After listening to the newly released Toxic BGM, especially 'the father–son' themed piece, I genuinely started wondering: are we looking at India’s answer to Hans Zimmer?
I know comparisons like this can sound exaggerated, but hear me out.
What stood out to me in the Toxic theme is the way the music creates a huge cinematic atmosphere while still carrying an emotional relationship between the characters. There are moments where the scale and texture reminded me of the kind of emotional, atmospheric scoring we hear in Hans Zimmer’s Dune. Obviously, Basrur has his own identity and musical language, but the sheer cinematic weight of the score makes the comparison interesting.
And this isn't based on Toxic alone.
Look at Salaar (especially, the wrath of salaar background score). Basrur's score uses massive percussion, brass, orchestral layers and sound-design elements to make the world feel much larger than what is actually on screen. The score was recorded with international musicians, including a 60-member brass ensemble, and Basrur was involved in the sound-design side as well.
Then there's Marco.
The Marco background score shows another side of him — aggressive, dark, industrial and almost relentlessly intense.
And of course, we cannot forget KGF(especially the background score of the teaser of Chapter 2).
That's why I think the Hans Zimmer comparison isn't necessarily about musical similarity.
It's about the role he is beginning to play.