Musician couple Mithun Jayaraj and Indu Prasad explore diverse sounds with Dakshina

When Mithun Jayaraj and his wife Indu Prasad joined hands to launch their band Dakshina, it felt more like a gift they gave themselves. A space to experiment all their musical daydreams, a way to communicate their true love for music. Rooted in Carnatic music, the band blends varied sound designs and influences.

“We are experimenting with different genres. We have used javalis, Kathakali padams, mappila songs, and Carnatic kritis. There is EDM and psychedelic trance, too. It is a joyful process,” says Mithun. 

Launched in November 2025, Dakshina has four tracks to its credit. The newest, based on Sree Narayana Guru’s Siva Prasada Panchakam, will be released on August 28, Chathayam day, the spiritual leader and social reformer’s birthday. 

The story behind a song

One of the earlier tracks, ‘Chandrachooda dayapara’, is a power-packed rendition of eminent composer V Dakshinamoorthy’s composition by Mithun and singer Sithara Krishnakumar. “The track is intense and I had this fantastical image of Ravana lifting the Kailash in a fit of flamboyant pride in my mind, followed by a deep sense of calm,” says Mithun, who has a story around each song. “Each song has a story, a reason why it is being sung,” he adds. 

Another track, ‘Thingal’, was conceived while on a kayaking trip, says Mithun. “Have you gone kayaking? After a while, you find yourself alone in the middle of the lake and a profound sense of loneliness envelops you. I was on one such kayak, there was total silence, a half moon and that is when the inspiration for ‘Thingal’ came to me,” he adds.

Tribute to V Dakshinamoorthy

The name of the band is a tribute to his guru, Dakshinamoorthy; it also means south, to denote music from the southern part of the country. The couple’s daughter, also a singer, is named Dakshina. 

As a musician, Mithun holds his guru’s words close to his heart. “He advised me to listen to music without restraint – across genres and timelines, voices, emotions, and milieus. So I cherish every aspect of being a musician, whether giving a kutcheri, singing at a mehfil, performing on stage in front of a large crowd or grooming emerging singers,” says Mithun. A playback singer as well, Mithun has been mentoring contestants of reality shows. “It is an enriching experience to help talented singers reach their full potential,” says Mithun.

Indu’s soulful singing

Indu complements Mithun’s musical ideology. “I enjoy being able to sing freely, interpret the music in my own way and that is possible through Dakshina. Mithun and I largely agree; but we do have creative differences,” she says, laughing. 

For Indu, soul takes precedence over technical perfection, an approach she has evolved over years of practice. “That is the best way to communicate to your listeners. When I was younger, I focussed on being a ‘perfect’ singer. But now, I try to sing soulfully,” she adds. Indu’s ‘Ksheerasagara’ is testimony to her evocative style. A Carnatic musician and teacher (Indu is Principal of Edam, a creative arts centre in Ernakulam). Indu spends at least 14 hours a day singing. “My entire day is filled with music,” says Indu.  

The band includes pianist Nevil George, percussionist Rajeev Gopal, violinist Vivek Raja and DJ Kaali.