South Side Story celebrates identity through South Indian culture

Shobana’ | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Where else would you see fluid sarees paired with sneakers, crisp veshtis complementing brightly coloured shirts, and traditional gajras effortlessly styled with sleek sunglasses? South Side Story 2026 redefined the festival aesthetic in the most fun way possible! Spanning two high-energy days in Delhi, the Red FM initiative (with The Hindu as print partner) brought together over 13,000 attendees across generations and geographies for a rich celebration of South Indian music, art, and culinary heritage.Day one saw rising rapper Baby Jean of Kerala open the festival with his signature wordplay and infectious beats, singing tracks such as Tapori, Pantal Chant, Balatha Jathi, Komban and Neon Ride. The Raghu Dixit Project, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, kickstarted their performance with the popular Parasiva and went on to regale the crowd with hits such as Jag Changa, Shakkarpari, Mysore Se Aayi, Ambar and the rock anthem Neene Beku, taking time to explain the meaning behind each song, especially for the non-Kannada audience. A musical jugalbandi between their flautist, violinist, and guitarists was one of the highlights of their performance. Known for singing his brand of “happy music”, Dixit said, “Going on stage and infusing a little bit of joy, happiness and positivity into people has become first nature for me now, and my music has found its purpose behind doing that.” Baby Jean | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement As the evening progressed, Sooraj Santhosh delivered a soulful set, culminating in a massive crowd sing-along to Kaantha. Closing out the night, Karthik brought explosive energy to the stage, charming the audience with hits like Oru Maalai, Vizhi Moodi, and the melodious Aye Sinamika.Singer Arya Dhayal captivated the crowd with a versatile set, shouting “Love you, Delhi!” between chartbusters, while Malayalam hip-hop artist Aksomaniac seamlessly glided between smooth melodies and high-tempo beats.The audience had been waiting with bated breath to watch Padma Bhushan awardee Shobana, and their wish was fulfilled as the Bharatanatyam dancer left them mesmerised with her graceful performance. Shobana, who performed at South Side Story last year, said that her experience had been wonderful and she did not think twice before giving her nod of approval for this year’s shows in Pune and Delhi. She believes art grows when it travels beyond its familiar spaces and reaches people who may not otherwise seek it out. “If a platform like South Side Story allows someone in Delhi, for example, to watch a South Indian classical dance performance for the first time and leave with an interest in knowing more about it, then that is already a meaningful contribution to the growth of the art,” said the dancer.Bringing the exciting evening to an energetic finish were Masala Coffee and Thaikkudam Bridge. A combination of rock, funk and rooted sounds, Masala Coffee debuted on the South Side Story stage and were admittedly “awe-struck by Delhi’s energy”. From the earworm Aadiyiyalo to Aalayal, to Kuttanandan, Kavava, Surangani, and even a rendition of Imagine Dragons’ Believer, the crowd couldn’t have had enough of them.And then came the band that has been a part of all eight editions of South Side Story – the multi-genre Thaikkudam Bridge took over with their soundscape built upon elements of folk and classical sounds, interspersed with layers of progressive, pop, ambient, and electronic textures. The powerful performance saw them singing songs such as Urumb, Khwaab, Appolum, Theevandi and Thekkini, ending with a rousing rendition of Aigiri Nandini. But as any fan of theirs will attest, their set is incomplete without the popular Fish Rock. As the crowd chanted the song’s name, the band obliged them with a memorable finish that they would talk about for a long time.Over the course of these two days, the audience also got to experience the many textures of South Indian culture through Kalaripayattu, Chenda and Dhol, Bharatanatyam and Kathakali showcases, alongside Onam Sadhya and a selection of curated food and beverage experiences. Nisha Narayanan, Director & COO, Red FM says she is grateful for the “tremendous response” shown to the festival. “This energy and this vibe is difficult to match, and it makes us feel even more responsible towards representing all the communities and cultures,” she said. Published - September 04, 2026 04:06 pm IST