Sanam – The Band That’s Rejuvenating And Reviving Classics

August 18, 2017

IMG_0124 copy — The four-member band of Sanam

“Love is what keeps us together as it keeps everyone else together,” agree the members of Sanam, a pop rock band that has taken the country by storm having over two million subscribers on YouTube. Pune is all set to groove to the melodious tunes this band at Virsaa, a music festival organised by Trustfort Events, to be held on August 19 at The Westin, Pune.

The band consists of four members namely Sanam Puri, Samar Puri, Venky S and Keshav Dhanraj. They rose to public prominence by uploading renditions of classic songs on social media platforms. “While we were growing up, we were used to the whole record label deal where there only a few people can show their talent. But right now, we’re in a place where we can make our own music videos and upload them from our homes. We record and shoot most of the videos in our own houses. There is so much space for creativity now. It’s a platform for everybody. The whole world can see it.

On YouTube, there are so many things and people from any country can watch it,” explains Dhanraj, the drummer of the band.

Adding to this, Sanam Puri says, “YouTube is the reason we’re here today. If we didn’t put up our songs there then I don’t know how else you all would’ve heard our songs. There’s freedom online now that anyone can put up videos and that’s the reason why we could reach out. We never thought about the songs we did before we uploaded them. We just made the song because we love music!”

They have made renditions of classic songs like Lag Jaa Gale, Mere Mehboob Qayamat Hogi, Gulabi Aankhen, Dilbar Mere and many more. “We chose the songs that we really liked. The lyrics are good, the melody is great but because it’s produced in an old style, the younger generation doesn’t really get to enjoy them. So, we’ve taken these songs and given them a modern vibe. It is enjoyed by the older generation as they get to listen to their favourites with a new twist. You have kids, their parents and grandparents sitting and listening to the same song as well as enjoying it.”

The band has been famously tagged as ‘India’s answer to One Direction’ but they don’t see themselves aligning to this. “It is just a perspective on us. What we believe is that we’re going to keep doing what we’re doing! People are going to keep saying different things,” states Puri.

Whereas, the band’s manager Ben Thomas adds, “One Direction is a bunch of five guys who sing. But Sanam is a band of four people, much like the fabulous four of The Beatles!”