On April 12, Indian rapper Hanumankind made history with his electrifying performance at Coachella 2025. His set at the Mojave tent stood out for its fusion of high-energy hip-hop with traditional Indian elements. A highlight of his performance was the collaboration with Chenda ensemble 'Kochuveettil Beats' for a raw, unplugged version of his phenomenal single, 'Run It Up', infusing the show with the powerful beats of the traditional Indian percussion instruments.
The Chenda is a traditional cylindrical percussion instrument used widely in the South Indian states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and the Tulu Nadu region of Karnataka. In Kerala, chenda drums have been integral to the state's folk music traditions as well as religious, and cultural performances, especially Kathakali and Theyyam, for centuries. Hung from the drummer's neck and played vertically on one end with sticks, it requires significant skill and stamina to master. The instrument is often accompanied by other traditional drums, creating a rhythmic and powerful ensemble — known as 'melam' — that attracts massive audiences during festivals and processions. In fact, the ancient percussion instrument's popularity is backed by both physics and brain chemistry.
According to Nishanth P., Department of Physics, PRNSS College, Mattannur, and his research guide K.M. Udayanandan, Department of Physics, GAS, College, Mathil, "The sound produced by the chenda has the highest amplitude fluctuations compared with other common drums. These fluctuations create high fractal structures in its sound. (...) the unexpected variations in strokes generate curiosity among the audience about the upcoming strokes. Again, the fractal structure of a chenda ensembles synchronises with our brain activity and generates more pleasure-generating dopamine. It also activates the centres of the brain involved in motor activities. Hence, we tend to make gestures with our hands while hearing the rhythmic strokes."
Hanumankind’s Coachella debut builds on the rising wave of Indian and South Asian representation at one of the world’s biggest music festivals. In 2023, Punjabi sensation Diljit Dosanjh and Pakistani-American pop artist Ali Sethi took the stage. The following year saw R&B-pop vocalist Sid Sriram and Punjabi-Canadian hitmaker AP Dhillon deliver powerful sets. This year, alongside Hanumankind, electronic collective Indo Warehouse is also lighting up Coachella across both weekends, blending dance music with dhol drummers and special guest collaborators.
The inclusion of the chenda melam or chenda ensemble, in Hanumankind's set at the Mojave tent marks a watershed moment for Indian music on one of the world's largest stages. It also marks a paradigm shift from the duopoly of Indian Classical music and Bollywood to a more democratised vision of Indian music on the world stage, where Indian rap, hip-hop, folk, and regional musical traditions have equal stake.
The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival continues this weekend from April 18-20, 2025. For more information and Weekend 2 tickets, visit www.coachella.com.
If you enjoyed reading this, here's more from Homegrown:
Fight Club Meets Malayalam Rap: ThirumaLi's ‘Thericho’ Is A Visual & Sonic Riot
Rhymes, Rituals, & Roots: Hanumankind’s ‘Run It Up’ Is A Cultural Uprising