Tala Vaadya is an ebullient percussive ensemble from South Indian rhythm traditions.
Percussionists
VARUN PATTABHIRAM
Varun Pattabhiraman is an Indian percussionist based in San Francisco, California. He began studying the mridangam with Nagai Sri Narayanan in Chennai before later training with Vidwan Sri Guruvayur Dorai. After moving to the United States and taking a break from performing for over a decade, he resumed his musical journey in 2020 and now studies Carnatic percussion and jazz drumming with Dr. Rohan Krishnamurthy.
In addition to the mridangam, Varun explores hybrid acoustic and electronic percussion setups that include the khanjira, ghatam, konakkol, drum set and electronic drum pads. He regularly performs Carnatic and Bharatanatyam concerts in the Bay Area and is a member of fusion groups such as Ramya Shankar’s Carnatic‑Jazz ensemble and the Sufi‑Rock band CaliQawwali.
VEDANTH CHAKRAVARTHI
Vedanth Chakravarthi is a rising 10th grader from the San Francisco Bay Area. At the age of 8, he began learning mridangam under the tutelage of Dr. Rohan Krishnamurthy
Vedanth has played percussion instruments for his school band, including the glockenspiel anf vibraphone. He had the unique opportunity to represent his high school at the Indoor Percussion World Finals contest in Dayton, Ohio in 2025.
Outside of music, he has a love for math and problem solving.
VISHAAK RAJARAM
Vishaak Rajaram is a 10th grader from Oklahoma City. Growing up, he has always had a penchant for percussion and began his Mridangam journey at the age of 6 as a student of Dr. Rohan Krishnamurthy. Under his Guru’s guidance, he has cultivated an avid interest in both traditional Carnatic music as well as modernized, genre-bending iterations of beloved Indian classics.
In 2018, Vishaak was blessed to accept 1st place at the National Saptami festival in Dallas by the esteemed Sri Neyveli Santhanagopalan. He has since completed his Arangetram–or his musical graduation–in the Summer of 2022, but his artistic evolution has continued at full speed.
He is one of the founding members of the classical music collective “Raaga Rhythm” based out of Oklahoma. Vishaak’s musical pursuits also extend to the piano, Western percussion, and drums.
Vishaak continues performing across the US and India. He has had the opportunity to showcase his skills at Margazhi Music Festival in Chennai and as a part of ensembles at the Cleveland Thyagaraja Aradhana. He has performed extensively at debut recitals, concerts, community events and musical collaborations in Oklahoma, Dallas and Arkansas. 2 of his Noteworthy performances this year include performing with his Guru Vid. Dr. Rohan Krishnamurthy & Vid. Prasant Radhakrishnan at a Carnatic Chamber Concert for GEMHS, Dallas and Collaborating & performing a Carnatic Fusion Concert with Musicians at Ra-Ve foundation’s Professional series concert “Panchami” in Arkansas.
