by Lamha Raman (‘27)

You may have heard of Shreya Goshal and Arijit Singh. They are two of the most popular Bollywood singers. Shreya Goshal has sung in hit songs from “Yeh Ishq Hai” (featured in the movie Jab We Met,) to a newer collaboration with Arabic singer, Saad Lamjarred, called “Guli Mata”. Arijit Singh’s most popular song was “Tum Hi Ho” from the movie Aashiqui 2 and he recently sang in What Jhumka? If you don’t listen to Bollywood music often, you still might’ve heard these names from local Indian communities, as they are extremely popular all over the world. However, names like Vidya Vox, Arjun, and Kiran + Nivi may be newer to you. With so many people moving from India to the US– and other primarily English-speaking areas– a new generation of very talented singers has risen in popularity. Let’s take a look at some songs these rising stars have sung.

Kiran + Nivi are twin sisters from India who have gone viral over social media because of their mixed covers between Western songs and Indian classical music. They’re often seen on social media singing a cover of these songs with harmonies, added riffs, and different melodies. Their cover of “Dream On” by Aerosmith with Noah Davis reached 3.9 million views. Following the trend of singing in a parking garage, their vocals and acoustics stunned their online audience. Kiran and Nivi Saishankar have been singing for 19 years since they were 3. They’ve been trained in Carnatic-style Indian classical music and often incorporate that into their content. One of them sings the song with a modified tune or changed octave while the other one harmonizes with notes from the Carnatic scale. The official video for their most popular song, “8 billion people”, reached 1.4 million views and conveys how people don’t notice others in silent misfortune. The lyrics “Stop saying I’m pretty. ‘Cause pretty girls don’t spend Friday nights alone in the kitchen” personally touched many fans and viewers. The theme of being the only one to show excitement hits hard with those going through the same thing. Most of their songs address personal problems such as loneliness and saying goodbye, as seen in their song “1 Last Bye.”

On a more positive note, Arjun Coomaraswamy (KOO-mara-SWA-mee), more commonly known by his stage name ARJUN, is a Sri Lankan singer and composer based in London. He sings fusion Bollywood and Western music, often showcasing the notion that he prefers the Indian style over Western, and plays multiple instruments including the keyboard, drum, and flute. His first song “Closer to Home” has reached 40 thousand views on YouTube. However, it wasn’t until he released a cover of the Tamil/English song “Why This Kolaveri Di” in an R&B English mix that he got his big break. He produced the track using a keyboard, guitar, and other instruments, placing his own vocals over the tune. This video reached 17 million views on YouTube! He changed the chorus line “Why This Kolaveri Di” to “How could you do this to me?” and translated the Tamil lyrics to represent a break-up song. He then was featured on popular Punjabi singer Guru Randhawa’s song “Suit Suit.” He adds his fusion flavor to the Punjabi tune and praises the Indian style over the Western style. ARJUN continues to share his love and talent for music while keeping a part of his roots within him.

Vidya Iyer, or Vidya Vox, as the internet knows her, is an American singer and YouTuber with about 7.6 million subscribers as of 2023. In 2015, she started her music channel by posting Western/Indian mashups. Her most popular song, one released in 2017, was called “Kuttunadan Punjayile.” The song has reached 104.5 million views on YouTube since then. It talks about her journey and how far she’s come since her start as an artist. Another one of her songs, “Thalaivi”, refers to the elderly women being the power of this generation, having been through so much and yet continuing to be so amazing. Vidya’s alluring performance personality attracts an energy in her growing crowds. Her pure joy in performing and singing is seen through her expression and energy on the stage. Recently, after a performance in Pontiac, she was praised on her vocal stamina and responded with, “Yes well, I’m dying now.” To which she smiled and took a photo with her backup dancers. Vidya’s smile and connection with her audience definitely ensure her steady rise through the Bollywood ranks. 

Are any rising stars catching your eye? With the technology of today and the resources available to us, becoming a star is both easier and harder than it was before. It will be fun to watch as artists, such as the ones introduced in this article, climb up the steady slope of fame.