Between Tamil beats and themed nights, this collective is building the party scene Chennai missed

Let’s face it.

Barring two Chennai pubs that somehow metamorphose into clubs on Friday nights, there are hardly any dedicated spaces to go out dancing in the city. “In those spaces too, playlists remain the same,” says Vardhan Athreya. 

Tired of the monotonous clubbing scene that offers little beyond familiar faces and generic music, Wheeza Collective, co-founded by Vardhan and Kasim Marwaan, embarked on a mission in 2024 to inject fresh energy and introduce a truly distinct sound into the city. 

Their journey began with a simple desire: to create a space where Chennaiites could truly dance, connect, and experience a global tapestry of music, including their rich Tamil heritage.

Screenshot

The genesis of this movement traces back to a late-night call between friends. Vardhan, a DJ who had experienced London’s underground music scene, had recently returned to Chennai after college in 2024. Kasim was in Canada, listening to mixes of Tamil songs by a diasporic community from across the globe, taking pride in the music whose genesis lay in the city. 

They realised Chennai was missing a crucial element: curated nights and a variety of genres. ”If it’s happening in Canada and the UK and it’s getting more popular there, Chennai should also be the place where we should be doing these,” Kasim says. Their solution: to slowly experiment with different genres, and bring the party here.

Their first event was a private, invite-only house party for 80 people in a rented villa on the ECR in December 2024, says Vardhan. They meticulously curated the experience, transforming the villa into a club-like atmosphere with cameras and bouncers, even incorporating a “white party” theme. This intimate setting allowed them to experiment with their unique musical blend, which included English, Tamil, and Hindi music, a stark contrast to the predominantly English playlists found in most Chennai clubs. This is besides experiments with genres not limited to EDM, House, and Afro beats. 

The success of their house party propelled them to expand. They consciously avoided traditional clubs to maintain their unique identity. “If everyone goes to the same club, how am I gonna stand out?” Vardhan asked. Instead, they sought out newer, odd venues, transforming unexpected spaces like Asvah, an Italian restaurant on the beach, into a popping club for a night. 

Their other themed events, such as a Moroccan rooftop sundowner at Koox in September 2025, proved to be hits too. These events were not just about the music; they were immersive experiences with elaborate decor, like converting a place into a jungle for a jungle-themed night. This worked in their favour. The team including Vedanth Raja, Nila Srinivas, and Tamaara Kurian, ended up realising that people loved dressing up, adhering to themes, and meeting new, young inhabitants of the city. 

Vardhan says that their philosophy extends beyond just music and decor. While some events might cater to specific age groups, their ideal clubbing night is “a good mix of everyone”. They recognise the importance of both young people on the dance floor and older patrons who “are buying the drinks”. This inclusive approach is also reflected in their ticketing policy. Unlike many venues that offer free entry to women, they believe in equal access: “If it’s tickets, the girls have to buy tickets as much as the guys have to.”

The movement is also attracting talented DJs from outside Chennai, like Nida from Delhi, who will be performing on May 16, playing dance music and House. They prioritise DJs who align with their vision of pushing new sounds rather than just big names. “We are more focussed on the brand being the crowd puller. Not the specific DJ,” Vardhan explains.

Vardhan, Kasim and the team are intent on redefining Chennai’s cultural landscape. How they want to do it: one beat at a time.