It is 2019. The sweltering Chennai heat does not faze the five high-schoolers ready to give their all at an inter-school cultural competition. Despite their jitters, they set the stage ablaze, and thus, Thisram was born. “Right from the start, we knew we hadn’t heard anyone who sounded like us,” says vocalist Sivaranjini Chandramouli, one of the original five.

Today, Thisram is a seven-member band and is set to bring their unique melodies to Bengaluru with Tastefully Yours, an event Sivaranjini describes as a journey of the band’s evolution. Simply put, Thisram dishes out Carnatic music, topped with vibrant originals inspired by city culture and interpretations of classical compositions, with a hint of Latin-Salsa, jazz and more.

Shedding light on their name, Aditya Kamakshinadha, multi-percussionist, says, “Thisram is a specific beat pattern in Carnatic music; ‘Thakita thakita thakita’ is the beat associated with the term. We wanted our name to be rooted in Indian tradition and at the same time, sound crisp and sharp.”

Sivamadhavan is the band’s in-house lyricist. “He sometimes churns out lyrics in under 10 minutes,” says Aditya.

Thisram’s base is Carnatic music, but its members are all things Gen-Z; the word “limit” does not seem to exist in their dictionary. “We draw inspiration from literally everywhere, including Michael Jackson, the blues, our grandmothers…the list is endless. We attend concerts together. We are friends first and bandmates second,” he points out.

Other members of the band include pianist Srivatsan Ganesh, Madhumithran Muralikrishna on the bass, vocalists Shreemathi Jagannathan, Bhargavi Manogna and Akshara Satheendran who also beatboxes.

Beyond the surface

Thisram, though young, is not all fun and friendly banter; as the band sings about things that matter. “One of our original compositions ‘Oli’ is about the ongoing wars in the world, and how, as humans, we need to come together and chase peace,” says Sivaranjini, adding that it will be a part of their Bengaluru performance.

“The soundscape mimics grenades, missiles, and war cries. The song starts with a baby crying and tugs at your heartstrings,” adds Aditya.

They will be also performing an adaptation of Mahakavi Subramania Bharathiyar’s ‘Ninnaiye Rathiyendru’, a personification of the beloved as the moon, as well as a piece from Girish Gopalakrishnan’s album Kaadhalan Bharathi. “It is our version, arranged and performed by us, but the tune has been composed by Girish Gopalakrishnan,” Sivaranjini says.

All seven members of Thisram are ardent fans of the Mahakavi Bharatiyar, who, in his poem Katrae Vaa implied that forming steadfast friendships makes dealing with life’s trials easier. So how does Thisram handle the challenges that erupt when they are in the creative zone?

Aditya says, “It’s like a potluck dinner — it isn’t who cooked what or whose dish tasted better; it is about having a meal together. We love creating music and see every chance as an opportunity.”

“Though we’ve performed in Bengaluru before, nervous excitement propels us to do better. The Bengaluru crowd appreciates fusion. Besides, whenever artistes create new music, they always choose to present it in Bengaluru as the audiences there are quite receptive.”

Thisram will present Tastefully Yours at Medai The Stage, Museum Road, opposite St Patrick’s Church from 6pm. Tickets at ₹599 available on theticket9.com