Meet HRISHI, the Thrissur-born producer behind some of Kerala rap’s most viral records like Naranga Paal, Aana, Pottan, Social Criminal, and more. With Naranga Paal alongside GABRI crossing 20M+ streams, marked a significant milestone in his career.
He began producing music in 2017 and made his official debut in 2020 with the single “Kaliyug,” followed by a remix EP featuring various collaborators. Since then, he has reached milestones most artists only dream of; notably, his music video for “Penmai” earned a screening at the International Film Festival of Kerala in 2024. He was featured on “Age of Aquarius” alongside IAMLITAF! and “Aanaval Mothiram” with GABRI for Red Bull’s 64 Bars.
HRISHI’s entry into music production was unplanned. After moving to Mumbai, he was introduced to digital music production by a school friend. The turning point came during college, when a football injury left him on bed rest. He began spending more time producing music, eventually committing to it as a full-time pursuit.
As Thrissur Pooram, one of Asia’s largest cultural festivals, approaches, HRISHI pays homage to his roots with his latest single, “Chamayam,” a track that is closely tied to his upbringing in Thrissur, which is all about the cultural pulse of Kerala’s festival landscape.
“Chamayam is the beginning of a new phase. I want my live shows to feel immersive and rooted in where I come from, while still connecting with audiences everywhere,” he said.
“I’ve been a Pooram kid for as long as I can remember. Growing up in Thrissur, Pooram wasn’t just a festival. It was a feeling. The build-up, the (chenda melam), the lights, and the crowd create an energy that stays with you. I wanted to create something for my hometown that translates that collective emotion into sound,” he said.
Through “Chamayam“, HRISHI tells the story from two perspectives: first, that of a person from Thrissur speaking about his own city, and second, that of someone experiencing Thrissur Pooram for the very first time, sharing his point of view. The idea naturally came to life through my rappe friends Seth (Seth Panda) and Sam (8c Sam); Seth representing Thrissurkaran, and Sam bringing the perspective of an outsider discovering Thrissur Pooram for the first time.
The track draws from the atmosphere of temple festivals, particularly the rhythmic intensity and communal experience associated with Pooram celebrations. A notable aspect of the project was HRISHI’s collaboration with Aattam Kalasamithi, a traditional performance collective he has followed since childhood.
“To go from being in the crowd watching them to working with them on my own project felt like a full-circle moment,” he said.
Looking ahead, HRISHI is working on a mixtape comprising 14 to 17 tracks. He also plans to focus on touring, with an emphasis on live sets that reflect the shared energy of festival grounds in Kerala.
Follow HRISHI on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hrishi.8o8/
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