Thoughtloom, a unit of Palam Silks, hosted “Beyond the Avatars: The Divine in Untold Details, Stories, Traditions & Expressions of Lord Vishnu Beyond the Familiar” on Friday, bringing together Kalaimamani Sikkil Gurucharan and historian Dr. Pradeep Chakravarthy for an evening that wove Carnatic music with storytelling.
The programme opened with a musical storytelling session in which Sikkil Gurucharan’s renditions were interlaced with Dr. Chakravarthy’s narration of lesser-known stories, traditions and expressions of Lord Vishnu across the ages. The audience, many dressed in shades of blue in a nod to the theme, remained engrossed through the session and stayed on well after it ended to continue the conversation — a hallmark, organisers say, of what Thoughtloom sets out to do.
“The content was exceptional, and the combination of story and music truly mesmerised the audience,” said an organiser at Thoughtloom, reflecting the mood in the room through the evening.
The event was graced by Mr. Nalli Kuppuswamy as special guest, who spoke about Thoughtloom as a new and welcome concept for the city. He noted that Mylapore a name synonymous with Chennai’s cultural heritage — was the ideal home for such a space: located in the heart of the city, yet calm and serene, and well suited to host intimate cultural gatherings.
Speaking about the space, Ms. Jeyashree, Founder of Palam Silks and Thoughtloom, said Chennai is home to no shortage of talent — singers, dancers, artists, speakers, authors, historians and cultural curators — who simply need a stage to perform without judgement. “A simple thought can be woven into so much more — that is where the name Thoughtloom comes from,” she said. “It is a space for newcomers and for the renowned alike, and an audience that comes specifically to witness that.”
Since launching in December 2025, Thoughtloom has hosted over 12 events in nine months across genres – talks, interactive sessions and performances featuring historians and cultural voices.
“We started this as a simple concept, and we’re grateful to have hosted over 12 events in nine months -and we’re only looking to do more,” Ms. Jeyashree added. “Anyone looking to host cultural activities in Chennai, even from outside the city or the country, is welcome to reach out to us – we’ll help them figure out how.”
Thoughtloom is intimate by design -the audience sits close enough to question, to push back, and to carry the conversation on long after the session ends. It functions less like a venue and more like a room willing to listen: to first-time speakers, curious enthusiasts and emerging voices with something genuine to say about culture, heritage and the arts. Entrepreneurs, authors and musicians find a space here that asks for sincerity, not credentials.
Beyond programmed events, Thoughtloom is also available for rehearsals and independent use. Bharatanatyam and Kathak students have practised within its walls, music students have used it as a studio, and devotional recordings have been filmed on the premises.
Palam Silks’ flagship Pondy Bazaar store thrives amid the energy of one of Chennai’s busiest commercial streets, drawing shoppers, NRIs and tourists in equal measure. The Oliver Road branch in Mylapore, by contrast, is unhurried and serene, with ample parking and a shopping experience that asks nothing of your attention. Opposite Mylapore Fine Arts Club, one of the city’s oldest cultural institutions – this is a neighbourhood that has long taken culture seriously.
It is in that spirit that Palam Silks chose to go beyond commerce. Palam Silks has long been a trendsetter – from pioneering lightweight Kanjivarams and positioning the silk saree as a fashion statement, to hosting fashion shows and collaborating on film projects such as Chennai Express well before social media collaborations became commonplace.
Thoughtloom is that instinct made physical: a recognition that a brand rooted in heritage carries a responsibility not just to sell that heritage, but to sustain it.
