Band Anahatha’s music connects to listeners’ hearts-OxBig News Network

Band Anahatha performing in Hyderabad
| Photo Credit: SIDDHANT THAKUR

Band Anahatha is a rare multilingual band from Hyderabad, featuring two female lead singers. “When I founded the group in April 2022, it was uncommon to have two women as the main vocalists in music bands,” shares Ananya Bhaskar. Ananya, one of the lead singers and the founder of the band, is joined by Manasa Seshu (lead singer), Samuel Sanjeev (drummer), Smaran Vadakoppu (lead guitarist), Rajesh Korukonda (keyboardist), Rajeev James (bassist), and John Wesley (sound engineer).

Multilingual ensemble

Members of Band Anahatha pose for a photograph before a gig in Hyderabad
| Photo Credit:
SIDDHANT THAKUR

This multilingual ensemble has performed at club nights, corporate events, private weddings, college festivals, movie audio launches, and award ceremonies. Seamlessly moving across genres — from soulful melodies to high-energy dance numbers — their performances blend Telugu and Hindi classics with a mix of Tamil, Punjabi, and English hits.

Ananya explains that the band’s name has a connection to the heart: “Among the seven chakras in the human body, ‘Anahatha’ is the heart chakra, and we hope our music resonates closely with listeners’ hearts.”

Dream come true

Ananya Bhaskar, lead singer and founder of band Anahatha
| Photo Credit:
SIDDHANT THAKUR

The band is the realisation of Ananya’s five-year-old dream. An engineering graduate and Carnatic music enthusiast, she was first inspired during a birthday celebration at Amnesia pub in 2017, where the musicians’ lively performance left a lasting impression. Motivated to create similar memories for music lovers, she nurtured a quiet ambition to form her own band. After changing two jobs, she finally quit to pursue her dream in March 2020.

Ananya and Manasa began their musical journeys through reality shows such as Zee Telugu’s Sa Re Ga Ma Paa and Indian Idol (Manasa was also a finalist in the most recent edition of Sa Re Ga Ma Paa). Although these experiences gave her the confidence to take the plunge into music full-time, the initial months were challenging and difficult to sustain.

Ananya and Manasa 
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

“When I started out, it was rare to have two female lead singers,” she says. “Some even suggested, ‘Oka male singer nu band lo add chesukondi’ (Why don’t you add a male singer to the band?)”

The band survived, though not without changes to the line-up over three years. “It’s not easy bringing six different minds together, as each person has their own aspirations. Some had to leave, but we are all on good terms,” Ananya adds.

Classic and contemporary

Band Anahatha performing live in Hyderabad
| Photo Credit:
SIDDHANT THAKUR

Known for their covers of popular film music, Band Anahatha’s two-hour ‘contemporary and classic’ set features a mix of melodies and upbeat numbers. Performing at college campuses has given them an opportunity to connect with students. At one such event at IIIT Hyderabad, the band experienced what they describe as ‘insane energy’, with the crowd singing along and sending appreciative messages scribbled on tissues.

The band plans to introduce a blend of classical fusion into their concerts. “Anahatha is not just a band; it’s a commitment to delivering musical excellence, creating memories with every note, and leaving a lasting impression on every audience,” says Ananya.