FEATURE

Infusion is a Hyderabad-based band started in 2019 that plays regional music & Bollywood / South Indian Classical & Fusion. This 6’ Head Fusion Band, featuring Professional Musicians with decades of Industry experience and International acclaim has its own way of composition and is termed “The Most Versatile Band”. With versatile meanings behind the name, for instance, Indian fusion / Fusion of different genres / Infusing good music into audiences, this band couldn’t have been named better. Infusion has the versatile and accomplished playback singer Krishna Chaitanya (KC) (MA in Carnatic Music -Vocal) and Hrithika Aanandi (MA in Carnatic Music from Padmavathi University) for vocals, Ganesh Battula (Trinity College of London) as their Keyboard Maestro, Sai Vikas, a self-taught guitarist, and Vijay Nelapati, the Bassist, who has been recording with Murthovic on many ad and film projects. You can easily find this celebrated band playing at the city’s hotspots like Hard Rock Café, Moonshine Project, Tabula Rasa, Chemistry, Prost, and many more. KC explains, “Band opens up their chances to explore and experiment with music, despite everyone in the band being supremely talented and trained, we were drawn to the band culture for satisfaction and the vibe. In times when the monopoly of singers is not frequently seen as it was at the time of SBP Garu and Mano sir, bands happen to provide that certainty and financial freedom. Infusion has been traveling all around India performing and soon envision taking their music overseas. Infusion says all the experience the band members possess helped them take over lockdown by taking music lessons to survive their passion. KC takes a moment and appreciates all the bands that came before Infusion for laying the ground for all the coming bands, which greatly helped the audience to segregate the venues for different music choices. When asked about the vision for this band, KC expresses that Infusion wishes that not just Infusion but all the bands get more exposure and opportunities probably through mainstream media. This clearly encapsulates the thought of community over competition and these bands have nothing but love for music in their heart. Infusion also has originals in the pipeline which we will hopefully get to soon listen.

Well known as Hyderabad’s First Telugu Regional Music Band, Capricio is a five-piece band with Eknath Kiran Goparaju and Ayaan Khan for vocals, Sai Teja on percussions, Shravan Pakalpati on the keyboard, Moses Bass as Bass player, Nishanth Shekar as the guitarist and Chaitanya, as their sound engineer. Formed in 2017, Capricio is one of the oldest bands known for not just adding their unique twist to classic songs and their unplugged versions but also for their originals – Gundello and Satya as well. ‘Capricio’ is an Italian word, which means a lively piece of music, which happens to aptly sit with the vibe this OG band creates. This band’s logo is as unique as the band itself. Their logo not only reflects their love for Telugu music with the font but also encapsulates all the instruments that make the band Capricio, making sure what you see is what you hear. With Eknath having participated in a Telugu reality singing show, Nishanth having worked for Hentry Kuruvilla, and all the band members being professionally trained, it is no surprise that Capricio delivers music that’s not just soothing to the ears but also technically sound. From jamming with friends just for passion, even when Telugu music was not very welcomed in the clubs of Hyderabad, Capricio stuck to their love for music and gradually grew into a professional band today. In our conversation, Teja mentions that since Telugu music in clubs was not something the audience was used to back the and that they had to play Bollywood music for a couple of months but later the immense support from a few clubs in the initial stages of their journey played a major role and acted as a support for them to be determined to play Telugu music which eventually pulled Telugu audience to these venues. Their virtual shows in the lockdown and them singing a song to tell you that their show was canceled due to some inconvenience is evidence to show their passion for music. With a vision of ensuring Telugu songs are always closer to the people living beyond our country’s borders, Capricio is all set to revisit the US soon. Apart from our Tollywood legends whose songs they usually play, Capricio says artists like Jacob Collier, John Mayer, and Pink Floyd. If you are not a club-goer, Capricio has got you covered too. Like a true Hyderabadi, with their love for Chai and a vision of interacting and getting closer to their audience, hoping to share all their stories and technical knowledge, Capricio is coming up with a live event called Chai with Capricio for all age groups and with no limitations.

Band Raag has undoubtedly been the new hype in the band scene of the city. Many might mistake Band Raag for a new band but this five-piece band, formed in 2018 blends old classics with new and latest tracks, adding a whole new flavor to the music and setting them apart in the city. This band presently consists of vocalist Ishaq Vali, drummer Sunny Joel, guitarist Manideep Hendrix, bass guitarist Samy Sam, and keyboardist Elia Kondamudi. In their shows, you will find classics from AR Rahman to Ilaiyaraaja with a twist of its contemporary influences making it a fusion piece. Band Raag says that they received immense support from venues like moonshine in their early stages in terms of encouraging Telugu music in the club culture. Although there was an adapting curve for the band with the members changing, music is the reason all of them were getting on stage each day and that is what glued them together through these years. The vibe they create with their energy levels is unmatchable and the highlight is definitely making the crowd sing along with them. As Band Raag drops the vocals at the hook of any song, the crowd cannot keep quiet and sings along with each other creating a whole concert vibe. Apart from the legends, from AR Rahman and Ilaiyaraaja, this regional crowd’s favorite draws a lot of inspiration from Vivek Sagar’s contemporary fusions, Sricharan’s music, and many more. “A true mark of an artist is the ability to learn something from every other artist and that is exactly what inspires them. Making a song from scrap is very difficult and that’s something aspirational in itself. We do incorporate Bollywood classics here and there as the crowd pleases but Telugu music is our focal point”, expresses Ishaq, known for his Kshanam’s Cheliya, Nee valane from Naruda donaruda, and chorus of Changu Bala from Oh baby. This music band has been not only sweeping clubs with their melodious vibes but also are open to private gigs like Sangeets, cocktails, etc. They also have performed for celebrities like Nani, Allu Arjun, Niharika Konidela, and more. Band Raag shares that the work they have been getting for the past 6-7 months is satisfying and gives them a lot of hope and confidence for the future. The regular and repeating crowd at their venues is evidence that you cannot get enough of them. You can easily find them at the city’s hotspots like Posh Nosh, Moonshine, etc.

Started as just another college band, the name this band earned for themselves in the music circuit of the city proves that passion and hard work is all it takes to achieve your goals. This five-piece band with self-taught guitarist Chinna Swamy, Shashank Bhaskaruni — a Grade VIII drummer, Grade VIII keyboardist Naren RKS, bass guitarist Jagadish Chintala trained from Swarnabhoomi Academy of Music, and the vocalist Krishna Tejasvi, trained in Carnatic classical music for more than 13 years needs no introduction. Jammers have been winning audiences with their soulful rendition of popular Telugu tracks since 2016. In a candid conversation, the vocalist, Krishna Tejasvi (KT) opened up about how the number of the audience never bothered them as long as the present audience enjoyed their music. Of course, they started by enjoying playing others’ music but they now want to focus on their own music and like any true artist, Jammers aim to one day get on stage and receive requests from the audience for their original songs. Their original songs include – ‘Bird’s eye’ and ‘Valalo’ Looking at the trajectory this band is on, their supportive crowd is sure that day isn’t long afar. KT opens up and explains “The audience we find in clubs has definitely changed in the last three years and so did the music scene. Now that more Telugu audiences are coming to these clubs, the audience themselves know where to find Telugu music/bands and where to find Bollywood music so when we are playing, we know for sure that this is a crowd that appreciates Telugu music.” The fact that there were times when their shows had a full house audience in a club even on dry days can itself vouch for the change in the narrative. Jammers believe the diversity in this band always keeps them on their feet to constantly learn from each other. This quintet managed to make the most of the lockdown situation catering to lakhs of people’s daily music needs with their enthralling music series called ‘Quarantine Jam with Jammers’ which was a huge hit on YouTube. This challenging yet fulfilling journey turned out to be a great learning curve for Jammers as the whole series was produced at individual homes and mixed to be uploaded every alternate day. Jammers are currently working on their independent album, the first song of which is out titled ‘Tholi Adugu’ which captures the calmness and innocence of a child.

Varnam is a 5-gear emerging band with Prateek (K. M college of music and technology, also trained at Shankar Mahadevan Academy) as the vocalist and rhythm guitarist, Sai Deva Harsha (winner of Zee Saregamapa Lil champs 2008, with an experience of about 18 years in singing for TFI) as the vocalist and bassist, Vashni Jason (15 years of experience in recording and stage performance with TFI artists) as the Lead Guitarist, Sai Krishna (trained in Hindustani classical for about 5 years, and 12 years of experience with bands) as the drummer, and Vinay Sasidhar (Vocal training and Sound engineering at K.M institute of music) as the keyboard player and backing Vocalist. Sai Krishna and Vinay were always enthusiastic about forming a band that would have a bearing on the present music scenario. Something that would make a difference. Their mission to start one was always which eventually began this journey in a train called Varnam express. In conversation, Sai Krishna explains, ‘The meaning of ‘Varnam’ in Sanskrit is color. Color is an aspect of an object formed by differing spectrums of light reflected by these objects. Similarly, we musicians with distinct interests and qualities came together as one to reflect and form a new Varnam (color) altogether.” Professionally, Varnam tries to limit themselves to all kinds of Rock genres but, experiments with other genres while working on their originals. Varnam is also the name of one of their originals coming out this August. You can easily find them playing at Moonshine, Tabula Rasa, Posh Nosh, Heart Cup Coffee, etc. This fairly new, 2020-formed band expressed that initially their biggest concern or challenge was if they could keep the audience engaged and glued to them throughout the show. But, with time they realized that their audience was ending the day with utmost satisfaction just like them. The lockdown gave them a chance to interact with their audience on social media. While everyone was trying to stay safe at home, they didn’t want to miss out on entertaining their audience. Talking about inspirations and hope, Varnam explained, and we quote, “There are many artists and bands around the globe that we get our inspiration from. But to mention one, A.R. Rahman is our personal favorite. And Produce, Perform, Progress is our motto.” Varnam stated that their priority is not just to make a living but also, to help others enjoy their lives. As a part of this initiative, they collaborated with various NGOs like Aasya Foundation, Prathyusha Foundation, Sunshine Foundation & Spoorthy Foundation.

Aavyshkaar is a six-piece band with Abhilash and Vishwa Swaroop for vocals, Goutham as lead guitarist, Sai Charan on the keyboard, Yeshwanth Kumar as Bass guitarist, and Subhash as the drummer. Charan and Vishwa are the brother duo in the band and while brainstorming for band names, their father suggested the name Aavyshkaar. Interestingly this word also works as an amalgamation of all the band members’ names. Introduced to each other from the same music institute, Vyjayanthi Music Conservatory, performing in 40-piece orchestras representing their music academy at performing arts stages like Ravindra Bharathi, elevated their interest in performing as a band, and with their guru Sai Smaran, this band started performing in the city. Known for playing Telugu melodies, this full-time musicians’ sextet believes that every moment, every single time a club or a party invites them to perform is an achievement. They believe the joy and vibe they share with each other definitely reflects on their audience and spreading that positivity via music is what makes them happy. Aavyshkaar gives a special shoutout to their parents for supporting immensely during the Covid period. They used the lockdown period to enhance their skills and invested this time in learning, which eventually improved their quality, proving that every day is a learning curve. Having professionally trained Carnatic musicians and self-taught musicians in the band, Aavyshkaar says they individually have different sources of inspiration. Yeshwanth expresses that they aren’t in a rush to be somewhere or do something, they want to go where their music takes them. “There can be 2 or 3 popular, viral songs in an album but often the remaining 3 songs in the album too turn out to be equally beautiful and we take pride in playing those and you’ll be shocked at the number of people who enjoy these underrated gems”, says Yeshwanth.

Instagram: @aavyshkaar.live

The eponymous brand taking the wedding world by storm is no stranger to any of us. Brides’ predilection for this brand is nonpareil. The intricacy of his designs is no less than art pouring on the fabrics with multiple collections through the years under his belt. When you step into the store, it’s just like an art gallery with a curation of lehengas, sarees, accessories as well as jewelry. Although it is a bit on the pricier side, Sabyasachi is one of a kind and it is worth it. Address: Plot No 14, Road Number 10, Banjara Hills, Gaffar Khan Colony, Hyderabad, Telangana 500034. Website: www.sabyasachi.com Instagram: @sabyasachiofficial

The high-end designer label is prominent for its unusual and unique take on ethnic fashion. The grandiose clothing produced by the brand deeply reflects Indian heritage and culture. The store in Hyderabad was recently launched with the interiors designed by Gauri Khan. Facilitating an assortment of clothes ranging from their signature couture gowns to their remarkable bridal wear, Falguni Shane and Peacock is home to luxurious Indian wear. The brand has been in demand among the many elites since its launch and has managed to keep its name inscribed in the world of fashion. Address: HI-POINT, 8-2-624/1, Road No. 10, Avenue 4, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad, Telangana 500034. Website: https://falgunishanepeacock.in/ Instagram: @falgunishanepeacockindia

He is the go-to designer of Bollywood, who has styled iconic looks in the eternally classic movies. It is a woman’s dream to flaunt a Manish Malhotra lehenga or saree. The legendary designer who has been in the business for more than thirty years has rebuilt the pillars of Indian fashion and it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that in a MM outfit, the wedding day would be nothing less than a Bollywood movie. Address: House No 8-2-293/860/A, Road No 45, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad Telangana – 500033 Website: www.manishmalhotra.in Instagram: @manishmalhotraworld

Ritu Kumar is the ultimate essence of Indian fashion. She has seen and been a part of the industry’s transformations. Her designs are a blissful coalescence of past and present with a wonderful usage of Indian artistry. The label is the perfect fit if you are looking for simplicity and

intricacy. Address: 1. Shop No: 643, Road No - 36, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad - 500033, Telangana 2. Shop No: 8-2- 598/A/9, Road No - 10, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad - 500034, Telangana Website: www.ritukumar.com Instagram: @ri_ritukumar

Designer duo Nilesh and Mitesh rose the standards of men’s fashion with their exquisite label Kora. The subtle yet perfect incorporation of classic and modern elements into the designs has given birth to a diverse collection of suits, sherwani, bandh gala, jackets, and shoes customized for all kinds of special events. Their designs are of considerable finesse with high-quality raw materials utilized in the production to bring out the best of one’s personality when adorned. Kora is a must-visit if you are looking for something unique that will make you shine on special occasions. Address: 8-2-120/76/115, Road NO 2, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad, Telangana 500034 Website: http://www.nileshmitesh.com/ Instagram: @kora.hyderabad

Raghavendra Rathore is an epitome of classic and vintage aesthetics displaying the richness of the legacy of Indian culture through his austere designs. By an absolute coalescence of the past and present, he restructured the style of men’s wear. A beautiful blend of magnificence and poise, his designs replicate the true essence of royalty. His trademark, sharp and cut tailoring accentuating the silhouette gained immense popularity. If you are planning a majestic wedding, Raghavendra Rathore is the ideal choice. With his simplistic yet spectacular designs, every still of the wedding would be picture-perfect. Address: Shop No. 8-2-601/p/14, Ground Floor, Road No. 10, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad, Telangana 500034, Hyderabad, Telangana 500034. Website: www.rathore.com Instagram: @raghavendra.rathore

A pioneer brand in Indian wedding couture, Shantanu and Nikhil have reached new heights with their expanse of creativity and production. Their creations include bandhgala, sherwani, suits, waistcoats, kurtas, and everything you want for your wedding. Address: 8-2-601/3/14C, 2nd Floor, Road No. 10, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad-500034. Website: www.shantanunikhil.com Instagram: @shantanunikhil

Rohit Bal’s artistry displays his keen eye for detail, perseverance for perfection, and inspiration from his Indian roots. His styles are unique and experimental involving intrepid prints and striking cuts enhancing your figure. One of the leading brands in Men’s wear offers a variety of wedding apparel. Website: www.rohitbal.com Instagram: @rohitbalofficial

Tanishq has been around for almost three decades now: A household name and a timeless brand. Whether it is the simplicity of the wedding bands or the sophisticated designs of the traditional ornaments, Tanishq has been a chosen home for millions of fairytales. Its bewitching craftsmanship has stolen the hearts of many and you will find yourself lost in their artistry. Address: No.6-3-249/6/1, Aztec Towers, Road No/1, Banjara Hills, Beside Taj Krishna, Hyderabad, Telangana 500034. Website: https://www.tanishq.co.in/ Instagram: @tanishqjewellery

Krishna jewelers is one of the most popular jewelry brands with its origin right here in Hyderabad. With over three decades of legacy, the brand has catered to the detailed wishes of its customers and carved itself into their lives. A diversified collection of jewelry comprising gold, silver, diamond, ruby, sapphire, and emerald, they have constantly remodeled their visions to keep up with the changing trends and accommodated their loyal clientele. Address: Plot No.1222, Road No.36, Near Check Post, Beside Heritage Fresh, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad, Telangana 500033 Website: www.krishnajewellers.com Instagram: @krishna.jewellers.jubileehills

Passed down for five generations, since 1905, Mangatrai jewelers have created a solid base of providing pure and precious ornaments. They are well known for their pearls and gems that are procured and perfected to magnificence. Address: Krish-E 36, 8-2-293/82/A/499/1/ GF-1, Plot NO 499, Road NO 36, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad, Telangana 500033 Website: www.mangatrai.com Instagram: @mangatrai36jubileehills

Shree jewellers, a local brand that has gained prominence for its authenticity and multifarious style of statement jewelry is another place for you to fulfill your fantasies of a glorious wedding. Address: #8-2-293/82/A/485, Near Peddamma Temple, Road Number 36, Jubilee Hills Hyderabad – 500 033. Telangana, India Website: www.shreejewellers.com Instagram: @shreejewellersofficial

This designer brand provides a treasure of accessories to enhance your outfit and jewelry. Ranging from potli bags and clutches to traditional juttis to sandals, Simaaya has it all. Website: www.simaayafashions.com/collections/ accessories Instagram: @simaaya_fashions

September shoes is an online designer brand of footwear by Hyderabad based designed by Nishka Agarwal. All you wish for, on a hectic wedding day is comfortable footwear. This brand’s products are the equivalent of serenity. It also offers bridal customization and helps you produce the perfect design and fit to harmonize with your outfit. Embroidered Kolhapur, juttis, flats, heels, sandals, and flatforms; the brand attends to a variety of your needs. Instagram: @septembershoes

Floral accessories are the new trend. In wedding functions like Mehendi and Haldi, going natural with floral jewelry has become popular these days. Floral Art provides subtle and pretty floral accessories that compliment your outfit. Additionally, they offer kaleere, garlands, hair accessories, dupattas as well as brooches for men. They also did the Mehendi look of Alia Bhatt. Website: www.floralart.co.in Instagram: @floralartbysrishti

Flowers are one of the prime presents for a wedding day. With flowers in your hand, nothing can go wrong. Champs Fleur is a floral atelier that produces everlasting flowers. And anything from the everlasting collection is a perfect gift for a newlywed couple. They offer a variety of options from bouquets to preserved flower boxes with multiple color options. Their floral artists assort the flowers in an aesthetically pleasing manner according to your choice. Address: Rd Number 10, Kakatiya Hills, guttala_ begumpet, Kavuri Hills, Madhapur, Telangana. Website: champsfleur.com Instagram: @champsfleur

Resin wonders, a small budding Instagram business that deals with resin art, is another solution to your wedding gift confusion. Their products are handmade with love and are not just mesmerizing to look at but also extremely thoughtful. From coasters with customized messages to winsome wall clocks, they have a variety of unique options to explore. A distinctive specialty is their wedding hamper boxes which you can personalize according to your needs. Instagram: @resinwonderss

Long gone are the days of uncertainty and random shopping for gifts. With brands like The Gift Affair, you can sit back and have them curate a charming set of gifts and touch people’s hearts with consideration. They provide classy products at an affordable price and also add handwritten notes to make them more personal and sentimental. Website: www.thegiftaffair.in Instagram: @the.gift.affair