Music comes as a bliss after a long, tiring day. And when the lyrics find the way to your heart, it is meant to be played on loop. Parties, long drives, heartbreaks and love stories, music has got every mood covered. It is almost mystical how we transform into the “pop singers of a concert” in shower. I, for sure know I am.

Here is the journey of one such rising star of the musical world. A singer and songwriter, whose story will inspire many young musicians to take a step ahead on the way to their dreams. Sahil Dhandhia, an emerging name, whose journey started off from being an engineer to a successful singer-songwriter, shares his experiences and achievements being in the music industry.

Sahil was born and raised in Mumbai. He completed his high school education residing in Mumbai and went on to pursue graduation in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University. And after contributing his 10 years in the family business of diamond trade, he soon realized that life had some other plans for him. He decided to drop his career and business and gave a shot to his passion- Music.

The Beginning of a new Chapter

The initial steps for him to take up music as a full-time profession were quite difficult. Belonging to a business family, it was hard for him to convince his family with his decision. And just like an infant learns to walk, Sahil, too, struggled to find the right steps to take ahead.

Dhandhia states that there is still a lack of clarity for beginners in the industry. There are only a handful of opportunities and auditions for new singers and musicians. This was one disappointment he had to face after starting out as a musician. He did not have enough connections or sources that could help him meet the right people for guidance. Yet, he took a huge leap in his career. He considers U2, Iron and Wine and Coldplay to be his inspiration.

Soon in time, he got a project as a recording artist from a renowned meditation app, Sarva, to record a whole bunch of meditation mantras in his voice. It was a major breakthrough of his career. His talent and work made him stand out in the crowd. He got to perform at TED X event early in his career. This further opened many opportunities for him.

A Star in the Making: Sahil’s steps to Success

His recent big project, music video ‘Chalte Jaana Hai’, is not only a reflection of his struggles, hard-work and perseverance but also inspires young musicians, creators and artists to keep moving with a goal and never give up. The song ‘Chalte Jaana Hai’, in the soothing voice of Dhandhia and soulful lyrics is meant to be played on loop.

Another major break of his career was when he got his first opportunity to sing the jingle of a reality TV show ‘All is Well with Dr. Ahluwalia’. He has been performing live in Mumbai at shows, has covered our favorite songs, sung mashups and is aspiring to release many more music videos like ‘Chalte Jaana hai’, ‘Jaane Bhi Do’ and ‘Dil Mera’.

The Mantras of Music straight from Dhandhia  

Dhandhia is an in-born artist and he writes when music comes to him. He does not believe in sticking to the desk and writing a song. To him, it’s all good till he has enough songs lined-up.

For him, Bollywood is the biggest music industry in the country. So, one can always choose to pursue a career in music outside Bollywood but it requires good financial back-up. In the beginning years of a musical career, it is important to have a parallel source of earning to pay off bills.

Sahil believes and encourages the youth to choose a career of their dreams. The artists should follow what they’ll enjoy being a part of and not the final destination of the journey. He suggests the upcoming musicians and creators to watch his music video ‘Chalte Jaana Hai’ whenever they feel low. Giving up on the efforts must not be an option.

He is a constant example of persistence and how dreams can be achieved with consistent efforts, patience and believe in self. Inspiring stories like Sahil’s will certainly change the conventions about choosing dreams as professions and redefine success for generations to come.

Starting off slow and beautiful, ‘Milon’, written, composed and performed by Madhav Khanna and Sahaj Chawla, is the latest track from the duo. And, to be frank, it is truly a wonderful coming together of two artists and friends who, dare I say, have outdone themselves. What begins as the slightest whisper about love, in ‘Milon’, evolves into an incredible celebration of commitment and true companionship. It is, to say the least, a song that you will probably end up playing on loop a few times. I know I did.

Originally intended as a commissioned project for the twenty-fifth wedding anniversary of someone they know, ‘Milon’ came to be too dear to Khanna and Chawla. The two recognized the fact that the track needed to get out there, to be heard by an audience. When we talk about how the idea actually came about, Khanna and Chawla begin telling the story of how they wanted to capture the essence of what a relationship, over the years, grows into. Love is beautiful, sure. However, you only get envious of the ones who get to grow old together while being in love with each other. The ones who brave the lowest of lows together and then, somehow, end up being there for each other at the other end. And, that is exactly what ‘Milon’ is all about. At the end of it all, it talks about how wonderful of a journey true companionship really is.

I would be doing a disservice if I didn’t commend Khanna on his vocal performance. Singing in a highly expressive croon all the way to the chorus, Khanna delivers a powerful performance in the softest of tones. Of course, none of it would be possible without Chawla. Stringing together a blend of some marvelous acoustic and electric rhythms, Chawla’s arrangement and production sits as the backbone of the ‘Milon’. In point of fact, Khanna and Chawla talk about what the process of making music evolves into when there is mutual respect and understanding between those involved. To be honest, I don’t think ‘Milon’ could have turned out the way it did if either party was not involved. It is a track on the fulfillment that love can bring to two people, yes. However, the track is also marked by the underpinnings of a beautiful friendship between Khanna and Chawla.

If you are one of those people who has to stare at the screen when you are listening to a track, you have another reason to listen to ‘Milon’, as if you needed any more. Aninya Gangal has done some incredible artwork for the track cover that beautifully captures everything Khanna and Chawla are trying to convey. 

Madhav Khanna and Sahaj Chawla describe ‘Milon’ as a ‘celebration’. In my conversation with them, I called the track ‘beautiful’. You might describe it as an ‘earworm’. You know, those things that get stuck and play in your head while you are going about your day. But, then again, good music is bound to do that. 

Classic Bollywood songs teleport us to a different time and era, kicking in nostalgia and a flood of emotions. It is to this day that their charm and melody mesmerizes us. India, being a culture of song and dance, we have music for every occasion and celebration.

The recent trend of rendition of those old classics into covers is a great way to introduce the millennial generation to the treasure of the old world. The melody, music and lyrics all fit in a perfect symphony, creating magic onscreen.

To relive those magical moments, we bring you a list of some beautiful covers of those classic hits.

Ashwani Machal

Ashwani Machal recreates the melodious song Neele Neele Amber Par from the 1983 Kalaakaar, is a real treat to the ears. The evergreen melody was originally composed by the legendary duo Kalyanji–Anandji and will be remembered for generations to come.

Siddharth Slathia

Mera Dil Bhi Kitna Pagal Hai in the mesmerising voice of Siddharth Slathia brings back memories of the golden years of 90s.

Sanam

Sanam revisits the “Pyaar Hua Chupke se” melody with his band and creates lovely memories. The music is a collaboration of Sanam with the Nepali singer Trishala Gurung.

Neetho, Ulaa, Vandhane, Shukriya and Vaarkadal are the titles of the five songs arranged by the band The Non Violinist Project, that capture the essence of the word gratitude in different Indian languages, in a series that is equal parts awesome, moving, and awe-inspiring. Get ready to be taken down a road of aesthetics, as you listen to an eclectic blend of melodies in the multilingual versions of a lovely song. 

The song rendered in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Hindi makes an ode to gratitude, that essential aspect of living. By depicting a story of a young woman’s journey, who walks back to the same lanes of her past that have led her to where she is, the song travels down nostalgia to give meaning to the experiences that make us. The woman is shown to visit her quaint, beautiful hometown, leaving the rush of the city to meet the people and places of her early life. 

The song’s melodies and vocals stand at par with the cinematography and visuals on video, and all of it comes together in an immensely aesthetic creation that is a joy to behold. The location, frames, colours, and shots are as well done as the music, vocals, lyrics, and composition. Directed by Prashanth Monty, the video features Saathvika Raj as the lead. The Tamil version, titled Ulaa is sung by Sathyaprakash Darmar. Neetho, the Telugu version is performed by Gowtham Bharadwaj. Vandhan is the Kannada version voiced by Nakul Abhyankar. Vaarkadal is the Malayalam version by KS Harisankar and Abhay Jodhpurkar sings Shukriya, the Hindi version. 

Executed by The Non Violinist Project, there is nothing that this endeavour falls short on. The instrumentals, violin, bass, keyboard, drums, and guitar all come together to inspire a thrilling, soulful background to the song and its story. Whichever composition you choose to listen to, it will surely leave a smile fixed on your face after you witness the wonderful creation. And the best part? You will have three more versions to listen to and fall for! 

The play of cover versions with the originality of tracks is a risky business. To be able to render a song balancing the perfection of the original and the experimentation of the cover cannot be easy. We bring to you some emerging singers who attempt and excel at this, delivering popular songs with a refreshing touch. So, sit back, grab your headphones and enjoy!   

Abhinav Thakur

The popular song from 2017, ‘Mann Bharrya’ by B Praak has been doing rounds again after making part of the score of the movie Shershaah. Naturally, the song has had many singers trying to render it to perfection, among all of which Abhinav Thakur stands out for delivering the difficult song effortlessly in his beautiful voice. Thakur’s acoustic version carries through the song in a powerful yet emotive mellowness that hits all the right spots. 

Samarth Swarup

Samarth Swarup’s cover of Tanishk Bagchi’s ‘Raataan Lambiyan’ from Shershaah is so nicely rendered that it wouldn’t be too off the mark to call it as good as the original. His vocals imitate the notes and tones of the original in totality, and yet add a pleasant touch of newness to it. A job well done, Swarup does the original justice in all measures. 

Debolinaa Nandy

Debolinaa Nandy performs Armaan Malik’s ‘Bol Do Na Zara’ from the 2016 film, Azhar. Debolinaa’s sweet vocals compliment the song with quite some perfection. The instrumental of the piano accompanies her singing in excellent modulation, making the whole arrangement of the song flow smoothly into a lovely composition. 

Chiara & Darren

An acoustic cover of the 2012 popular Falak Shabir song is hard to go wrong. Chiara’s rendition of ‘Mera Mann Kehne Laga’ on the ukulele is a case in point. Beautifully sung, her soft vocals have imbibed the rhythm and tones of the romantic original and given it a charming touch.