Entertainment · Music · 20 hrs ago
Chennai singing group creates space for adults to learn and sing together
Paadarivom Padipparivom is a community singing group in Chennai that began during the 2020 lockdowns.
Its founder, former IT professional Naggeshwerran S., started free online lessons after noticing that people wanted to sing but were sometimes mocked for it.
The lessons use familiar Tamil film songs to teach basics such as pitch, rhythm and expression.
The group now holds classes and singalongs at two studios and other venues around the city.
Many participants are over 30 and want to enjoy singing, not pursue it as a career.
For a bus singalong, strong interest led organisers to add a second bus, bringing registrations to about 90; both buses reached capacity.
Organisers are also exploring a singalong on the Cordelia Cruise, though discussions are still preliminary.
Paadarivom Padipparivom is a Chennai singing community that gives adults a place to learn and sing without being judged.
The group began with free online lessons during the 2020 lockdowns after its founder noticed people wanted to sing but lacked places to learn.
It now runs classes and singalongs at studios and other venues across Chennai.
Its lessons cover nearly 300 Tamil film songs and teach concepts such as pitch, rhythm and expression.
A bus singalong planned for August 2 drew around 90 registrations, filling two buses.
- Who
- Paadarivom Padipparivom, founded by former IT professional Naggeshwerran S.
- What
- It offers singing lessons and group singalongs for adults.
- When
- It began in 2020. The article says a bus singalong is planned for August 2.
- Where
- Chennai, including studios in Madipakkam and Saligramam and other venues.
- Why
- Its founder saw that people wanted to sing but did not know where to learn, and wanted adults to have a place to sing without being judged.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
People were singing because they enjoyed it, but many of them were also being mocked online. We realised there were many people who wanted to sing but did not know where to learn.
Most activities in music are designed for children or youngsters. We wanted to create something for people in their thirties, forties, fifties and beyond. Many of them are not looking for a career in music. They simply want a place where they can sing without being judged.
I have been singing since 1992, but I never learnt Carnatic music. Friends would teach me using sounds instead of swaras. We thought if this method worked for me, it could work for others too.
The group traces its origins to the lockdowns, when it began free online singing lessons.
Its first session drew close to 500 viewers.
Requests for regular classes led to the formation of Paadarivom Padipparivom.
The group planned a bus singalong on two routes across Chennai.
- Founder
- Naggeshwerran S., a former IT professional
- Started
- 2020
- Studios
- Madipakkam and Saligramam
- Song lessons
- Nearly 300 Tamil film songs
- Bus singalong registrations
- Around 90, across two full buses










