Sudeep, which is gearing up for release and marks the duo’s third collaboration after Vikrant Rona and Max.

Speaking about Mark, Ajaneesh said that every project brings its own creative challenges. “Each director has a different vision. Compared to Max, Mark has a much faster-paced script. The scale, cast and making are bigger, and the film has a more massy appeal,” he said. Unlike Max, which unfolded in a single location over one night, Mark was shot across multiple locations, demanding a consistently high-energy background score.

Ajaneesh revealed that the process for Mark was particularly intense. “Usually, we get time to build the background score gradually. For Mark, we had to start at a high point right away. I completed the background score in about 20 to 25 days, and the entire project was wrapped up in just four-and-a-half months,” he added, calling it one of the fastest turnarounds for a Kannada film.

The film also features the song Mast Malaika, which showcases Sudeep’s dance skills. Drawing comparisons to the popular Ra..Ra..Rakkamma from Vikrant Rona, Ajaneesh said the song fits organically into the narrative. He also shared that director C R Bobby suggested involving Sudeep’s daughter, Saanvi, as the playback singer. “We tested her voice for the song, and I really liked it. After that, we informed Sudeep and moved ahead,” he said.

Praising Sudeep’s collaborative spirit, Ajaneesh described the actor as a major source of inspiration. “Working with Sudeep is always a pleasure. He gives complete creative freedom, which motivates the entire team. With that kind of encouragement, it’s possible to complete films at a remarkable pace,” he said.

The composer also noted that this marks one of the shortest timelines for completing a background score in Kannada cinema. “During this period, I composed around 17 to 20 distinct character themes,” Ajaneesh added.