Prof. Sankaran has also been active as a composer, melding elements of diverse musical cultures to create significant new body of cross-cultural work. Perhaps Sankaran is the first Karnatak musician ever to have written a concerto. He has been broadening Canadian understanding of his music/his cultural roots through many of his compositions written for a variety of contemporary and traditional music ensembles.

Compositons
from 1999 –present

Nalina Kanthi (Gentle Swing) (2005) - world music ensemble

Ride in Five (2005) - world music ensemble

Malkar (2003) – voice, flute, mrdangam, and percussion ensemble

Dhirena (traditional Tillana) (2001) - for voice, flute, and mrdangam

Veni Express (2001) - percussion ensemble and voice

One Sixteenth Away (Eduppu) (2000) - percussion ensemble

Devi’s Dialogue in D (2000) - Jazz idiom

Jazzadorian (1999) - jazz orchestra

Twins (1998) Jazz idiom -piano, saxophone, mrdangam

Carnatic (Mrdangam) Concerto (1997) - Western Chamber Orchestra

Timescape (1996) - music score for Bharatanatyarn dance)

Jhampalaya (1996) - Mrdangam, Piano & Saxophone

9 to 5 (1996) - percussion ensemble

Mela Tembang (1993) - gamelan

Misra Mela (1993) - suling & mrdangam

Catch 21 (1993) - percussion & voice

Lagu Misra (1990) - original composition for garnelan

Misra Koraippu in Talavadya Kacceri (1986)
Percussioner International, Vol. I No.2, pp. 16-19

Svaralaya (1984) - gamelan