Naren's indie round-up/ May 2025, Ep 3


BY NARENDRA KUSNUR 

Various artistes/ Waves Of India (EP)

Label: Universal Music

Rating: ** 1/2

This EP was launched at the World Audio Visual Entertainment Summit (Waves) in Mumbai earlier this month. The idea was to get the cream of India's composing talent to write songs revolving around the conference's title of 'Waves' and its theme of 'Connecting Creators, Connecting Countries,' combined with messages of national integrity and technological progress.

What's happened is that composers A.R. Rahman, M.M. Keerawani, Shankar Mahadevan, Ricky Kej and Meet Bros seemed to have received the same brief, and have thereby produced six songs rehashing the same set of ideas. Phrases like 'Satyam Shivam Sundaram', 'Nayi hawayein, nayi dishayein' and 'Feel the waves of India' are repeated, with some of them translated into other languages and peppered by Sanskrit chants.

A better idea would have been to stick to one theme song, most probably Keerawani's 'Connecting Creators, Connecting Countries' as it fits the theme and reflects the country's diversity, with Sonu Nigam, Shankar Mahadevan, Shreya Ghoshal, K.S. Chithra, Lipsika and Mangli chipping in with vocals. If one needed another song, Meet Brothers' 'Shubhaarambh', featuring singer Samaaira Chandoke, at least sounds different from the others, despite the over-accented English vocals.

The songs by Rahman, Shankar Mahadevan and Ricky Kej sound like a lot of stuff heard before. This EP is just a classic case of going grossly overboard with an idea, and producing things in a hurry. Just one song would have conveyed the message more effectively.

Rono/ Nange Paaon

Label: Self-released 

Rating: *** 1/2

Formerly known as AwkwardBong, Ronit Sarkar aka Rono released his nine-track album Adhoore Se Khwaab in late April. The video of the song 'Nange Paaon' waa subsequently put out.

Accompanied by an art cinema-styled black-n'-white video starring Bappa Da (in pic), the song has a simple, infectious melody which goes well with Rono's smoky voice. The lyrics, co-written by him and Taab, talk about how doubt and fear come in the way of fixing what one wants to save.

The lines "Kyun aaya hoon main nange paaon, kya baaki hai bachaane" sum up the song's mood, as a arrangement caresses the backdrop.

Five YearsFromNow feat. Insaan '97/ Khushnaseeb 

Label: Robach Music

Rating; ***

Hyderabad trio Five YearsFromNow consists of singer and lyricist Kai Gurung, producer Sumanth Krishna Battu and drummer Shan Paul. The sound is a mix of ambient and electronic textures with pop melodies.

On 'Khushnaseeb', they add a rap part by bringing in guest artist Insaan '97. The song is a tribute to the unwavering love of parents. Lines like "Khushnaseeb hai sar pe chhat aur kam hai kashtt" and "Bless this verse, namo namo, charan sparsh" are filled with gratitude.

The song has an interesting structure as it moves from pop to rap to electronica. Some smart production here.

Tanuj Manchanda feat. Arjun Mahajan/ Dilnasheen Humnawa 

Label: Self-released 

Rating: *** 1/2

Bred in Delhi and settled in Mumbai, singer-songwriter Tanuj Manchanda blends lyrics that are inspired by Urdu poetry with contemporary indie arrangements. On his new song 'Dilnasheen Humnawa', he teams up with co-vocalist Arjun Mahajan.

The song expresses the theme of longing through the lines, "Dilnasheen humnawa, na jaane tu hai kahaan, dilnasheen humnawa, tanhaiyaan hai jawaan, dilnasheen humnawa, na jaane tu hai kahaan, dilnasheen humnawa parchaiyaan hai judaa".

Produced by Siddharth Dixit, the song uses modern arrangements and rhythms along with classical taans and sargams. It grows after a few listens.






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