For decades, Bollywood music has followed a predictable formula, largely dominated by established playback singers and commercial composers. However, with the increasing rise of independent musicians and regional talent, this long-standing pattern is beginning to shift. Artists like Prateek Kuhad, Sumeet Tappoo, Ritviz, and the band The Yellow Diary represent a new wave of musical diversity. Their inclusion in mainstream cinema could introduce innovation, authenticity and fresh textures to film soundtracks.
Prateek Kuhad, known for his introspective indie-folk style, offers a quieter and emotionally intimate alternative to Bollywood’s grand romantic ballads. With delicate, acoustic-driven melodies and vulnerable lyrics, as heard in his breakout hit “cold/mess”, Kuhad brings a reflective maturity to love songs. If brought into Bollywood storytelling, his understated style could replace over-the-top musical dramatics with raw, heartfelt emotion engrained in realism.
Sumeet Tappoo, rooted in semi-classical and ghazal traditions, offers a depth rarely found in today’s commercial soundscape. With acclaimed work such as ‘Dil Pareshan Karta Hai’ with Gulzar and collaborations with Sunidhi Chauhan, Hariharan, Shankar Mahadevan and Sadhana Sargam, his years of live performance and mastery of both traditional and experimental styles position him to revive fading musical forms. His presence in Bollywood could infuse soul, freshness, emotion and gravitas into romantic, semi-classical, or even contemporary dance tracks, adding richness to cinematic storytelling.
On the experimental front, Ritviz embodies the spirit of India’s digital music revolution. A singer-producer classically trained in Dhrupad, he fuses Indian classical motifs with electronic, hip-hop and pop elements. Tracks like “Udd Gaye” demonstrate how his sound can energise modern film music, offering party anthems that are rooted in culture while appealing to diverse audiences. His success through streaming platforms and viral releases highlights Bollywood’s opportunity to integrate new-age hybridity.
The Yellow Diary, a widely recognised indie-pop-rock band from Mumbai, provides yet another exciting direction. With poetic lyricism and band-based arrangements, they create immersive soundscapes unlike the typical film single format. Their songs such as “Roz Roz”, “Mann” and “Rab Raakha” are known for emotional storytelling and atmospheric production.
For Bollywood, welcoming such artists is no longer just an artistic choice but a strategic necessity. Indian music consumption has shifted significantly, with digital platforms elevating independent and regional voices to mainstream popularity. Incorporating this talent can help films connect authentically with evolving audience tastes and established fan communities.
The combination of Kuhad’s tender lyricism, Tappoo’s semi-classical soulfulness, Ritviz’s genre-bending innovation and The Yellow Diary’s poetic rock presents an expansive palette. Embracing these sounds could help Bollywood evolve from a singular musical identity into a diverse, artist-driven ecosystem.
By embracing artists like these, Bollywood can transition from formula-based compositions to a richer, more inclusive spectrum of musical expression that reflects the true diversity of modern India.
