Sahaana Saaral Orchestra

Our group is based in Mylapore, specifically at No 12/3 on Karaneeswarar Koil 1st Lane. If you know where the Light House is, we are not too far from there. The lane is one of those narrow ones where everyone knows everyone else’s business. We’ve been playing music together for a long time. It started as a hobby in the evenings after our regular jobs, but then more people started asking us to play at their local functions. Our practice sessions happen right here in the lane, and sometimes the neighbors probably get a bit tired of hearing the same songs over and over while we get the rhythm right. The temple is just around the corner, so there is always a lot of spiritual energy and noise nearby. We have our instruments stored in a small room that barely fits all the speakers and cables. It’s a bit of a mess in there, to be honest. We don’t have any fancy soundproof studio, just the walls of the old house. We mostly do local shows and weddings where people want some live music. Everyone in the orchestra has their own instrument they’ve looked after for years. We aren't trying to be famous; we just like the way the music sounds when we all get it right at the same time. It’s hard work moving all that heavy equipment in and out of the van every time we go out.