The Engineers: Thaikkudam Bridge is forging incredible connections across genres

Very few bands make it past the initial wave. Fewer still keep rising without losing their soul. But Thaikkudam Bridge has managed to keep sounding like no one else.

It started in 2013 when a group of fifteen musicians, from different corners of the country met for a jam session near a bridge in Kochi. That casual meetup snowballed into a breakthrough on Music Mojo on Kappa TV.

“Fish Rock”, their first original track, packed with electric riffs, street slang, satire, and something a little feral exploded online. Suddenly, the band was headlining college fests, festival stages, and everything in between.

But they didn’t stay boxed into the local scene for long. Their debut album Navarasam (2015) is a sonic blend of Malayalam, Tamil, and Hindi - with classical undertones meeting gritty guitar lines and unmistakable political edge. Tracks like Aarachar, One, and the title song Navarasam became instant favourites.

Fast forward to 2019, and the band released Namah - a sophomore album as expansive as its guest list. It featured Guthrie Govan, Jordan Rudess, Chris Adler, Ustad Rashid Khan, Niladri Kumar and Umayalpuram K. Sivaraman.

They’ve now played over 600 shows across 25 countries - Summerfest in the U.S., major venues in Singapore, Canada, the Middle East. And through it all, they’ve preserved the most chaotic, beautiful part of themselves: the structure. Still fifteen members strong. Nine vocalists. Six instrumentalists. Hindustani-trained singers vibing with rock guitarists. Folk melodies sitting comfortably next to synth lines.

Change, of course, was inevitable. Co-founder Siddharth Menon moved on in 2017. Others came and went. But the spine remained steady—Govind Vasantha, Mithun Raju, Vian Fernandes.

Earlier this year, the band stepped into an entirely new realm for Indian musicians. Navarasam inspired a playable character in Indus Battle Royale. Agni Raagam, built on the band’s fierce stage energy and cultural aesthetic; revealed during a concert in Pune. A first for an Indian indie act.

Twelve years on, Thaikkudam Bridge is still in motion. Still refusing to flatten and still entirely, unapologetically theirs.

Fish Rock
Thaikkudam Bridge Live at Sacred Hearts, Kochi (2014)
Released during their breakout moment on Kappa TV, the track blends pounding drums, aggressive riffs, and rapid-fire vocals by Govind Menon and Vian Fernandes-laying the foundation for an Indian rock-metal anthem.

Khel Mandala
Thaikkudam Bridge w/ Krishna Bongane (2014)
Originally from Natarang, this Marathi track was reinterpreted with emotional intensity and orchestral arrangements. Krishna Bongane's vocals stand out for their strength and delicacy.

Chathe
Navarasam (2014) / Thaikkudam Bridge Ft. Peethambaran Menon
Before Navarasam released, Thaikkudam Bridge unveiled "Chathe" in 2014, introducing Peethambaran-Govind Menon's father-as vocalist. Blending death metal elements with fusion, the song channels dark reflections on mortality through growling vocals, double-kick drumming, and sharp guitar solos.

One
Navarasam (2015) / Thaikkudam Bridge
An uplifting track from Navarasam, featuring Siddharth Menon and Dhanya Suresh Menon. "One" promotes unity and harmony through its multilingual lyrics and melodic composition.

Khwaab
Navarasam (2015) / Thaikkudam Bridge (Krishna Bongane, Nila Madhab)
By the time Navarasam released in 2015, Thaikkudam Bridge had the aura of a supergroup-featuring ex-members of Motherjane and Infernal Wrath.
"Khwaab," sung by Krishna Bongane and Nila Madhab, is a soaring Hindi progressive-fusion track that builds with intensity, showcasing the band's intricate composition and vocal strength.

Aarachar
Navarasam (2016) / Thaikkudam Bridge
"Aarachar" leans into a grim, accusatory mood, built around a distorted, buzzing riff. Govind Menon takes over vocals, delivering a
spoken-word-style performance that references demons, executioners, and the rot of jingoism and greed. The track's impact was magnified by a Bejoy Nambiar-directed video, with Aditi Rao Hydari embodying a gothic, spectral figure-half-demon, half-judge.

Navarasam
Navarasam (2017) / Thaikkudam Bridge
Opening with a sweeping violin line reminiscent of Rahman or llaiyaraaja at their most haunting, "Navarasam" features Vipin Lal on vocals and signals the band's descent into a darker, more mournful brand of fusion metal. This time, their focus was the value of art itself.

Anthaathi
Cover (2019) / Thaikkudam Bridge (Govind Vasantha, Chinmayi)
A live rendition of the beloved Tamil track from 96. Their arrangement remains tender while amplifying the emotional textures with ambient rock layers and dual vocal leads.

Appozhum Paranjille
Thaikkudam Bridge (2019)
A reimagining of a 1983 film track. The band infuses new life into the melody, reinforcing its underlying social themes through modern rock instrumentation and haunting vocals.

Kalliyankatt Neeli
Namah (2019) / Thaikkudam Bridge (Ft. Pt. Vishwa Mohan Bhatt)
A sonic retelling of the Neeli folklore, which tells the story of a vengeful spirit rooted in South Indian legend. Thaikkudam Bridge builds this narrative through a collision of Indian classical and metal. Pt. Vishwa Mohan Bhatt's mohan veena adds an eerie, melodic tension, while the band's heavier textures create a brooding atmosphere.

Teri Deewani
Thaikkudam Bridge Live at City Shor (2020)
A soulful reworking of Kailash Kher's iconic song. Preserves the devotional energy while adding layers of instrumentation and dynamic swells in typical Thaikkudam fashion.

A. R. Rahman Medley
Thaikkudam Bridge Live at Behindwoods Gold Mic Music Awards (2019)
A tribute set weaving together some of Rahman's most loved tracks.

Kanne
Namah (2019); Live at Washington DC / Thaikkudam Bridge Ft.
Anandraj Benjamin Paul)
Kanne from Namah pairs Vipin Lal's tender opening with the powerful vocals of Anandraj Benjamin Paul, formerly of Avial. Written by Dhanya Suresh, the song captures a father-daughter bond with emotional range and rock intensity. It's one of several tributes in the album featuring artists the band deeply admires.

Inside My Head
Namah (2019) / Thaikkudam Bridge (feat. Marco Minnemann)
Released in 2017 with a striking music video, "Inside My Head" marked Thaikkudam Bridge's first fully English track. Sung by Anish Krishnan and featuring drummer Marco Minnemann, it later appeared on Namah (2019), offering a sharp, progressive showcase of the band's evolving sound and storytelling through shifting moods and technical finesse.

llaiyaraaja 1000 Tribute Medley
Live at City Shor (2020) / Thaikkudam Bridge
Performed live as a tribute to llaiyaraaja's legendary career. Combines multiple compositions into a cohesive medley, highlighting the band's versatility and deep reverence for Indian film music.

Pookkal Pookkum
Backyard Sessions (2021) / Thaikkudam Bridge
A smooth medley of "Pookkal Pookkum" and "Malare" that fuses Tamil and Malayalam melodies. Delivered in an intimate acoustic setting with lush harmonies and restrained percussion.

Thaikkudam Bridge's Approach to Making Music
Salim Merchant in conversation with Thaikkudam Bridge (2023)