Naren's indie round-up/ Sep 2025, Ep 2

 

BY NARENDRA KUSNUR

Raghav & Arjun feat. Amira Gill/ Khasma Nu Khaniye

Label: Self-released 

Rating: ***

Raghav & Arjun are joined by Amira Gill in the rendition of the Punjabi heartbreak song 'Khasma Nu Khaniye'. It starts on a happy note, but the love falls apart eventually, with one person seeing it coming and the other in shock. Lyrics are shared by Arjun and Manreet Khara.

Though it's a routine song with a synth-pop sound, what works is the well-shot video filmed by Akshay Nair and featuring Aditi Sandhya Sharma and Anuj Rampal. Good pairing, and something that youngsters will identify with.

Five YearsFromNow/ Alvida

Label: Robach Music

Rating: ***

Hyderabad trio Five YearsFromNow earlier made news with the tracks 'Khwahish Ke Boondein' and 'Kya Hai Tu'. Their sound is a blend of electronic music with other flavours.

'Alvida' talks of the difficulty of saying goodbye. It's a simple tune written and sung by Kai Gurung, with producer Sumanth Krishna Battu and drummer Shan Paul adding to the mix.

It's a short three-minute-plus song with a melancholic youthful air, more balladsy in nature. It's the kind of song teenagers will sing along to at shows.

Navratri Special

Mata Ke Darshan and Tera Dar Mujhe Pyaara Hai/ Shivani Vaswani

Label: Times Music Spiritual

Rating: *** 1/2

With Navratri and Durga Puja approaching, here are some new releases. Singer Shivani Vaswani has released two songs for the season, with music by her father Ghansham Vaswani.

The first 'Mata Ke Darshan' is written by Pradeep Rao, who begins with the lines, "Mata ke darshan karne ko chalte jaao bhai, Jai Mata Di, Jai Mata Di, kente jaao bhai".

The second, 'Tera Dar Mujhe Pyaara Hai', has been written by Madan Pal. It begins, "Mujhe nahin lena kuch sansaar se, tera dar mujhe pyaara hai".

Both songs have been produced by Gaurav Vaswani, and are apt for the festive season.

Swarupa Ananth & Udayan Sawkar/ Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu 

Label: Self-released 

Rating: *** 1/2

As part of the Chant With Me series, here's another rendition of the Durga mantra 'Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu' for inner strength. It's been sung by Swarupa Ananth, a prolific percussionist, along with her seven-year-old son Udayan Sawkar.

This chant invokes the Divine Feminine in all her forms - strength, protection, compassion and wisdom. Before the chanting, it begins in a temple-like mood, with rhythms making their way slowly.

Swarupa has also produced the 11-minute recording, which can be heard even after the Navratri season to achieve a feeling of peace.

Hamsika Iyer & Rahul B Seth/ Chaalo Re Chaalo

Label: Red Ribbon

Rating: ***

A total contrast is 'Chaalo Re Chaalo', ideal for the dance during Navratri. It's been sung by Hamsika Iyer and Rahul B Seth, who has also composed and written it.

The song has an uptempo feel and strong rhythms which makes it ideal for dandiya. Though it was released a year ago, it fits in every time.

Hamsika is currently in the news for her song 'Chai Ki Chuski' with the Justin-Uday Duo. So once you dance to 'Chaalo', you can always head for a 'chuski'.


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