Aabha Hanjura Travels Back Home in Eerie New Release ‘Mere Makaan’

As someone who’s often composed and performed celebratory Kashmiri songs, Aabha Hanjura offers a darker and discomforting side with her latest song “Mere Makaan.” The music video, directed by filmmaker Sujish Das, sees Hanjura travels back home to the region with photos in hand to find what was once home.

Described as a ballad, the seven-minute song is an experimental meditation driven by piano from Bengaluru-based Aman Mahajan and cello played by New York’s Jacob Charkey. It’s tied together by production flourishes and a smattering of percussion by veteran producer K.J. Singh. With ponderings and unanswered questions of loss and longing, “Mere Makaan” was inspired by true events according to the artist. Among them was the time Hanjura made an emotional visit to her childhood home in Kashmir a decade ago.

She says in a statement, “For me, ‘Mere Makaan’ is my most special work so far because this song comes from a deeply honest place as an artist. Musically I’ve dived into a whole new realm with this single and it explores a previously untouched side of my songwriting. ‘Mere Makaan’ is poetry of displacement, it’s my story and one that I hope resonates with everyone who misses their home. While, I’ve never found an answer to what the idea of home means to me even 33 years later, I hope this song can provide catharsis to those who like me struggled have struggled with the idea of Home.”

Over on Instagram, the artist spoke about visiting Kashmir to make the music for “Mere Makaan.” Although the video does not show her visit to her childhood home, the message hits the mark nevertheless, as we see Hanjura standing amongst a long-forgotten house in rubble. “Shooting ‘Mere Makaan’ in this home took everything from me, this has been the hardest song to make and yet the one that has led to a lot of catharsis for me personally,” Hanjura said on Instagram.

She added, “The music video too put me in situations where I had to muster all my courage to face those emotions that I was not really ready for, and after putting it away for so long I finally shot in this home with the help of friends and a team that was nothing short of golden and then there was a divine hand guiding us all through it all, to the family that allowed us into their home (you know who you are) which is nothing more than a speck of the past today I thank you with all my heart and send you all the healing that I hope reaches you through the song.”

Watch the video for “Mere Makaan” below.