Kochi, India – When Mithun Jayaraj and his wife Indu Prasad joined hands to launch their band Dakshina, it felt like a gift they gave themselves—a space to experiment with all their musical daydreams and a way to communicate their true love for music. Rooted in Carnatic music, the band blends diverse sound designs and influences, ranging from javalis and Kathakali padams to EDM and psychedelic trance. “We are experimenting with different genres. It is a joyful process,” says Mithun.
Launched in November 2025, Dakshina has four tracks to its credit. The newest, based on Sree Narayana Guru’s Siva Prasada Panchakam, will be released on August 28, Chathayam day, the spiritual leader and social reformer’s birthday. One of the earlier tracks, ‘Chandrachooda dayapara’, is a power-packed rendition of V Dakshinamoorthy’s composition by Mithun and singer Sithara Krishnakumar. Mithun explains that each song has a story. ‘Thingal’, for instance, was conceived while he was alone on a kayaking trip, surrounded by silence and a half moon.
The name of the band is a tribute to his guru, Dakshinamoorthy; it also means south, denoting music from the southern part of the country. The couple’s daughter is also named Dakshina. Mithun holds his guru’s words close to his heart: “He advised me to listen to music without restraint—across genres and timelines, voices, emotions, and milieus.” Indu complements Mithun’s musical ideology, prioritizing soul over technical perfection.
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“When I was younger, I focussed on being a ‘perfect’ singer. But now, I try to sing soulfully,” she says. Her ‘Ksheerasagara’ is testimony to her evocative style. The band includes pianist Nevil George, percussionist Rajeev Gopal, violinist Vivek Raja, and DJ Kaali. Dakshina’s journey is a testament to the couple’s shared passion and their desire to push musical boundaries.
