Over the years, SANAM has carved a unique space in India's music landscape by revitalizing timeless classics while steadily forging its own identity. The band, comprising Sanam Puri, Samar Puri, Venkat Subramaniyam (Venky), and Keshav Dhanraj, strikes a rare balance that appeals to both younger and older generations. Ahead of their performance, the band shared insights into their journey, the concept of identity beyond a name, the evolving nature of music as both art and business, and why they find themselves in a phase of rediscovery even after years together. Here are excerpts from the conversation.
Connection to Pune
Venky: We have been based in Bombay for about 17 years, and Pune was one of the first cities we performed in outside of it. It holds fond memories; we have close friends here, almost like family, and a strong connection with fans who consistently attend our shows. This time feels special because our India tour is concluding, and we will soon travel abroad. It is like wrapping up one chapter before starting another.
Samar: Pune is very special to us. In the early days of the band, we visited frequently for concerts or private shows. Some of our most memorable performances have happened here.
Keshav: We also have friends who run restaurants here, so we have explored a lot of food in Pune. We all love eating, so that has always been a highlight for us. Wherever there is good food, we are happy.
Identity Beyond the Name
To Sanam: As the band carries your name, how do you differentiate between your identity and the band's?
Sanam: For me, the band itself is my identity. Yes, it is my name, but I see it as the band's name first. When I hear "Sanam," I do not necessarily think of myself as an individual; it feels like something larger than me. There is a separation, and I think people have also started seeing it that way. In fact, some interviews even refer to the band as having three members—Samar, Venky, and Keshav.
Samar (laughs): It is called sacrifice.
Association with Cover Songs
Do you worry audiences may start associating you with the songs you cover?
Venky: There will always be skepticism around covers of classics. But we have been fortunate to build an audience that appreciates how we interpret and express these songs. When we rearrange them, we study every detail and emotion within the original, then express it in a way that feels authentic to us.
Keshav: Interestingly, many younger listeners did not even know the originals. Some thought "Lag Ja Gale" was our song. Then their parents and grandparents would recognize it and connect with it too. We started receiving messages saying, 'You are bringing our families together; all of us are able to enjoy the same kind of music.' Normally, the younger generation listens to one type, the older generation has theirs, and they would say, 'Back in the day we used to listen to whatever...' But now it is the same song but different versions connecting the whole family, and that is what you see at our shows.
Artistic Integrity vs. Business
When does adapting to the market and business model start compromising artistic integrity?
Sanam: Music, at the end of the day, does become business for every artist—roti, kapda, makaan—it is how they survive. But the problem begins when business overshadows creativity. When the focus shifts entirely to reach and revenue, it can dilute the art. That is why having the right team helps. They can handle the business side while you focus on creating. It is very important, and it happens to a lot of people who are in fact very successful also think of music as business only, and their creativity is more about just making commercial music, not because it is in their heart, but because they just want to make money and be famous.
Venky: Sustaining what they have is sometimes difficult because it is very easy to hit a creative block. It is easy to get stuck in a pattern. Reinvention takes time. You need to step back, reflect, and consciously evolve. If you want to bring a change, then you have to take time and internalize it; only then can something happen.
Keshav: The simplicity of what you start with is what connects with people. If you lose that, you lose everything. You have to keep making music you genuinely enjoy.
Sanam: A lot of artists may seem successful on the outside, but internally, they feel unsatisfied. There is often a fear that their true expression will not be accepted.
Samar: It is like wearing a mask—we do not know what is really going on inside.
Sanam: The best place to be is when you can be vulnerable and put out what you truly believe in, without worrying about how it performs.
Original Music vs. Covers
Do you feel a stronger pull towards creating original music?
Venky: Not necessarily. I do not differentiate much between originals and renditions. Ultimately, you are expressing something real either way. There are only so many notes, and even globally, music builds on existing ideas—like sampling in hip-hop. But using these motifs and things that feel either nostalgic or give this kind of musical expression that is somehow resonating with what they want to go and explore.
Resisting the Content Machinery
At a time when artists are dropping music constantly, you have consciously taken your time. Is that a creative choice or also a strategic resistance to content machinery?
Samar: Everything is moving extremely fast. During the lockdown, I released a track called "Slowdown," which reflects exactly that. This speed is not limited to music, but it is part of the whole thing—like trees are getting cut like crazy; in one day, thousands of trees are cut, and for what? It is all business, right? They want to make money. The same thing is happening here in music and on Instagram, YouTube, whatever it is; all these platforms are being used. But this phase is natural. It is a transition. Right now, we are working towards something that feels closer to our hearts, something we may have been missing for years.
Sanam: This is a phase of rediscovery for us. Understanding who we truly are and what we enjoy. That takes time. We want to create from a place of fulfillment, not exhaustion or pressure.
Approach to Social Media Today
If SANAM were starting today, how would you approach social media?
Keshav: We are actually in that part right now. The way we look at it is that we have done whatever we did in the past, and right now we are at a stage where we are literally starting from scratch for something else that we truly believe in. I feel we are just in the phase of discovering how we want to approach this leg of our band being together. Despite having nearly 12 million subscribers on YouTube, the algorithm has changed so much that reaching your own audience is not guaranteed. We are essentially figuring out how to present our music, release it, and connect with listeners again. It is exciting and challenging at the same time.
Live Performances and Criticism
Musicians nowadays get popular online and quickly launch their tour. But the live performance is often disappointing. Idols like Dadlani have criticized it. What do you think about this?
Sanam: Everyone has their own journey. There is no need to criticize. If someone is happy and their music connects with people, that is what matters.
Keshav: There is a difference between technical skill and connection. Someone may not be a good singer, but if they have written and composed something that resonates, that is still valid art.
Venky: Live performance is a different skill altogether, especially in a country like ours with a strong classical music foundation. Audiences expect a certain standard. If they are paying for a show, they expect quality. It is the artist's responsibility to rise to that.
Keshav: The live performance audiences are not the ones who are criticizing because they are paying money to watch an artist they want to check out. It is the older generations and stuff like what he said; the Indian music industry is based on that.
About the Author: Toshiro Agarwal is a journalist with Pune Times and writes entertainment and lifestyle features, news, and interviews.
