Shruti Haasan, the powerful voice behind ‘Sanchari’

‘Sanchari’ is not your usual promotional song. It is a full-blown musical banger — explosive, pulsating and driven by a heady combination of tribal fusion beats and rock rhythms. And at the heart of this high-voltage track from director S.S. Rajamouli’s much-awaited pan-India action-adventure Varanasi is the powerhouse voice of actress-singer Shruti Haasan, who brings an extraordinary force and conviction to its deeply spiritual lyrics.

Composed by Oscar-winner M.M. Keeravani, ‘Sanchari’ brings together Shruti and Kaala Bhairava on vocals for a track that is as much about sonic impact as it is about spiritual energy. Shruti, in particular, makes her presence felt from the very first note, attacking the song with the kind of raw power that its Shaivite lyrics demand.

The high-velocity lyrics are penned by Chaitanya Prasad and draw heavily from the divine energy of Lord Shiva as the cosmic wanderer, with the film’s story unfolding against the backdrop of Varanasi. ‘Sanchar’, which means a traveller or wanderer, serves as the character anthem for Mahesh Babu’s explorer protagonist. In Shaivite philosophy, the word also evokes Shiva’s eternal cosmic journey and his infinite Ananda Tandavam — the cosmic dance that spans worlds and dimensions.

The song’s lyrics take this spiritual imagery and turn it into an anthem of movement, power and fearlessness. The line “Kaalaaneee Shaasisthuu Prathirojuu Paruge le” (Commanding time every single day) directly invokes Shiva’s form as Mahakaal — the absolute ruler of time, death and the cosmic cycle. The chant “Samhaari Samhaari… Mrutyuvupai Thana Swaari” invokes Shiva’s fierce Rudra or Kaalabhairava persona, portraying him as the conqueror of death (Mrutyunjaya) and the divine warrior who rides over mortality to annihilate demonic and chaotic forces.

Keeravani’s music gives these ideas a distinctly contemporary, adrenaline-charged sound. He blends heavy tribal fusion beats with rock rhythms, creating a relentless sonic pulse that is designed to evoke the resonance of Shiva’s Damru.

That combination of ancient spiritual imagery and contemporary musical aggression is what gives ‘Sanchari’ its unusual character. It is a devotional song, a character anthem and a high-energy commercial track rolled into one. The protagonist emerges not merely as a physical explorer, but as a fearless, spiritually charged force crossing global boundaries — “Khandaale Dhaatesthu” — under divine alignment.

How Shruti came on board

And then there is Shruti Haasan, whose casting as the voice of this unusually charged song was no accident. Explaining why Shruti was chosen to communicate the lyrics of such a deeply spiritual song, composer M.M. Keeravani says, “The idea of making Shruti Haasan sing Sanchari came from S.S. Karthikeya. He felt she could do justice to the spiritual lyrics. And he was right.”

Shruti’s power shines through the song’s shifts between spiritual invocation and musical intensity, giving “Sanchari” weight, energy and personality.

Keeravani says, “Sanchari serves as the primary theme track for the movie, heavily incorporating Shivatatvam (the essence of Lord Shiva). Its profound lyrics reflect the spiritual and mystical energy of Varanasi, where the character’s quest in a crucial part of the narrative unfolds. It was never meant to be just a promotional song, although it was used at an event. The track will reinforce the hero Mahesh Babu’s mission in the film.”