DANCE WITH INFINITY

FIERY~Outlook HOT~DNA MOVING ~Rediff

STADIUM-LIKE ~RollingStone

Small-town boy, daddy's pride and joy
Up and left to fill a void
And there she was, his girl of dreams
Stained by tears that he'd never seen

THE DAY I LEFT

My name is Tirthankar Poddar. (You can call me 2Blue.) I’m a singer, mostly. In 1997, I left Agartala for Mumbai to chase a dream. I didn’t know it then, but that was the day everything changed.

THE NIGHT I ARRIVED

Mumbai almost broke me. But when I finally climbed on stage at Jazz By The Bay, it didn't matter anymore. Standing in the light where my heroes once stood, I was hungry and tired. But I was so happy that I hugged a waiter and cried. That waiter now runs the city’s finest diner. And to this day, he hasn’t let me pay.

THE DECISION AT 40

After 5 grinding years, I joined Vayu. Together, we headlined every major festival in the country. The only problem was my day job. A Project Manager wasn’t supposed to be like me. It only got worse when they made me Vice President. So, at 40, I walked away. They called it foolish. I called it the wisest thing I had ever done. I chose music.

THE RIDE SO FAR

I'm in my 50s now. Through the many highs and lows, I’ve managed to sing to more than 200,000 people across India, Thailand, and the UAE, star in two landmark rock musicals, create my own radio show, and perform with Bumblefoot (Guns N’ Roses), George Lynch (Dokken), and Paul Di’Anno (Iron Maiden). I wouldn't change a thing.

THE HIGHEST REWARD

Along the way, I won some awards.

'Best Band' at Hungama, India
'Song Of The Year' at AVIMA, Asia

However, what matters to me more is that my old friend from Jazz By The Bay still cheers the loudest. Often with tears in his eyes. That brotherhood? That’s my highest reward.