Anirudh Ravichander on Breaking Bad influence, hidden lyricist Heisenberg, and Coolie’s musical universe

With Coolie’s release just around the corner, composer Anirudh has been at the forefront of promotions, offering fans not just a glimpse into the film’s music, but also his personal inspirations behind it. In a recent interview with Sun TV, the celebrated music director opened up about his long-standing fascination with the cult American TV series Breaking Bad, and how it has quietly shaped various aspects of his work.

“For everyone, there’s always one show or movie that deeply resonates,” Anirudh shared. “For me, it was Breaking Bad. It has been a huge source of creative inspiration – not just in music, but also in how I approach projects.”

This admiration is evident in subtle details throughout his career. From naming his recording label Albuquerque Records, a nod to the show’s setting, to collaborating with a mysterious lyricist under the pseudonym “Heisenberg” (a central alias used by Walter White in the series), the composer has continually embedded easter eggs for fans to decode. One such instance includes a reference in Coolie’s track “Powerhouse,” which subtly alludes to the iconic series.

Discussing Heisenberg, the anonymous lyricist who frequently collaborates with him and director Lokesh Kanagaraj, Anirudh revealed that the enigmatic figure first entered the scene during the making of Vikram. “We discovered Heisenberg during Vikram. His lyrics clicked immediately, and people got curious. We never planned on keeping his identity hidden, but when fans began speculating, it became fun to let the mystery grow,” he said with a smile. “Now there are fake accounts claiming to be him, it’s turned into a kind of folklore.”

Intriguingly, Anirudh teased that fans might not have seen the last of these Breaking Bad homages. “I’ve probably used all I could from Breaking Bad,” he laughed. “To add anything more, I’d have to think long and hard. But who knows, maybe we’ll have a Jesse Pinkman in the next album.”

With an overwhelming response to Coolie’s soundtrack, Anirudh and the entire team are thrilled as the grand action entertainer gears up for a worldwide theatrical release on August 14th.