Swarathma

Swarathma is an Indian folk-rock group from Bangalore, India, active since 2002. Its music is rooted in Indian folk traditions and draws on rock, blues, reggae and classical music, with lyrics shaped by personal experience as well as social and political themes.

Line-up

The current line-up includes Vasu Dixit on vocals and rhythm guitar, Pavan Kumar KJ on percussion and vocals, Varun Murali on guitar and vocals, Sanjeev Nayak on violin and vocals, Jishnu Dasgupta on bass guitar and vocals, and Joel Milan Baptist on drums. Former members include Abhinanth Kumar, Arjun Dheeraj, Joseph and Montry Manuel.

Live shows and festivals

The band is known for a highly interactive live act, with sing-along sections, ad-libbed exchanges, occasional couplets, faux folk-horses and members wearing Nehru Topis. This festival-focused style has taken them to events including The Great Escape, Lovebox and Larmer Tree in the UK, as well as Parramasala in Australia, Kalaa Utsavam in Singapore, and Awtar Festival in Morocco. In India, they also play events such as South Asian Band Festival in New Delhi, NH7 Weekender in Pune, The Great Indian Octoberfest and Fireflies Festival of Music in Bangalore.

Social and political work

Swarathma supports social causes through songs and campaigns. Their track Topiwalleh supports the nationwide anti-corruption movement, while other work has backed the Bell Bajao campaign against domestic violence, the Small Steps cloth bag movement against plastic bag use, and Twestival Bangalore in aid of the Dream-a-Dream Foundation.

The band also runs Action Replay, a series of free, self-funded concerts for audiences who may not otherwise have access to live music. These performances take place in places such as leprosy centres, blind schools and Alzheimer’s care homes.

Collaborations

Swarathma appears in the TV series The Dewarists with Shubha Mudgal, with whom it creates the song Duur Kinara. The band also works with Mudgal on the music video for Pyaasi.