2Blue

A NEW ADVENTURE

My name is Tirthankar Poddar. (You can call me 2Blue.) I’m a singer, actor, writer, and producer. In 1997, I left Agartala for Mumbai to chase a dream. With that move, a new adventure began.

HUNGRY AND ALIVE

Mumbai almost broke me. But when I finally climbed on stage at Jazz By The Bay, it didn't matter anymore. I stood where my heroes did—hungry and alive—so happy that I hugged a waiter and cried. That waiter now runs the city's finest diner. To this day, he hasn't let me pay.

 

QUITTING AT 40

Soon, I was invited to join Vayu. Together, we headlined every major music festival in the country. The only problem was my day job. A Project Manager wasn't expected to have my attitude, hair, or tattoos. The contrast deepened when I became Vice President. Then at 40, I quit. They called it foolish. I called it the wisest thing I had ever done. I chose music full-time.
 

THE PAYOFF AT 50
Now at 50, I’ve sung to 150K+ in India, Thailand, and the UAE, starred in two rock musicals, hosted my own radio show, and performed with Bumblefoot (Guns N' Roses), George Lynch (Dokken), and Paul Di'Anno (Iron Maiden).

 

AWARDS

Along the way, I’ve received awards including:
 

• Best Band at Hungama, India

• Song Of The Year at AVIMA, Asia

​

What matters most to me, however, is this: even after all these years, my old friend from Jazz By The Bay still cheers the loudest. Often with tears in his eyes. That brotherhood? That’s everything.

​

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 whole new world.  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 reigning queen of Indian theatre. In her sensational 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 everywhere standing and clapping with tears in their eyes. That is when I understand what being Lillete Dubey’s Yudhisthira means. Later, Lillete told me why she cast me. Behind the long hair and the tattoos, she said she could see the seeds of truth and dharma that Alyque had planted.
 

DANCE WITH INFINITY

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
When you see the silver lining

When you see the stars aligning

You will see your life's a love affair

​

That's a song called 'Silver Lining.'
It's from my album, 'Dance With Infinity.'
And with that, the adventure continues.

​