For SANAM, every Bengaluru show feels like a homecoming

When indie-pop band SANAM performs in Bengaluru, it rarely feels like just another stop on the tour circuit. For Sanam Puri, Samar Puri, Keshav Dhanraj and Venkat Subramaniam, the city marks an important chapter in their early journey. The group, which first gained popularity through YouTube covers before building a global fan base, says Bengaluru played a key role in shaping their early live performances.

Ask the band to name a Bollywood song that best represents their bond, and the answer comes instantly — Yeh Dosti Hum Nahi Todenge from Sholay. The choice, they say, reflects the friendship that has carried them through different phases of their journey. Speaking to Bangalore Times, the band reflected on their Bengaluru memories, their rise from online covers to becoming one of India’s most recognised indie acts, and why authenticity continues to guide their music.

‘Bengaluru feels like home to us’

For bassist Venkat Subramaniam, the city holds a personal connection. “I did college here and lived in Bengaluru for about eight years, so for me this city is like home. My parents now live here, and we actually played some of our first shows as a band here. One of our early original gigs was at Catholic Club around 2010,” he recalls.
He adds that the city’s audience has always been deeply receptive to live music. “Bengaluru has always embraced music in every form. When we performed, everyone was singing along. You can really feel the love for music when you play here,” he says.

‘Making music together made us stronger’

Drummer Keshav Dhanraj says the band never began with a clear blueprint. “We had no idea how the music industry worked. We were just four friends who wanted to make music together,” he recalls. Like most independent artistes, their journey had its challenges. “There were many ups and downs, but we went through everything together. The good times and the bad times made us stronger as a band,” he says. After years of renditions, the band now hopes to refocus on original music. “We actually began with originals, then moved into renditions for a long time. Now we’re gradually returning to our own music again. It feels like a brand-new chapter for us.”

‘Artists feel the pressure to stay relevant’

While the band credits the digital era for shaping their journey, they also note how it has changed music consumption. “Sometimes only a small portion of a song goes viral on reels and people don’t necessarily listen to the full track,” they say. With numbers and virality dominating the industry, many musicians feel pressure to stay visible. “We’ve also gone through phases where we tried to change our sound because we thought something else was working,” they admit. Over time, however, the band says it has returned to what matters most. “Now we’re focusing on making music we genuinely love rather than chasing validation.”

‘We were terrified before releasing Lag Ja Gale’

The band recalls being nervous about releasing their rendition of Lag Ja Gale, originally sung by Lata Mangeshkar. “It’s such an iconic track that people feel a sense of ownership over it,” they say, adding they were unsure how audiences would react to a male vocalist covering it. “But the response was incredible and gave us the confidence to keep experimenting.”

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