Steve Kottoor recalled watching Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge in theatres and hearing his score on the big screen.
“The first time hearing your score in the theatre is one of the best feelings ever. It’s not just about hearing your score; it’s about how the audience is connecting to the movie, and the score is playing a huge part in that. We work really hard on this, and this is the rewarding experience that we get.” He said.
For Steve Kottoor, the journey from Kochi to a major Bollywood production wasn’t planned; it unfolded one decision after another. From a student in Sacred Heart College, Thevara, to a member of Atif Aslam’s band, now Steve finds himself as the co-producer and additional music composer behind Dhurandhar 2, a film where every beat, drop, and every moment of silence plays an important part in enriching the audience’s experience of the movie.
“It was always a dream to work in the industry.” Steve recalled. “But it was not planned, it just happened.”
While studying at Sacred Heart College, Thevara, Steve had an unexpected opportunity come up: A call from the founder of Masala Coffee that drew him towards the commercial music space.
“I trust that life has its own way of treating you. I strongly believe that whatever is meant to happen will just happen.” Steve reflected.
Central to Dhurandhar 2’s soundscape is the collaboration between Steve and Shashwat Sachdev, and a partnership built on instinct rather than a rigid structure.
Their creative process, he explains, thrives on mutual understanding.
Even under intense deadlines, their firm partnership translated into the music we see in the film.
“I get exactly what he tries to communicate to me, and vice versa. Even though we work under crazy deadlines and pressure situations, we enjoy it and have a great time doing it. If you ever see us working, you will never see stress on our faces; you’ll just see us enjoying our work.” He explained his rapport with the music director.
But with a film of this huge scale, the temptation is often to go louder, grander, more overwhelming. However, the goal for Steve was to achieve the opposite.
“My goal for this movie was simple: It was not to make the music bigger, but to make it clearer and purposeful.” The 26-year-old said. “The main idea was to have a good dynamic, like knowing where silence is needed and making the score loud in places it needs to be.”
Beyond film and composing, Steve’s musical journey has taken him across the world, performing in almost 30 countries as part of Atif Aslam’s band.
And the difference between live performance and studio work couldn’t be any sharper.
“You are travelling to concerts where there are 10,000-20,000 people who are cheering for you, and the energy that you get from that is unmatchable. You can literally see the audience laughing, crying, and enjoying; they are there to celebrate music.”
Yet, despite the adrenaline and scale of live shows, being a music composer remains a more personal and introspective craft.
And choosing between the two? That’s the question he refuses to answer.
“I want both. I want that balance in my life.”
Now, with Dhurandhar 2 marking a significant spotlight on him, Steve is already looking ahead. His next chapter includes stepping into the horizon as an independent music director, with projects in multiple languages planned. He hopes that everything comes at the right time and the right place.
Steve Kottoor’s journey wasn’t one of overnight success. It was more about a quiet consistency, of showing up, of learning, and trusting the process.
From Kochi to Bollywood; From live stages across the world to the emotional core of a major film, Steve’s story reflects a truth about music:
Sometimes, the most powerful sound is the one that knows exactly when to be heard.
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