Girish and the Chronicles bring their hard rock power to Hyderabad
Mention Bengaluru-based Girish and the Chronicles (GATC) in a room full of rock fans and watch the mood shift — soaring vocals, powerful guitars, and memories of the band's blistering live sets take centre stage. For over a decade, the four-piece band has been a driving force in India's hard rock and melodic metal scene. Originally from Sikkim, GATC comprises Girish Pradhan (vocals), Nagen Mongranti (drums), Yogesh Pradhan (bass), and Suraz Karki (guitar).
Having shared stages with rock royalty — Guns N' Roses, Skid Row, Nazareth, Alter Bridge, and Megadeth's Chris Adler during his India tour — GATC's resume reads like a metalhead's dream. But speak to Girish and the conversation returns to Sikkim, where it all began.
'My brother and I were discovering music on our own,' Girish recalls. 'We grew up in the cassette era, which forced us to really listen. Yogesh was playing around with guitars, and I started taking vocals seriously at around 14. Music was always around — our mum's a singer and most of our cousins played guitar.'
That early exposure, thanks to cassettes and classic MTV, was formative. 'Shows would play everything from Iron Maiden and Bon Jovi to Lenny Kravitz and Metallica. Songs like Jaded, It's My Life, and Fly Away just blew our minds. Later we realised many of these bands were already legends from the '80s!'
Girish credits their musical awakening to the rich, music-loving culture of the Northeast. 'We were lucky to grow up in it.'
Their first band, Anarchy, formed when Girish was in Class 11 and Yogesh in Class 9. 'I was on vocals and rhythm guitar. Yogesh started out on drums. Our dad, Shyam Pradhan, who was a football commentator, was incredibly supportive,' Girish says. Their breakout moment was at a school show in 2004 that drew over 5,000 people. 'We were blown away,' said Girish.
Now, over two decades later, GATC is set to perform in Hyderabad on May 31 at Hard Rock Café. 'It's not our first time in the city, but we're always excited to play. Every show feels new,' says Girish.
Those early gigs were more than just performances — they were GATC's initiation into the world of concerts and crowd energy. Over the years, the band took every opportunity that came their way. Their commitment to rock 'n' roll often earned them the wrong kind of attention. 'There was a phase when people labelled us as 'boys with bad habits' just because we were in a rock band,' Girish recalls. 'It wasn't pleasant. But nothing is permanent, thankfully.'
When asked what fuels his songwriting, Girish says it is deeply personal. 'I started writing from a young age, and my songs often reflect my own situations — what kind of year it's been, what's going on in my life or around me.'
https://youtu.be/YoIvIM_Im7c?si=ELwcZporrrVQv9FG
Was there ever a moment when the dream felt uncertain? 'Absolutely. I pursued nothing but music. I was in a band that didn't work out. Then I went solo and dropped out of engineering—without telling anyone. It was a risk. But I knew this was what I had to do.'
That decision took him to Kathmandu, where he spent a transformative year immersed in the city's vibrant music scene. 'Kathmandu was my real college. I learnt everything I could about music there.'
In 2009, he returned to Gangtok and recorded his first single, Angel, with his brother, who was home for the holidays while studying sound engineering. Around the same time, Girish's YouTube channel began gaining traction. 'YouTube became a turning point. It's how music lovers discovered us,' he says. 'Honestly, YouTube and Facebook were our passports to popularity.'
The momentum continued. In 2010, GATC became the first band from the Northeast to be invited to a European music festival— Suncane Skale International Music Awards Festival in Montenegro, Europe. Two years later, in 2012, they spent a full year as the house band for a major club in Hong Kong. Their debut album released in 2014 — and now, their fourth album is slated for a September 2025 release.
Girish And The Chronicles will be playing at Hard Rock Cafe, Hitec City, Hyderabad on May 31.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
35 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Remembering women lost in time
Some heirlooms glitter in the light, while others sit in old boxes and become heavier with time – not with rust, but memories. There is hidden silence in the objects that we inherit. In the exhibition 'Zaat', London-based artist and gemologist Sonakshi Chaturvedi explores these objects to unveil the stories that they have been carrying for decades. She particularly focuses on the unspoken lives of women who are usually remembered only through the relationships that they fulfill as a bride, mother and grandmother. On view at The Gallery at British Council, Kasturba Gandhi Marg, until July 31, the exhibition is part of Study UK: Creative Connections II and the British Council's Best of British cultural initiative that celebrates international alumni shaping global creative discourse. Chaturvedi's titular sculptural installation Zaat unravels matrilineal memory through the language of heirloom, metal, and meaning. Born in Agra, she completed her MA in Jewellery and Metal from the prestigious Royal College of Art in 2024. Blending traditional craft with contemporary artistic practices, the 26-year-old represents a new generation of artists who are bending the rules. Chaturvedi notes, 'Zaat began as a way to fortify my own nostalgia, but evolved into an act of reclamation — tracing heirloom objects that held the silent resistance of women remembered only as mothers, brides, grandmothers.' She wants the future female descendants to remember their ancestors not just by the roles that they played but as individuals with agency, voice and dreams. The word 'zaat' refers to identity or core sense of being. Drawing from her grandmother's wedding trousseau, Chaturvedi has crafted sculptures that use brass, white metal, cold enamel, resin-based enamel and gemstones to archive her matrilineal memory. 'At first glance, these forms appear worn, metallic and subdued – echoing the weight of tradition and domestic expectation. But within, they burst into psychedelic interiors – revealing a hidden world of colour, desire and youth,' says Chaturvedi. She notes that the dual surfaces are not an aesthetic coincidence; they mirror the lives many women have lived – outwardly dutiful, inwardly wild with colour and desire. Every artefact in the exhibition holds fond memories for the artist. Shareefa Jar, for instance, is a brass replica of her grandmother's plastic jar in which she saved spare change. 'She would let me borrow the money to buy us both kulfis, candies, and custard apples during summer afternoons, when everyone else was asleep after lunch,' shares Chaturvedi. Recalling another fond memory, which is the inspiration behind The Pyaaz Tiffin – brass replica of a traditional Indian tiffin carrier – she shares, 'During vacations, when I stayed with my grandparents, despite her religious and cultural beliefs, she used to chop onions for me to enjoy my meals. It showed her efforts to bridge the gap and keep us connected.' This is represented by the intertwined knot form of brooches in gold-plated white metal and cold enamel. Similarly, other artefacts, including The Anaar Vase, Shahtoot Dispenser and Pyaaz Cooker are inspired by artefacts that were once in her grandmother's possession. Ultimately, 'Zaat' is a conversation – one that moves across generations, surfaces and silences.
India.com
9 hours ago
- India.com
Why didn't Karisma Kapoor become Abhishek Bachchan's wife? Amitabh Bachchan once talked about...
In the glitz of Bollywood, few stories are as layered — and quietly tragic — as that of Karisma Kapoor. From a broken engagement with a Bachchan heir to a turbulent marriage that ended in divorce, her personal journey reads like a script that never made it to the screen. Before marrying businessman Sanjay Kapur in 2003, Karisma Kapoor was engaged to none other than Abhishek Bachchan. The two had even co-starred in Haan Maine Bhi Pyaar Kiya (2002), during which their real-life bond blossomed. Their engagement was formalised — but short-lived. The split sent shockwaves through the industry. Years later, Amitabh Bachchan finally addressed the broken alliance on Koffee With Karan. In a rare moment of candour, he said, 'It was a sensitive time. Relationships were being formed, and some were breaking. We didn't want anyone to get hurt, but when circumstances force you to part, it's better to let go.' He added that such moments build maturity, adding, 'If we are honest with ourselves, even heartbreak teaches something valuable. My father always said, 'If things go your way, it's good. If not, it's still good — because it's God's way.' In 2003, the same year her engagement with Abhishek ended, Karisma married Delhi-based industrialist Sanjay Kapur. The marriage, arranged under pressure, was rocky. Notably, the entire Bachchan family was absent from the wedding. By 2016, Karisma and Sanjay parted ways legally, and she has since raised their two children as a single mother. The past week brought another twist of fate — the sudden death of her ex-husband, Sanjay Kapur. Though long separated, the news cast a somber cloud over Karisma and her family. Through public heartbreaks and private battles, Karisma Kapoor remains one of Bollywood's most poised figures — her silence often saying more than words.
Indian Express
17 hours ago
- Indian Express
Karisma Kapoor arrives at Sunjay Kapur's prayer meet with kids Samaira and Kiaan; Saif Ali Khan, Kareena Kapoor offer quiet support. Watch
After attending the final rites of businessman and her ex-husband Sunjay Kapur, Karisma Kapoor flew back to Delhi from Mumbai on Sunday to attend a prayer meet organised by Sunjay's family. Karisma was accompanied by her children, Samaira Kapoor and Kiaan Kapoor. Her sister, actor Kareena Kapoor, and brother-in-law Saif Ali Khan were also seen with the family, offering quiet support during this difficult time. Videos and photos of Karisma and her kids at Mumbai's Kalina airport have been circulating on social media. After Karisma's arrival, Kareena and Saif were also spotted at the airport as they joined her during the emotional moment. All members of the Kapoor family wore white outfits as a mark of respect and avoided interaction with the paparazzi while entering the airport. In another set of videos, Karisma, along with Samaira and Kiaan, was seen arriving at The Taj Palace Hotel in New Delhi to attend the prayer meet. Kareena and Saif were seen walking behind them. The prayer meet was held between 4 to 5 pm. A post shared by SCREEN (@ieentertainment) A post shared by Snehkumar Zala (@snehzala) Also Read | Karisma Kapoor consoles son Kiaan at ex-husband Sunjay Kapur's funeral, Kareena Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan pay respects Karisma Kapoor's ex-husband and chairman of the auto parts manufacturer Sona Comstar, Sunjay Kapur, died on June 12 in London, United Kingdom. He was 53. The businessman reportedly suffered a fatal heart attack during a polo match. As per reports, the attack occurred after Sunjay accidentally swallowed a bee mid-game, which proved fatal. Karisma and Sunjay tied the knot in 2003. They welcomed their daughter, Samaira, in 2005 and their son, Kiaan, in 2010. However, the marriage didn't last, and the couple parted ways in 2016 after 13 years of being together. Sunjay later married model and Delhi-based socialite Priya Sachdev. The couple has a son named Azarias. Priya also has a daughter, Safira Chatwal, from her previous marriage.
