How friendship became music for independent band Khatth

Aditya Atmakuri, Ashutosh Verma and Satyam Nayak of the Hindi independent band Khatth talk about their reflective new single ‘Bewaqt’

Khatth is an independent Hindi music band formed by three friends - Aditya Atmakuri, Ashutosh Verma and Satyam Nayak living across three countries. The band is currently in focus with its latest single, Bewaqt, an introspective track that explores longing, separation, and the ache of unfulfilled love.

The song is accompanied by a music video directed by Smriti Thakur and features actor Ida Ali, daughter of filmmaker Imtiaz Ali, whose restrained performance mirrors the emotional tenor of the track. Bewaqt marks a reflective turn for the band, foregrounding mood and emotional restraint over spectacle.

The new single | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Khatth’s story began with friendship before music, at the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) in Bhubaneswar. Batchmates at the time, the three would spend evenings at the hostel’s fire-exit staircase, talking about life and listening to music. Gradually, those conversations found their way into lyrics and melodies.

“We came from similar middle-class backgrounds, where pursuing music as a full-time career didn’t feel like an obvious choice,” says Ashutosh, the lead vocalist. “Music became our way of expressing things we didn’t know how to say out loud. Writing together felt natural over time, and we realised that even though our tastes were different, that contrast actually enriched our sound.”

Friends turned musicians | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement