2Blue

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.

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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.

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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.

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ALYQUE’S JUDAS

Beyond music, I found a mentor in theatre legend Alyque Padamsee. Playing Judas in His production of 'Jesus Christ Superstar' taught me more about life than engineering college and business school ever could. Alyque opened the door to a world I hadn't known before. But that world came crumbling down when I lowered Him into the fire on November 17, 2018. His son Quasar held me as I cried. Then again, Alyque never left. He was with me at the Khushwant Singh Literary Festival in Kasauli when I spoke about His book. Later at St. Andrews Auditorium in Mumbai, He was with me when I stood bleeding on a cross. Because that's where I had begun as Judas. Now that I had returned as Jesus, I knew He was watching.
 

LILLETE’S YUDHISTHIRA

Alyque led me to Lillete Dubey, the queen of Indian theatre. In her original rock opera, 'Jaya: The Victory,' I play the protagonist. During the curtain call, when I stand at the center of the stage, here’s what I see: men and women rising from their seats and clapping with tears in their eyes. That is when I understand what being Lillete Dubey’s Yudhisthira means. Lillete explained later why she cast me. She said no matter how I looked, sounded, or behaved, she could see the seeds of truth that Alyque had planted in me.
 

THE SILVER LINING

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 city sun ain't for everyone

She asked him, "Are you willing to burn?"

And when he cried on the phone at night

She asked him, "Baby, have you even tried?"

 

What you seek is seeking you

This is not the end

What you seek is seeking you

Your life is in your hands

 

When you see the silver lining

When you see the stars aligning

You will see your life's a love affair
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That was 'Silver Lining' from my album, 'Dance With Infinity.' And with that song, a new dance has begun.

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