SHAURYA SINGH THAPA
HOW AVIAL ' S DEBUT SONG NADA NADA PIONEERED ALTERNATIVE MALAYALI ROCK : SCORE INDIE CLASSICS
Indian alt-rockers Avial have been a mainstay in the country ' s rock space from the early 2000s . While their 2008 titular debut album along with several film soundtracks make for quintessential listening , the Trivandrum-based outfit achieved their first breakthrough in 2003 with the single Nada Nada . But before getting into this iconic track , one must know more about the very genesis of Avial .
Guitarist Rex Vijayan had already gained considerable expertise as an artist , thanks to his stint at the Kochibased prog-rock band Motherjane . It was when Vijayan chanced upon Jigsaw Puzzle alumnus and turntablist Tony John ( who also served as a background vocalist ) that the seeds of creative collaboration germinated . John made Vijayan hear a snippet of a Malayali composition called Nada Nada . After Vijayan decided to add a slight contemporary and alternate touch to it , Nada Nada went through several drafts until it was officially released as a single under the newlyformed band Avial .
Other Jigsaw Puzzle members like lead vocalist Anandraj Benjamin Paul and bassist Naresh Kamath joined the new group in their respective capabilities while Mithun Puthanveetil stepped in as the drummer . Locals from Kerala and Tamil Nadu would know that avial is a popular dish that is usually prepared by mixing several vegetables with coconut , seasoned with curry leaves and coconut oil . Vijayan had once stated that given how the band drew on multiple influences , the name Avial suited them given how avial too was a dish blended with a wide variety of ingredients .
Even though Nada Nada was originally an English composition , the band decided to have a more local approach making the transition to Malayalam . The song turned out to be quite an anthem , bolstered by Anandraj Benjamin Paul ' s energetic vocals . Nada Nada ' s distinct ' wah wah guitar ' sound is another unforgettable aspect along with the chorus that features a catchy repetetition of the word ' Nada '. The accompanying music video also amassed lakhs of views , generating a considerable fanbase for the band .
Since then , Avial had been constantly working on making their sound more nuanced . This explains why their debut studio album took nearly five years to be completed until its 2008 release . Featuring a remix of Nada Nada , Avial , the album , explored several themes . For instance , while Aadu Pambe delves into the culture of tribals and their subsequent exploitation , Aranda is a cynical take on the daily affairs of this tumultuous world . Tracks like Chekele , Karukara , and Arikurukan are heavily derived from folk songs . Storytelling is also key to their writing process . So , while Chekele is about a farmer and his wife whose crops have been destroyed in a flood , Aana Kallan talked about fraudster preachers and religious gurus .
Widely regarded as the pioneers of alt- Malayali Rock , Avial continued their success producing singles for several Mollywood films . Some examples include the aforementioned Aana Kallan for Salt N ' Pepper and Chillane for 22 Female Kottayam . Apart from their studio work , the band ' s stage presence has also set them apart in their live performances . Tony John retains his Malayali roots as he even performs the songs wearing traditional gear like a lungi .
While their debut was heavily acclaimed , Avial has not released a follow-up album since 2008 . Their fanbase still exists due to stage shows but the band suffered a significant setback in 2008 itself when then-lead singer Anandraj Benjamin Paul exited Avial ( with John taking up vocal duties ). Would the Nada Nada hitmakers ever release a highlyanticipated sophomore effort ? Only time can tell us . But till then , one can still experience a blast from the past by listening to Nada Nada , a song that has lived on to be a timeless classic .
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