Kerala is singing — loudly, proudly, and in more styles than ever. But this time, it’s not just old film melodies or temple bhajans floating through the air. This month, across cities and small towns, the music scene in Kerala is jumping with energy. Live shows, bedroom-produced hits, fusion experiments, and a bunch of unexpected viral moments — July has been packed. Let’s take a slow stroll (or maybe a little jig) through the sounds shaping the state right now.
Arapatta Rap Nights: Kochi’s Streets Go Electric
Start with Kochi. You’d think Fort Kochi was only about heritage buildings and art cafes. But nope — last Saturday, the quiet harbor turned into a stage when a pop-up rap night took over a street corner near Princess Street. Titled Arapatta Rap Nights, the event had over 14 local hip-hop artists throwing down verses — mostly in Malayalam, some in Tamil, and a surprising amount in Thrissur slang.
Youngsters rapped about everything from student loans to scooter accidents. Vedan made a surprise appearance and the crowd — mostly teens in oversized tees — nearly collapsed. People were standing on benches, recording reels, shouting lyrics. No entry fee. Just speakers, spirit, and streetlight. The local police let it continue. Maybe they liked the beat too.
Read also: How Keralas Wedding Music Found Its Groove Again
Fusion Finds Its Groove in Thrissur
You know that thing where a violin meets a mridangam and then gets hit by an EDM drop? That’s happening in Thrissur. On July 10th, at the quiet Vyloppilly Samskrithi Bhavan, a lesser-known band called Thalam + Chord lit the place on fire.
Their set blended Carnatic alapana with trance music. At one point, a 70-year-old Kathakali singer was doing vocal riffs over a chill-hop beat. No one expected it. Everyone clapped like crazy.
What’s cool is that these aren't full-time musicians. One’s a school teacher. Another works at a printing press. But together? Magic. They said after the gig that they rehearse in a cattle shed outside the city. Go figure.
Homegrown Hits: Bedroom Studios Go Big
This month, two tracks from unknown artists recorded entirely at home — no studios, no producers — blew up on Instagram reels. One was “Ente Kochi Mazha,” a soft romantic ballad sung over keyboard loops, recorded in a hostel bathroom (for echo!).
The other, “Ponnin Thalam,” was a folk-style number from Wayanad — recorded by two cousins using a second-hand mic and coconut shell percussion. No Spotify marketing. No PR team.
Just organic shares, love, and the magic of “Hey, listen to this!” on WhatsApp. Every now and then, someone from nowhere makes something from nothing. And this month, Kerala’s music reminded us of that — again.
Temple Grounds, New Sounds: Where Ritual Meets Rhythm
Here’s something unusual: In Palakkad, a group of young musicians did a live jam session inside a temple courtyard — right after the pooja ended. Normally, you’d expect thavil or nadaswaram. But they brought in flutes, ghatam, and a beat pad.
It was respectful. It was fresh. The elderly crowd looked confused at first. But when the rhythm shifted into a classical raagam with jazz drums, even the priest started bobbing his head a little. There’s something beautiful about that blend — where the sacred doesn’t push out the modern, and the modern doesn’t mock the sacred. Just... coexisting. And sounding great while doing it.
College Fests Return — Louder Than Before
This month, inter-college fests roared back, after what felt like forever. Maharaja’s College in Ernakulam held its annual Raaga Fest, and it wasn’t just choir groups this time. Think indie folk, rap battles, remix duets, and even a live looping competition.
One guy looped a coconut grating sound into a beat, added a guitar riff, and rapped over it about hostel food. Did he win? Nope. But his reel got 60k views in two days.
At Mar Ivanios in Thiruvananthapuram, students created a musical protest piece on fee hikes — mixing poetry, jazz trumpet, and spoken word. You’d expect slogans and posters. Instead, they dropped a jazz-skit that was more powerful than any chant. Art is back in campus life. And students aren’t holding back anymore.
Read also: Music And Dance Festivals In Kerala
Radio Makes a Comeback (Sort Of)
Here's a throwback — community radio is having a mini-revival in Kozhikode. A station called Radio Paadam, run by volunteers, aired a special program this month called Sounds of Our Street, featuring only local talent.
Fisherfolk from Beypore, a retired bhajan singer from Vadakara, and even a schoolgirl who plays violin with her brother on mridangam — all aired between ad jingles for coconut oil and local water purifiers. People started calling in after 10 years. One caller even cried, saying it reminded her of her childhood evenings. Turns out, not everything has to be on Spotify.
Film Music, Still King — But Changing Fast
Of course, film music remains the heart of what most Malayalees listen to. And July brought some bangers. From the haunting background scores of the thriller Paayalinte Neram to the dreamy duet in Madhuram Vannu, composers are experimenting more — finally! Also, fun fact: Fejo’s short rap piece in Iruvattam Kalam went viral — not because it was his best, but because fans noticed he used a local bus conductor’s phrase as a hook. Real recognize real.
Still, what’s changing in Mollywood music is the openness to genre-hopping. A single track might start classical, jump into trap beats, and close with a flute solo. Audiences love it. Older fans are confused but curious. And composers finally feel brave again.
Open Mics Go Wild in Kottayam
Kottayam used to be quiet. Not anymore. An open mic event hosted by a café there ended up hosting 27 acts in one evening — from kids rapping about potholes to an old lady singing about train delays.
One duet about Gulf returnees moved people to tears. And guess what? The café owner extended closing time by three hours. No extra charge. Just good vibes and lots of chai. Moments like these? That’s where Kerala’s real music lives — not always in studios, but in voices that rise when no one expects them.
The Sound of Now: What We’re Hearing, Feeling, Living
So, what’s Kerala listening to this month? Everything. From devotional chillhop to protest rap. From Mappila folk flipped with dubstep to acoustic ballads written in college hostels.
From coconut shell beats to jazz in temples. From coastal laments to comedy tracks about potholes. It’s not just music anymore. It’s a movement. Kerala has always loved melody. But now? It loves motion. Beats that bounce. Lyrics that speak truth. Sound that stretches boundaries. Even sound that breaks rules.
Read also: The RJ Who Rules Big FMs Airwaves
Final Note: Listen With Your Heart, Not Just Your Ears
Here’s the thing. Not every track this month was perfect. Some were offbeat. Some out of tune. But they were honest. And that’s rare. In a world of overproduced perfection, Kerala’s July music moments gave us something better — real people, with real stories, singing out loud.
So next time you're doom-scrolling, pause. Type in a local artist's name. Watch a clip of a café jam session. Hear that bedroom recording with the dog barking in the background. That’s the stuff. That’s where the melody and movement are. And trust us — it’s worth listening to.
