Santhosh Narayanan is an Indian film composer and musician in the Tamil film industry. Santhosh Narayanan made his debut as a film composer in the 2012 Tamil film Attakathi. His works in latter films including Pizza, Soodhu Kavvum, Cuckoo and Jigarthanda were critically acclaimed. He made his debut as an independent music director in the 2012 Tamil film Attakathi directed by Pa. Ranjith. Santhosh composed a song in the gaana genre for the film, "Aadi Pona Aavani", and gave a then-unknown Gana Bala, who had been singing gaana songs at funerals till then, the chance to sing it. Along with "Aadi Pona Aavani", a second gaana song, "Nadukadalula Kappala", Bala's own composition, was recorded for the film. Both songs went on to become popular, making Gana Bala a star, and were said to have brought back gaana to Tamil cinema. Santhosh Narayanan did his schooling in RSK Higher Secondary School, Tiruchirappalli and college in J. J. College of Engineering and Technology, Tiruchirapalli. After completing his education, he briefly worked as an assistant to composer A. R. Rahman. He worked as a recording engineer, before beginning to produce independent music and compose background score for films. He scored the music including two songs for the acclaimed short film Advaitham, and produced the score for the Telugu thriller film Nenu Meeku Telusa along with another Rahman protege, Sakti.
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Biography from TMDB.
- May 15, 1983 (43)
- Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India
- Composer, also writer
- 35 on MovieCove · 84 credits in all
What are Santhosh Narayanan's films like?
Across their 27 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.
Genres
Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.
Themes
What they feel like to watch
Ironic 1 · Wry 1 · Earnest 25
Light 3 · Serious 8 · Dark 16
Grounded 11 · Stylized 13 · Heightened 3
Gentle 1 · Charged 7 · Intense 19
Steady 1 · Shifting 18 · Whiplash 8
Straight-faced 21 · Some laughs 5 · Funny 1
Slow burn 3 · Even-paced 20 · Relentless 4
Casual 3 · Engaged 17 · Full focus 7
Easy watch 1 · Affecting 9 · Heavy 17
Resolved 18 · Open-ended 8 · Ambiguous 1
Moods and endings
- Happy8
- Bittersweet16
- Ambiguous3
AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.
Where can I watch Santhosh Narayanan's films?
As of October 24, 2026, 28 of their 35 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Prime Video (17).
- Pariyerum Perumal (2018) · composer
- Sarpatta Parambarai (2021) · composer
- Oh My Kadavule (2020) · playback singer
- Karnan (2021) · composer
- Mahaan (2022) · composer
- Writer (2021) · writer
- Cuckoo (2014) · composer
- Master (2021) · playback singer
- Kalki 2898 AD (2024) · actor, composer
- Manithan (2016) · composer
- Yatra 2 (2024) · composer
- Pathonpatham Noottandu (2022) · composer
- +5 more
- Jigarthanda Double X (2023) · composer
- Anweshippin Kandethum (2024) · composer
- Mehandi Circus (2019) · playback singer
- Kalki 2898 AD (2024) · actor, composer
- Dasara (2023) · composer
- Retro (2025) · actor, composer
- Buffoon (2022) · composer
- Sikandar (2025) · composer
- Jagame Thandhiram (2021) · composer
- Naai Sekar Returns (2022) · composer
- Navarasa (2021) · composer
- ZEE5
Subscription and free streaming for Santhosh Narayanan's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.
Filmography
84 credits, 35 with a MovieCove page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.
Seyon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)
Balaramana Dinagalu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)
Lingam (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)
Maa Inti Bangaram(2026)
Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films
Vaa Vaathiyaar(2026)
Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films
Thalaivan Thalaivii(2025)
Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films
Retro(2025)
Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films
Sikandar(2025)
Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films
Vaazhai (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)
Andhagan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)
Raayan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)
Kalki 2898 AD(2024)
Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films
Bujji & Bhairava (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)
Anweshippin Kandethum(2024)
Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films
Yatra 2(2024)
Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films
Saindhav(2024)
Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films
Jigarthanda Double X(2023)
Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films
Dasara(2023)
Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films
The Night Manager (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)
Faadu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)
Naai Sekar Returns(2022)
Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films
Anel Meley Pani Thuli (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)
Pettaikaali (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)
Buffoon(2022)
Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films
Pathonpatham Noottandu(2022)
Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films
Gulu Gulu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)
Kadaisi Vivasayi(2021)
Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films
Mahaan(2022)
Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films
Anbarivu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)
Writer(2021)
Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films
Kasada Thapara (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)
Navarasa(2021)
Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all shows
Sarpatta Parambarai(2021)
Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films
Vellai Yaanai (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)
Jagame Thandhiram(2021)
Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films
Karnan(2021)
Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films
Parris Jayaraj (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)
Master(2021)
Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films
Penguin(2020)
Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films
Gypsy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)
Oh My Kadavule(2020)
Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films
Dagaalty (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)
Oththa Seruppu Size 7 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)
A1 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)
Mehandi Circus(2019)
Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films
Gangs of Madras (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)
Vada Chennai(2018)
Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films
Pariyerum Perumal(2018)
Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films
Kaala(2018)
Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films
Dhwaja(2018)
Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
Mercury (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)
Vizhithiru (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)
Meyaadha Maan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)
Guru (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)
Bairavaa (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)
Uyir Mozhi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)
Kaashmora (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)
Kodi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)
Remo(2016)
Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films
Kabali(2016)
Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films
Iraivi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)
Manithan(2016)
Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films
Kadhalum Kadanthu Pogum (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)
Jil Jung Juk (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)
Irudhi Suttru(2016)
Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films
36 Vayadhinile (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)
Enakkul Oruvan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)
Kappal(2014)
Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films
Madras (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)
Jigarthanda (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)
Cuckoo(2014)
Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films
Pizza 2: Villa (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)
Lucia (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)
Soodhu Kavvum (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)
Pizza (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)
Attakathi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)
Nenu Meeku Telusa...? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)
Chiyaan 63 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)
D56 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)
DV4 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)
MaayaOne (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)
Server Sundaram (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)
Suresh Raina 01 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)
Vada Chennai II: Anbuvin Ezhichi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)
Career shape
A full career of 84 titles, 77 of them dated from 2008 to 2026.
Biggest box office
Kalki 2898 AD (2024)
Highest rated
Vada Chennai (2018)
Most popular right now
Maa Inti Bangaram (2026)
Film career
- 2025Screen debut· Retro
Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored.
How do Santhosh Narayanan's films land?
Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 76th percentile, the median of all 34; across their 27 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 62nd percentile for acclaim.
- 75th and up17
- 50th to 74th8
- 25th to 49th7
- Below 25th3
Shape of the crowd
14 of their 35 titles are Universally Loved.
- Universally Loved14
- Divisive1
- Cult Classic4
- Crowd Pleaser3
- Mixed13
Reviewers score the sound and music 68/100 in their films, across 25 reviewed titles; fans 75, detractors 43. The element that speaks to their work as a composer.
Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.
Is Santhosh Narayanan's work okay for kids?
Across up to 13 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, alcohol & drugs and frightening / intense run heavier than most films and sex & nudity lighter.
Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.
Who does Santhosh Narayanan work with?
People who share at least 2 of Santhosh Narayanan's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Pa. Ranjith shares the most, 5.
Directors
- Karthik SubbarajShared titles: Retro (2025), Jigarthanda Double X (2023), Mahaan (2022), Jagame Thandhiram (2021)See all 4 shared titles with Karthik Subbaraj
- Pa. RanjithShared titles: Sarpatta Parambarai (2021), Writer (2021), Kaala (2018), Pariyerum Perumal (2018), Kabali (2016)See all 5 shared titles with Pa. Ranjith
- Mari SelvarajShared titles: Karnan (2021), Pariyerum Perumal (2018)See all 2 shared titles with Mari Selvaraj
Actors
- SamuthirakaniShared titles: Dasara (2023), Writer (2021), Kaala (2018), Vada Chennai (2018)See all 4 shared titles with Samuthirakani
- DhanushShared titles: Jagame Thandhiram (2021), Karnan (2021), Kaala (2018), Vada Chennai (2018)See all 4 shared titles with Dhanush
- G.M. SundarShared titles: Vaa Vaathiyaar (2026), Sarpatta Parambarai (2021), Writer (2021)See all 3 shared titles with G.M. Sundar
- Joju GeorgeShared titles: Retro (2025), Buffoon (2022), Jagame Thandhiram (2021)See all 3 shared titles with Joju George
Cinematographers and editors
- Vivek HarshanShared titles: Sikandar (2025), Mahaan (2022), Pathonpatham Noottandu (2022), Jagame Thandhiram (2021)See all 4 shared titles with Vivek Harshan
- Murali.GShared titles: Sarpatta Parambarai (2021), Kaala (2018), Kabali (2016)See all 3 shared titles with Murali.G
- Vetre KrishnanShared titles: Vaa Vaathiyaar (2026), Buffoon (2022)See all 2 shared titles with Vetre Krishnan
- S. TirruShared titles: Sikandar (2025), Jigarthanda Double X (2023)See all 2 shared titles with S. Tirru
Producers
- M. Ashok NarayananShared titles: Retro (2025), Jigarthanda Double X (2023), Buffoon (2022), Mahaan (2022), Penguin (2020)See all 5 shared titles with M. Ashok Narayanan
- Kaarthekeyen SanthanamShared titles: Jigarthanda Double X (2023), Buffoon (2022), Penguin (2020)See all 3 shared titles with Kaarthekeyen Santhanam
- Kalyan SubramanianShared titles: Buffoon (2022), Penguin (2020)See all 2 shared titles with Kalyan Subramanian
- Pavan NarendraShared titles: Buffoon (2022), Penguin (2020)See all 2 shared titles with Pavan Narendra