Taken aback by the demands of his character in Salman Khan's Radhe, Arjun Kanungo on navigating debut film with help from co-stars
Sonia Lulla (MID-DAY; March 23, 2020)

While he wouldn't box his character as either "good" or "bad", singer-composer Arjun Kanungo says the part in Radhe posed the kind of challenge he hadn't come to anticipate of a debut role. "I wasn't expecting such a difficult part; it is a proper acting role. My character is not simple to understand in the beginning. He has different shades, and the fact that he is not straightforward made it difficult [to play him]. But, I enjoyed the process a 100 per cent. It was nice to be around people who guided me," says Kanungo of his co-stars, Salman Khan, Randeep Hooda and Jackie Shroff.

Khan's friend of several years, Kanungo chooses to describe the superstar as "awe-inspiring" instead of intimidating. And while Khan had been egging on Kanungo to give a go at acting, courtesy his good looks, the singer was only waiting for an offer from him. But, when on set, it was director Prabhudheva who served as his guiding force. "On my first day, I was working on a difficult scene, and wasn't getting it. He highlighted the emotions that would be at play for the character, and encouraged me to think about them while I acted. I realised that every scene can be interpreted differently by various people, so I just relied on him."

On the cards is another film for Kanungo. "I've sung for a couple of films, including one that has been directed by Anurag Kashyap. While it has been shot, a few days' work is pending. The music is by Amit [Trivedi] and I've rendered a few songs. I got to be in the film as well."

Attributing the fame he has achieved in the industry to his followers on social media, Kanungo isn't ready to disappoint the music aficionados as he peruses other ambitions. A 12-track album is currently underway to meet an August-September release date. It will include numbers shortlisted from a bunch of 25 that he has in his kitty. "But I want this album to be a reflection of the musician I am, and hence, am writing [new songs]. There are four tracks that are yet to be worked on. I don't want it to [sound] commercial. While that's important, it's the label's headache [to push songs that are commercial]. Indie-pop is in an interesting space. It is the only time you can try new stuff. Hip-hop is doing well. The way pop music is perceived now is different from the way it was in 2015."

As of now, Kanungo has his eyes trained on enhancing his skills as actor and musician. "Just because I'm making my debut with a Salman Khan-film doesn't mean I've made it. I have to make sure that I deserve [stardom] and will work hard for it. If I do, I will be as much an actor as singer."

Nikita Deb (HINDUSTAN TIMES; January 16, 2020)

After having enthralled fans with his soulful voice for years, singer Arjun Kanungo is now set to make the next big move of his career by making his Bollywood debut with the Salman Khan-starrer Radhe.

Elated with this progression in his career, the 29-year-old says, “I’m quite excited about the role. Salman bhai felt I should be acting more, and chose me for a part in the film. It’s completely his vision for me. It means a lot to me that he is giving me a chance.”

Arjun has studied acting in Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute: Method Acting School in New York, USA, and says that getting this opportunity is “stuff of the legends” for him. “I haven’t been so excited about something in a long time. To work on a project as big as this and with megastars like Salman bhai is a dream come true. I haven’t been able to sleep on most nights since we started filming (laughs).”

Although his fans, had been long waiting to see Arjun on screen, the singer says that he was waiting for the right film. “I was waiting for the right role. I’m in no hurry. I believe the universe gives you what you settle for. With this project, I felt it was the right time and the right character to make my debut. The character I play in Radhe is nuanced. The script is great. Prabhudheva sir is directing it, and my character is an important one, and also a difficult one. I’m happy that I was considered for the role. All I’m going to say is that people are going to be surprised to see me in a character like this. It’s not the way they’re used to seeing me,” says the singer known for songs Aaya Na Tu and Baaki Baatein Peene Baad.

Arjun is excited to join the film industry, however he aims to maintain a balance between his singing and acting career. “I’m extremely excited about my debut as I’ve studied acting in a good school and wanted to pursue acting seriously. I believe that things happen in your life only when they are meant to, and I feel that in 2020 acting will become an important part of my career. Music will always have equal importance, but I believe I can do both, if I work hard. I’m grateful to my fans, who have always supported me. I hope they keep supporting me in this new part of my journey,” Arjun signs off.

The popular music genre sees a revival with young artists reaching wider audiences through the web
Suktara Ghosh (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 7, 2019)

If you grew up in the 1990s, chances are you couldn’t escape listening to the music of Indian Ocean, Lucky Ali, Euphoria, or Bombay Vikings. They were an intrinsic part of life.

Indipop — or Hindi pop — was a roaring success. Numbers like “Made in India” by Alisha Chinai and “Paree Hoon Main” by Suneeta Rao became nothing short of anthems. But very quickly, the genre lost steam, with the best of singers and composers migrating to the more lucrative — and popular — industry that we know as Bollywood. Indipop was left, more or less, high and dry.

Today, the music genre is making a strong comeback. In 2019 alone, T-Series is planning to release about 50 to 60 singles, as opposed to full albums, or EPs. Sony Music, too, has more than 85 releases lined up. It’s driven by a fresh wave of talent, which is using the web to stream tunes across a gamut of music-hosting platforms; build large social media following; and find newer listeners. Its prime audience, aged typically between 16 and 24, are digital natives who are looking for music beyond what Bollywood has to offer.

Rohan Jha, head – pop repertoire, Sony music India, says: “Pop, today, is thriving. It is also set to become an independent mainstream genre that can run parallel to Bollywood music.”

The new-age pop stars, aware of creating as well as driving industry trends, are playing to their strengths. While Guru Randhawa is, undoubtedly, the king of Punjabi pop, Darshan Raval, Prateek Kuhad and Arjun Kanungo are making a name for themselves in the ballad genre. The Yellow Diary band, on the other hand, is leading the alternative rock front. Their songs garner millions of hits — Kanungo’s “Woh Baarishein”, for instance, saw over 21 million hits in 15 days — and comes armed with cinematic videos as well.

“Music is now consumed audio-visually,” says Bhushan Kumar, chairman and managing director, T-Series. “So, you will find that most videos now are shot lavishly, with great production values, and often in exotic locations.”

Mirror met some of the country’s biggest pop stars — who are as dedicated to music as to the gym and Instagram — to talk about why indipop is ruling the charts.

Guru Randhawa

TOP HIT: LAHORE (749 million views)

YT SUBSCRIBERS: 2.5 million

Growing up in Punjab’s Gurdaspur, Guru Randhawa would have to tweak his TV antenna to tune into Indian artists such as Babbu and Gurdas Maan, and Pakistani artists Sajjad Ali and Abrar-ul-Haq. That, and some serious talent, bolstered him to sing in Class 3, and start penning lyrics in Class 7. Today, he’s the biggest indipop star and the most viewed Indian singer on YouTube. “Slowly Slowly”, his latest single, and first international collaboration with Pitbull, raked in 160 million views in less than three months.

“I take inspiration from everyday life,” shares the 28-year-old hit-maker, who just wound up a 14-city tour. “The music just comes to me and I note it down. I can be in a car, flight, or studio… Sometimes, the hook [a riff or phrase, used to resonate with the listener] comes first, and then I work on the composition. And we go to the studio and record it.”

Randhawa says his ability to compose songs with simple lyrics and catchy music play a huge role in winning fans over. “As an independent musician, I can do what I feel satisfied with, and not feel the pressure of what others expect me to deliver,” he says.

Topping my playlist: Gurbani, Hans Zimmer, Bruno Mars


Darshan Raval

TOP HIT: TERA ZIKR (148 million views)

YT SUBSCRIBERS: 1.6 million

When he released “Kaash Aisa Hota” in March this year, Darshan Raval’s social media handles were inundated with notes from fans, who wrote in to say why the song resonates with them. The love-betrayal-heartbreak ballad has since, attracted 38 million views. “People relate to my music,” says the 24-year-old pop sensation.

Raval made his musical debut in a TV reality show in 2014 with “Meri Pehli Mohabbat”, a song he wrote and composed himself. He hit the jackpot with “Tera Zikr”, a year ago. “I wait for the songs to come to me. Sometimes the wait can last six to seven months,” he says. “Sometimes, a melody comes to me in a dream. Whenever it comes, you have to be ready to note it down.” he says, adding that his phone is filled with voice notes of melodies.

Raval says that indipop is seeing a revival because today, film music has become largely below par. “There’s a gap in the industry and that’s what pop is catering to,” he explains. On the eve of the launch of his new monsoon single, the singer confesses he’s a bit nervous, despite having belted out a string of 13 hits.

Topping my playlist: "Kannana Kanne", "I Am Going To America", "Say You Won't Let Go"



Aastha Gill

TOP HIT: DJ WALEY BABU (233 million views)

YT SUBSCRIBERS: 13K

Her music dashed her career goals, but Aastha Gill had already made up her mind when she chose rapper Raftaar’s offer of a Bollywood song over working at an ad agency gig. It eventually led her to composer-singer Badshah and the collaboration that was the viral “DJ Waley Babu” in 2015. “Badshah bhaiya said I have to sound very dumb and cheesy for the song,” she shares, breaking into laughter.

The 25-year-old followed it up with “Buzz”, a year ago, which saw some 215 million views, and “Saara India” that came out this May and has already clocked 40 million hits on YouTube.

“In 2015, indipop barely had a presence. You had to make something really exceptional to make it click. There’s much more opportunity and freedom now,” says the singer.

Gill also works hard on the videos that accompany her songs. “People might know your voice, but they need to see a face too,” she says. “Music videos are important for an artist’s identity. I work a lot — sometimes for months — over my styling, visualisation, and so on.”

Topping my playlist: "Haaye Oye", "Kylie+Kareena", "Aithey Aa"


Prateek Kuhad

TOP HIT: TUM JAB PAAS (5.9 million views)

YT SUBSCRIBERS: 158k

Prateek Kuhad stands out. Period. The 29-year-old writer-composer-singer, currently based in New York, is all exquisite melody, poetry, and wistful voice. His last EP, Cold/Mess, which captures the rollercoaster emotions between love and heartbreak with six songs, came out in July last year, to take the top spot on iTunes India’s all-genre album chart, and the singer is fast becoming the global face of indipop.

Comfortable with writing both in Hindi and English, Kuhad feels a song’s language is “not really a concern”. Says the Jaipur boy: “I think my sound has changed a lot over the years. I’ve gone from folksy to urban to contemporary. Everything I release, or I’m a part of, should be good. I think every artist feels like that, so music videos are important too.”

Despite the large fan base and recognition — he took home the ‘Best Indian Act’ trophy at MTV’s Europe Music Awards (EMA) Awards in 2016, and won the Indie Album of the Year title from iTunes in 2015 for his second release Tokens and Charms — Kuhad seems to be in no hurry to be a part of the rat race. Quiz him about how he handles the pressure to deliver, and he laughs out loud: “I don’t handle it very well.”

Currently, Kuhad is focusing on shows, and writing and composing for ads and indie movies in New York.

TOPPING MY PLAYLIST: Joni Mitchell, The Tallest Man on Earth


Jubin Nautiyal

TOP HIT: HUMNAVA MERE (196 million views)

YT SUBSCRIBERS: 84k

His single “Chitthi” has clocked 34 million hits since its release this March, but Jubin Nautiyal, who has just celebrated his 30th birthday in Dehradun, his hometown, is far from elated. Entering the independent sector after consolidating his playback career, the singer-composer is in a mood to experiment.

Nautiyal is also readying to release his next single in July with what he promises to be a rather unfamiliar sound. “It’s a soul song I’ve composed and sung, and I’m trying to break the traditional songwriting structure with it. It’s what any independent musician wants — to push the limits of his own creativity. I don’t know if people would love it, or hate it, but they wouldn’t be able to ignore it for sure,” he says.

While Nautiyal agrees that the internet has opened up many possibilities for the pop music industry, he rues the loss of individuality. “A lot of music is modelled on earlier creations and what works commercially. There’s too much traffic. As a result, a lot of good music is falling through the cracks, and that is exactly what I’m trying to change as an established playback singer. I have the audience now who I can feed new music to, and see how they like it, and then learn from it,” he says.

TOPPING MY PLAYLIST: “Ka Moun Ké”, “Love is a Losing Game”, “Zindagi Mein Toh Sabhi Pyar Kiya Karte Hain”


Arjun Kanungo

TOP HIT: AAYA NA TU (67 million views)

YT SUBSCRIBERS: 260k

Aap guitar bahut bekaar baajate ho, par aap gaate acche ho. Aapko gaana hai mere band mein (your guitar skills are pretty ordinary, but you sing well. You have to sing for my band)”, was how Asha Bhosle handpicked the then 20-year-old Arjun Kanungo to perform in some 75 shows with her. And when he debuted with the runaway single “Baaki Baatein Peene Baad”, Badshah decided to rap for it.

Kanungo has been steadily rising up the charts since. “The plan is to release a new song every two months,” says the Bandra-based composer-singer.

“In 2015, when I began my independent music journey, most radio stations would refuse to play our songs. Now, people are choosing to listen to good pop music. There’s democratisation of content and I can decide what kind of music to make. My priority is no longer to become someone else’s voice in a film,” he says.

He’s also really clued in on the algorithm of his audience base, and knows how many people subscribe to his music across streaming platforms. “Understanding what makes us popular is a power in itself, and allows us to market the music better,” says the 28-year-old, who studied musical theatre at The Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute in New York. “I have always wanted to be a complete artist, and I enjoy every bit of it.”

TOPPING MY PLAYLIST: “Teri Mitti”, Kalank title track, “Good Things Fall Apart”

The Yellow Diary

TOP HIT: MARZ (6.2 million views)

YT SUBSCRIBERS: 6.3k

When he took off his in-ear monitor midway through the performance of “Marz” at NH7 Weekender in Pune last December, Rajan Batra was hit by a wave of voices singing the chorus with him. He broke down on stage. “Nothing can beat that feeling,” he says, shaking his head.

The alternative rock band, comprising Himonshu Parikh (music production, keyboard, backing vocals), Vaibhav Pani (guitar), Sahil Shah (drums), Stuart DaCosta (bass), and Batra (vocals/ songwriter), has shot to stardom with just two EP releases in 2018. “Our music is song specific and the numbers are a reflection of what we go through in our daily lives, hence they are deep and relatable,” says Pani.

Shah agrees: “We come from different musical backgrounds, and we throw these sounds together, which eventually translates into this cohesive mix that resonates with people. It’s one of the reasons we decided to collaborate as well.”

All in their late 20s, this band of boys is now prepping to release their latest EP this month.

Topping our playlist: Coldplay, Billie Eilish, Michael Jackson