Darbuka Siva is an Indian filmmaker, music producer, and actor based in Chennai, India. Starting his career as a drummer and percussionist, he later ventured into acting, writing, and directing films, which have received awards at film festivals in Europe and London.^[1]

Siva grew up in the suburbs of North Madras, an area known for its vibrant culture and community spirit. From an early age, he showed a strong inclination towards music but faced challenges due to financial constraints in his middle-class household. Despite his passion, he had limited opportunities to explore music formally during his school years. However, his determination eventually led him to drop out of college to focus entirely on his musical aspirations.^[2]

In 1999, Siva purchased his first drum kit and began practicing on his own. He started his performing career in 2000 with Oikyotaan, an experimental Bengali Baul music band led by Bonnie Chakraborty, who became Siva’s musical mentor. This collaboration shaped Siva’s musical approach and influenced his subsequent projects.^[3]

Initially a drummer, Siva developed a fascination for hand percussion instruments, particularly South American and African styles. He taught himself to play instruments like the congas, timbales, djembe, udu, and darbuka using Latin music tapes and guidance from his mentor.^[4]

In 2003, Siva co-founded Zahrra with Tanvi Shah, a band that performed global music styles, including South American, Cuban, African, and Arabic genres.^[5]

In 2005, Siva formed Yodhakaa, an experimental band blending Indian classical music with contemporary sounds. By 2010, the band shifted to working with ancient Sanskrit texts, combining them with global musical influences. Their self-titled debut album, released under Purple Note, received critical acclaim for its innovative approach to Indian classical music.^[6]

In 2010, Siva created La Pongal, a platform dedicated to contemporary Tamil folk music. This initiative followed extensive research into traditional Tamil folk music and its historical context. Siva traveled across Tamil Nadu to document folk traditions and collaborate with rural musicians. La Pongal released its debut album in January 2012, featuring over 70 folk musicians alongside contemporary artists. The band gained national recognition through performances on MTV Coke Studio India and The Dewarists.^[7]

In 2013, Siva participated in OneBeat, a U.S. State Department residency program that brought together musicians from around the world. This opportunity allowed Siva to introduce Tamil folk music to an international audience and collaborate with global artists. In 2016, he joined The Dosti Music Project, which facilitated cultural exchange between musicians from India, Pakistan, and the U.S^[8].

In February 2016, Siva was selected as a facilitator and artist-in-residence for the Dosti Music Project. This initiative brought together musicians from India, Pakistan, and the United States for a month-long residency and tour. The project aimed to foster cultural collaboration by encouraging participants to co-create original compositions, reinterpret traditional music, and develop initiatives to promote social impact through music.^[9]

Siva made his acting debut in 2015 with the heist thriller Rajathandhiram, earning praise for his performance as Austin D’Costa. Critics, including Baradwaj Rangan, highlighted his wit and timing.^[10]

Siva debuted as a music composer with the 2016 film Kidaari,^[11] blending Tamil folk with contemporary sounds. He later collaborated with Gautham Menon on Enai Noki Paayum Thota, composing the hit single "Maruvaarthai" under the pseudonym "Mr. X."^[12]

As actor

As Director

As composer - Film

As composer - Web Series

1. Darbuka Siva is the composer of ENPT Archived 4 January 2017 at the Wayback Machine

• Darbuka Siva at IMDb