Tamil music producer Tenma launches an AI-based film studio and releases his first AI-based music video on Madurai Veeran

Discover the journey of musician Tenma from Kurangan to AI film studio, exploring music, art, and technology.

If you were one of those youths in Chennai between 2014 and 2019, trying to be edgy and figuring out your music tendencies, it is likely that you might have come across the band Kurangan by Kaber Vasuki and Tenma.

The two musicians who released hits like ‘Rasathi’ and ‘Rockstar’ with distinct musicality and whimsy in their lyrics, catapulted to fame a decade ago, providing the space for the creation of an alternative style of Tamil music which steered far away from mainstream cinema tunes. The two were also among the first few in the industry to have called themselves ‘independent artistes’ when only a faint trace of the scene existed in Chennai.

Ten years hence, much has changed. The band split. Both these artistes made vivid, distinct music. Kurangan Era, the album, continues to have steady patrons though.

Tenma went on to work with, and mould the artistes of the Casteless Collective, a band rooted in social justice. He was also instrumental in the creation of the Madras Indie Collective where artistes from various socio-economic backgrounds collaborated and met with new audiences. He made music for Irandam Ulagaporin Kadaisi Gundu and Natchathiram Nagargiradhu, films respectively produced and directed by Pa Ranjith too. Quickly, one could see that this music producer was becoming instrumental in creating a climate for independent Tamil music to exist and perhaps, even thrive.

However, around the time the scene began garnering global attention with the likes of artistes like Arivu and Paal Dabba getting streams across audio streaming apps in millions, Tenma seemed to have gone MIA except for the stray set of tweets on Chennai, music and anime.

Where is Tenma and what has he been up to?

“I’ve been doing a lot of soul-searching over the last two years,” says the musician. “I did a lot of films and had been building an independent ecosystem since 2013. Then I think this midlife crisis hit me and I was like… what am I doing? Who am I?”