‘Thulasi’ and ‘Ninna Notavu’: A fresh wave in Kannada indie music

Kannada indie music is finally getting its moment in the spotlight, with catchy new singles such as ‘Tulasi’ and ‘Ninna Notavu’ striking a chord with the younger crowd

Kannada indie music has rarely been in the limelight when compared to other regional indie industries, such as Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi. However, recent singles ‘Thulasi’ and ‘Ninna Notavu’, resonated widely on streaming platforms with their melodic hooks appealing particularly to younger listeners.

These songs have spurred conversations about the growth of Kannada independent music and Siddhartha Belmannu, playback singer, notes, “This is a golden period for Kannada independent music.”

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As the industry has relatively few musicians, recent collaborative efforts have offered hope for emerging artistes. These musicians are attempting to fill the gap in the indie space. Tanmay Gururaj, a Kannada independent artiste, points out, “The Kannada industry lacked contemporary songs that appealed to the younger generation. With ‘Ninna Notavu,’ I composed something fresh. The industry has a lot of scope for indie music, and independent artistes must have the freedom to experiment and be creative in their compositions.”

Siddhartha Belmannu. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Tanmay’s work, ‘Ninna Notavu’, a melodious, romantic number has crossed 1.07 million streams on Spotify, while the music video for ‘Thulasi’ hit 5.6 million views.