A brief veena segment from the song “Phir Se” in Aditya Dhar’s “Dhurandhar: The Revenge” has unexpectedly become one of the most talked-about musical moments online. The instrumental piece, now flooding Instagram Reels and short-video platforms, has captivated listeners with its haunting melody and emotional depth. Behind the viral sound is 24-year-old Carnatic musician Ramana Balachandran, whose journey from classical music circles to mainstream popularity is now drawing widespread attention.A spontaneous studio moment that became a viral sensationRamana revealed that his collaboration on the track happened almost by chance. Music composer Shashwat had reportedly been following his performances on Instagram before the two eventually connected through a mutual acquaintance. What began as a casual creative session soon turned into one of the song’s defining musical moments.While experimenting in the studio, Ramana improvised a few notes on the veena, eventually creating the now-famous interlude. Neither he nor the team expected the short segment to resonate so strongly with audiences. The musician later shared that seeing listeners from different backgrounds connect emotionally with the piece has been deeply rewarding.The recording process itself also played a role in shaping the sound. Ramana explained that the microphone placement during recording created a unique tonal quality, giving the veena a softer and more atmospheric texture that stood out in the final mix.A childhood shaped by music and disciplineBorn into a musically inclined family in Bengaluru, Ramana grew up surrounded by classical sounds. His father enjoyed singing while his mother played the veena, making music a natural part of daily life. As a child, he spent hours listening to songs and classical performances at home, slowly developing a keen ear for melody and rhythm.His musical talent became evident at a young age when he noticed an error during one of his mother’s practice sessions of a Thyagaraja composition. Though he was only nine and unable to play the phrase himself, his observation surprised the family and encouraged them to take his interest seriously.Soon after, Ramana began formal training in veena under guru B Nagalakshmi while also learning vocal music and mridangam alongside his studies.The move that transformed his artistic outlookA major turning point came when his family shifted from Bengaluru to Tiruvannamalai in search of a quieter and more meaningful lifestyle. The spiritual atmosphere of the temple town and exposure to people living simple, purpose-driven lives had a lasting impact on the young musician.Being home-schooled and growing up in an environment deeply connected to tradition helped shape his identity as an artist. Ramana has often spoken about how the experience inspired him to approach music with sincerity rather than commercial ambition.‘Carnatic music remains my priority’Despite the massive attention generated by “Phir Se”, Ramana says his primary focus continues to be Carnatic music. While he appreciates the emotional storytelling and sound design involved in film compositions, he believes classical music still offers limitless creative possibilities.The young artiste remains committed to making the veena and Carnatic music more accessible to younger audiences without compromising on tradition. For Ramana, cinema may have widened his reach, but his roots remain firmly grounded in the classical world.Happy to have played all the string layers in this song, “Phir Se”, for#dhurandhar2therevenge. Thank you @shashwatology Sachdev bhaiya for the epic sounds and music, and hearty congratulations to you. Thank you @AdityaDharFilms sir 🙏🏾🤍. @arijitsingh bhaiya, you sound like a… pic.twitter.com/FhPqU6PXww— Ramana Balachandhran (@_RamanaB_) March 19, 2026