With their rich mix of Malayalam rock and folk, Avial is known for pushing musical boundaries. Their performances at South Side Story this weekend will be a high-energy celebration of regional sounds with a modern twist, captivating audiences across generations.

Originally a quintet that consisted of band members Anandraj Benjamin Paul, Tony John, Rex Vijayan, Naresh Kamath and drummer Mithun Puthanveetil, the band now consists of four members Tony John, Rex Vijyayan, Mithun Puthanveetil and Binny Issac.

While no music has been released by the band since a long time, their last debut self titled 8 track album was in 2008 followed by a bunch of 5 songs as singles.

On behalf of Red FM and on the eve of the 7th edition of its flagship cultural festival South Side Story, which takes on an exciting new flavour with an Onam Special twist, promising a sensory experience that blends music, food, art, cinema, and literature under one high-energy roof, we get to speak with Avial one of the many bands set to perform at the event that takes place on the 30th and 31st August 2025 at KD Jadhav Wrestling Stadium, Delhi.

In an exclusive interview with Verus Ferreira, Avial band members Rex Vijayan and Tony John share the work they have done since their inception since 2003.

How did the name Avial come about?

Tony: Back in 2003, Pradeep Kalipurayath was a producer in SS Channel in Chennai and he approached us to shoot a video for Nada Nada. We were at Tony’s house with Rex and John, discussing the idea. Pradeep suggested we should name the band. Rex randomly came up with ‘Avial’, and it just clicked.

You play Alternative Malayali Rock. What inspired you to get into this genre of music?

Rex: It all began with John P. Varkey. We loved the idea of singing in Malayalam, and around 2003, alternative rock was starting to gain momentum after the classic rock wave. We wanted to break away from the conventional and create something fresh, something that felt authentic yet different.

Music truly breaks language barriers, and your band has proven that. How have you managed to make people relate to your songs, especially fans who don’t speak Malayalam?

Rex: That’s exactly what happened when we signed with Phat Phish Records in 2007. Interestingly, they weren’t Malayalees themselves, they were actually looking for regional bands who performed in their native languages rather than English. They loved the idea of Malayalam rock, and once our songs were released, it helped us break the language barrier and introduced us to a national audience.

You came on the indie music scene in 2003. What were the early struggles, especially with lineup changes, and how did you overcome them?

Rex: In 2003, we introduced Nada Nada with our initial line up. Over time, two or three members moved on which was really difficult for us especially losing John and Anand. But we stayed determined. The three and a half years full of hard work and challenges for the composition of the album made us to push through all the difficult times and kept the band alive.

You’ve included poetry from Kavalam Narayana Panicker in your music. Can you share how that collaboration shaped your sound?

Rex: In the early 2000s, we were hanging out at a friend’s place in Kottayam, jamming casually. One of our seniors, Suresh Babu, started singing Kavalam’s lines, and it immediately clicked. Tony also remembered hearing it in the film ‘Kummatti’. Through a family friend, we got permission from Kavalam Narayana Panicker himself, and he was happy that we were reimagining his work in an Avial style. That moment really influenced our sound.

Your debut self-titled 8-track album in 2008 won six Jack Daniels Rock Awards and the Footprints Young Achiever’s Award. How did that recognition impact the band?

Rex: When our debut album came out in 2008, our record label entered us into the Jack Daniels competition, where we ended up winning Song of the Year along with several other awards. That recognition was a huge boost for us as it validated all the years of hard work and inspired us to keep pushing forward.

Have you worked on music for films or collaborated with other Indian or international artists?

Rex: Yes, we’ve collaborated with an Italian band called A67 for a song called Chi Me Sape and have also worked on music for a few Malayalam films.

South Side Story celebrates the diversity of southern culture. What does it mean for Avial to represent Kerala’s music on this stage?

Tony: For us, it’s always an honor to represent Kerala on such a platform. South Side Story is all about celebrating the richness of South Indian music and culture, and being part of it feels like a celebration of where we come from.

How do you see platforms like South Side Story helping independent bands like yours reach wider audiences across India?

Tony: Events like these give independent bands a powerful stage. Performing in front of such a massive audience provides invaluable exposure, and people get to truly experience our music live. It’s these moments that help artists connect with wider audiences.

Interviewed by Verus Ferreira