Marta694059068 at 17:19, 17 April 2026

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{{Short description|Indian musician (born 1968)}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{fan POV|date=February 2013}}
{{Notability|date=March 2024}}
{{BLP sources|date=March 2024}}
}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Baiju Dharmajan
| image = Baiju Dharmajan NH7 Bangalore 2013.jpg
| caption = Baiju performing at NH7 Weekender in 2013
| birth_name = Baiju M Dharmajan
| alias =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1968|3|7}}
| birth_place = [[Vypin]], [[Kerala]], India
| genre = {{hlist|[[Carnatic music]]|[[Progressive Rock]]|[[Rock music|Rock]]}}
| occupation = {{hlist|Guitarist|Musician|Composer|Music Director|Producer}}
| instrument = {{hlist|Guitars|vocals}}
| years_active = 1980–present
| associated_acts = {{hlist|[[Baiju Dharmajan Syndicate]]|[[Motherjane]]|[[Wrenz United]]}}
}}
'''Baiju Dharmajan''' (born 7 March 1968) is an [[Indian people|Indian]] guitarist, music composer, producer and guitar tutor based out of [[Kochi]], [[Kerala]]. A celebrated musician in his own country, Baiju had an extended stint during the 2000s as the lead guitarist of the [[Indian rock]] band [[Motherjane]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.motherjane.in/profile.pdf|title='Motherjane Official Band profile|accessdate=10 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111005063113/http://www.motherjane.in/profile.pdf|archive-date=5 October 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> He has been nicknamed the "God of Small Strings" by his fans. Baiju is particularly noted for his winding, [[Carnatic music|Carnatic]]-inspired progressive rock and enduring guitar solos.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://insidekerala.com/n/index.php?mod=article&cat=society&article=3123|title=Baiju, winner Jack Daniel Awards|accessdate=10 October 2011}}</ref>

==See also==
[[Paras Thakur]]

==Biography==
Born in [[Vypin Island]]s (near [[Cochin]], India) to Thankamani and Dharmajan, Baiju started his musical career at the age of 14. He began with Carnatic violin but then slowly shifted to the guitar. His father used to play the [[Ukulele|Hawaiian guitar]] and his grandfather was a Carnatic musician. His first role as a performer began at the age of 5 as a guitar player in a traveling troop of musicians, giving him the opportunity to play with legendary [[Malayalam]] singer [[Yesudas]].<ref name="indianrockmp1">{{cite web|url=http://indianrockmp3.com/2010/08/13/baiju-dharmajan-motherjane-interview/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100820110356/http://indianrockmp3.com/2010/08/13/baiju-dharmajan-motherjane-interview/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=20 August 2010|title=Artist of the Month|accessdate=10 October 2011}}</ref>

After relocating to his hometown in Vypin in the 90's, he started playing in a band called Instinct, followed by short stints with the bands Wrenz and Aatma. During one of the practice sessions of the band Aatma, he met John of Motherjane, who then invited him to audition for the lead guitarist position in the band.

He has cited his influences as [[Jimi Hendrix]], [[Jimmy Page]], [[Jeff Beck]], [[Steve Vai]], [[Joe Satriani]], [[Reb Beach]], [[Brian May]] and John Anthony.<ref name="indianrockmp1"/>

Baiju is also a big fan of [[Illayaraja]] and loves the compositions of other Indian composers like [[Raveendran]], [[Devarajan]], [[Naushad]] and [[R.D. Burman]]. His father had a vast collection of [[ghazal]]s by [[Mehdi Hassan]], [[Anup Jalota]], and [[Pankaj Udhas]] and he grew up listening to [[Malayalam]], [[Tamil language|Tamil]] and [[Hindi]] [[Filmi|film music]].<ref name="indianrockmp1"/>

His favourite guitarists include [[Jimi Hendrix]], [[Jimmy Page]], [[Steve Vai]], John Anthony, Mattias Ekhlund and Guthrie Govan.

==Motherjane era==
Baiju was the lead guitarist for [[Motherjane]] from 1999 through 2010, during which the band released two full-length albums– 'Insane Biography' in 2003 and 'Maktub' in 2008. The band was a popular live act in India in the 2000s and played at many festivals. Baiju has a major influence of the [[Carnatic music|Carnatic]] musical style in his guitar riffs and solos. The other songs on the album Maktub are audibly influenced by Carnatic elements as well. Songs such as Mindstreet and Fields of Sound firmly describe Baiju's tonality.

==Collaborations and solo projects==

Since 2010, Baiju has been working on collaborations and solo projects. He released his debut solo album titled 'The Crossover' in 2012 under the record label Cochym. Baiju's also contributed towards producing an EP for Kochi-based band 'Kaav'. He's released Indian rock versions of patriotic songs Mile Sur Mera Tumhara, [[Vande Mataram]] and the national anthem of India, [[Jana Gana Mana]].

Baiju's been a part of 'Kashmir' with [[Sanjeev Thomas]], 'Karnatrix' with John Antony and 'Bluefire' with classical violinist Harikumar Sivan. Baiju also co-created "Sacred Science" for the popular TV Series The Dewarists with percussionist cum composer [[Karsh Kale]] and edakka drum teacher Harigovindan. Other collaborations include Sanjay Maroo, [[Naresh Iyer]], Keith Peters, [[Ustad Asad Khan]], Uday Jose, David Joseph, [[Midival Punditz]] and [[Susmit Sen]]. In 2013, he accompanied British "shred-king" Andy James for a workshop in [[Kolkata]]. In July 2014, his single 'Moham' was published by Songdew.<ref>{{cite web|title='Moham' single on Songdew|url=https://songdew.com/musicpremiere/songdew/moham/87|publisher=Songdew|accessdate=24 July 2014}}</ref>

==Discography==

===Studio albums===
* ''Insane Biography'' with Motherjane – 2003
* ''Maktub'' with Motherjane – 2008
* ''By the Moonlight'' – Wrenz United – 2011
* '' The Crossover'' – Baiju Dharmajan Solo – 2012

===Singles===
* Jana Gana Mana – Baiju Dharmajan – 2011
* Vande Mataram – Baiju Dharmajan – 2011
* Mile Sur Mera Tumhara – Baiju Dharmajan – 2013
* Vaishnava Janato – Baiju Dharmajan – 2013
* Moham – Baiju Dharmajan – 2014

===Guest appearances===
* Tum - [[Antariksh]] ft. Baiju Dharmajan - ''Khoj,'' 2013<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mahindru |first1=Megha |title=Baiju Dharmajan Forms A New Band With Kolkata Musicians |url=https://rollingstoneindia.com/baiju-dharmajan-forms-a-new-band-with-kolkata-musicians/ |access-date=17 April 2026 |work=Rolling Stone India |date=12 September 2013}}</ref>

===Feature Film Soundtracks===
* [[Dayom Panthrandum]] - 2013

===Production discography===
* ''Kaav'' E.P – KAAV – 2010

==References==
{{Reflist}}
* {{cite web|title=Baiju Dharmajan | Carnatic Guitar Maestro | Indian Guitarist|url=http://baiju-dharmajan.com/|date=2013|access-date=2 February 2013|archive-date=31 January 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130131040610/http://baiju-dharmajan.com/|url-status=dead}}
* {{cite web|title=Motherjane-Rolling Stones|url=http://rollingstoneindia.com/artists/motherjane-2/|accessdate=10 October 2011}}
* {{cite web|title=BaijuDharmajan-The Crossover|url=http://www.indianmusicrevolution.com/Reviews/Album-Reviews/Baiju-Dharmajan-The-Crossover.html|accessdate=10 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022233625/http://www.indianmusicrevolution.com/Reviews/Album-Reviews/Baiju-Dharmajan-The-Crossover.html|archive-date=22 October 2012|url-status=usurped}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite web | url=http://rollingstoneindia.com/all-access/10-best-indian-albums-of-2008/ | title=10 Best Indian Albums of 2008 | publisher=Rolling Stone India | date=19 January 2009}}
* {{cite web | url=http://rollingstoneindia.com/features/motherjane-an-indian-tale/ | title=Motherjane: An Indian Tale | publisher=Rolling Stone India | date=25 July 2009}}
* {{cite web | url=http://www.hindu.com/2007/10/08/stories/2007100858600300.htm | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013154930/http://hindu.com/2007/10/08/stories/2007100858600300.htm | url-status=dead | archive-date=13 October 2007 | title=Mother Jane enthrals Sunday crowd | work=[[The Hindu]] | date=8 October 2007}}
* {{cite web | url=http://www.hindu.com/mag/2008/03/23/stories/2008032350200700.htm | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080401234807/http://www.hindu.com/mag/2008/03/23/stories/2008032350200700.htm | url-status=dead | archive-date=1 April 2008 | work=[[The Hindu]] | title=Not Megadeth enough | date=23 March 2008}}
* {{cite web | url=http://www.hindu.com/2009/01/18/stories/2009011856061100.htm | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090123224119/http://hindu.com/2009/01/18/stories/2009011856061100.htm | url-status=dead | archive-date=23 January 2009 | work=[[The Hindu]] | title=Schedule for Saarang, IIT's mega fest | date=18 January 2009}}
* {{cite web | url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune-times/Pune-rock-gets-into-the-studio/articleshow/33618180.cms | title=Pune rock gets into the studio | work=[[The Times of India]]| date=7 January 2003}}
* {{cite web | url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-11-22/news-and-interviews/30433835_1_musicians-electronic-m | archive-url=https://archive.today/20130103120434/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-11-22/news-and-interviews/30433835_1_musicians-electronic-m | url-status=dead | archive-date=3 January 2013 | work=[[The Times of India]] | title=Listen to the Dewarists | date=22 November 2011}}

==External links==
* {{cite web | url=http://www.motherjane.in/profile.pdf | title=Motherjane Official Band Profile | access-date=8 October 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111005063113/http://www.motherjane.in/profile.pdf | archive-date=5 October 2011 | url-status=dead}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20130812175426/http://insidekerala.com/n/index.php?mod=article&cat=society&article=3123 "Baiju JD Awards"]
* {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20111005045843/http://indianrockmp3.com/2010/08/13/baiju-dharmajan-motherjane-interview/ Interview]}}
* {{cite web | url=http://baiju-dharmajan.com/about/ | title=About Baiju Dharmajan | publisher=[[WordPress]] | date=2013 | access-date=2 February 2013 | archive-date=2 February 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130202134410/http://baiju-dharmajan.com/about/ | url-status=dead }}
* {{cite web | url=http://nh7.in/indiecision/2010/11/24/motherjane-guitarist-baiju-dharmajan-quits-band/ | title=Motherjane Guitarist Baiju Dharmajan Quits Band | publisher=NH7 | date=24 November 2010}}
* https://web.archive.org/web/20110925031938/http://www.deccanchronicle.com/tabloid/glam-sham/guitar-juggler-591
* {{cite web | url=http://www.indianmusicrevolution.com/Interviews/Interview-With-Baiju-DharmajanThe-God-Of-Small-Strings.html | title=Interview With Baiju Dharmajan(The God of Small Strings) | publisher=Indian Music Revolution | date=24 March 2012 | access-date=19 May 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120326190634/http://www.indianmusicrevolution.com/Interviews/Interview-With-Baiju-DharmajanThe-God-Of-Small-Strings.html | archive-date=26 March 2012 | url-status=usurped }}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Dharmajan, Baiju}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Indian rock guitarists]]
[[Category:Indian male composers]]
[[Category:Indian record producers]]
[[Category:Musicians from Kochi]]
[[Category:Indian guitarists]]
[[Category:1968 births]]

Baiju Dharmajan - Revision history

Marta694059068 at 17:19, 17 April 2026