Dear BTS, It’s Time for an India Collab

With the reveal of BTS’s Arirang song list, it’s clear that the album is every bit the star-studded affair we expected, featuring coveted names like Diplo, Tame Impala’s Kevin Parker, Mike Will Made It, and El Guincho. But while these collabs are legendary, as we scan the credits, it feels like the perfect time to talk about the one territory that’s like a missing piece in BTS’s collaboration journey: India. Given India’s vast musical legacy and massive K-Pop fandom, we’re manifesting a day where the purple ocean meets Indian melodies with a collaboration that bridges the two worlds.

We want these collabs because they could represent a new era of the Global South. For decades, the idea of “global music” was largely shaped by Western pop, but that view is beginning to shift dramatically. In an evolving global landscape, BTS collaborating with an Indian artist could prove that the most exciting sounds in the world can emerge between Seoul and Mumbai. It’s about two cultures that value emotional storytelling, heritage, human connection, and poetic lyrics, finally finding a common language. With that vision in mind, here’s a look at the Indian artists we’re manifesting for a future BTS collab.

Prateek Kuhad

If there’s a poster boy for vulnerability in Indian indie music, it’s Prateek Kuhad. With hits like “Kasoor” and “CO2,” he’s known for a soulful sound as intimate as a late-night confession. His acoustic melodies and tender vocals prioritize intimacy and emotion above all else. When you place that sense of longing against the discography of BTS — specifically their vocal line hits like “The Truth Untold” or “Blue & Grey”— the synergy could spark something heartfelt. It could mean V’s deep, velvety baritone and Jungkook’s airy pop vocals melting into Kuhad’s soft guitar plucking, creating a cross-cultural bridge between the Korean “han” (deep sorrow) and the Indian “viraha” (the ache of separation). This could be a collab that moves beyond the “idol” polish to emphasize that, at the end of the day, both artists are storytellers of the human heart, and a soft ballad can carry the same weight as a grand stadium anthem.

Raja Kumari

Raja Kumari has spent much of her career building a bridge between the East and the West on a sound she calls “The Blend,” where the deep, heavy bass of modern trap meets the intricate rhythms of classical Indian dance and Sanskrit chants. If you’ve seen her in songs like “City Slums” or “Bindis and Bangles,” you know she can command the screen with a kind of authority and confidence that’s central to her personality.

This is precisely why she is an ideal fit for the BTS Rap Line, which includes RM, Suga, and J-Hope. Much like how the trio embraced their history and identity in tracks like “Daechwita,” “Idol,” “Paldogangsan,” and “Ma City,” Raja knows how to make heritage the coolest thing in the room. A BTS collab with her could be a power move where Raja’s rhythmic, punchy flow plays off Suga’s legendary rapid-fire bars, like two cultural icons reclaiming themselves and their history through hip-hop.

A.R. Rahman

More than a composer, A.R. Rahman is a scientist in the studio who changed the Indian music landscape, introducing world-class production values without ever losing that deep, spiritual heart that makes his music so special. His achievements speak for themselves — among other things, he’s a double Academy Award winner who brought home the Oscars in 2009 for Slumdog Millionaire (2008), and is currently collaborating with legendary film composer Hans Zimmer on the upcoming epic Ramayana Part 1.

Rahman’s speciality is atmospheric layering: the ability to make a 100-piece orchestra, a lone flute, and a synthetic beat coexist in a way that’s as cinematic as it is evocative. Connecting that sound to the BTS universe, which often thrives on complex metaphors and epic storytelling reminiscent of the scale of “On” or the artistry of “Black Swan,” would result in a full-blown immersive experience, a unique sonic universe where his ethereal music lends a prestigious depth to BTS’s pop sensibilities. For us, it’s a dream collab that would send a clear message to the world: that music doesn’t need to fit into a pre-existing box to be truly global.

Armaan Malik

Desi armies are no strangers to Armaan Malik’s admiration for the South Korean septet. The I-Pop and Indian playback singer has made the country sway to chartbuster hits like “Buttabomma” and “Jab Tak.” What makes his music special is his knack for balancing drama and heart. Now imagine him and the boys cooking up what could be the most epic love song. We can already see him harmonizing with Jungkook, belting out high notes with Jin, and riffing across vocal registers with Jimin, while the rap line joins in for a jam session.  

For the skeptics, allow me to present my case: Time and again, BTS has emphasized the power of love, be it platonic bonds, heartbreak, longing, yearning and even self-love. Unpacking layers of emotions, they have constantly explored these complexities throughout their discography. Who can forget the four-part album series, “Love Yourself,” or their iconic tracks like “2!3!,” “Coffee,” and “Mikrokosmos.” Even their recent “What Is Your Love Song?” campaign for their upcoming album “Arirang” urged fans across the world to share the love. Taking all this into consideration, it’s only fitting that Malik and BTS link up for what is sure to be a swoon-worthy collaboration.

Reble

Whether it’s a music festival or an underground cypher, Reble uses the stage like a battle arena, packing in all the punches and jabs with her feisty bars. Armed with a razor-sharp tongue and gritty flow, the Northeast Indian rapper proudly reps her roots, while also looking up to hip-hop legends like André 3000 and Eminem. 

More than anything, it’s her versatility that adds to her allure. Whether she’s shuttling between genres, exploring new sounds, or holding her own as one of the few female rappers in male-dominated lineups, she refuses to be boxed in. Evolution is her only constant, which is exactly why she’d be the perfect fit for a rap line collaboration. Think of it like a “Ddaeng” 2.0, her fiery delivery complemented be RM’s suave flow, J-hope’s innate groovy style, and Suga’s hardline hooks. What’s even more exciting is the possibility of Suga, a certified hip-hop nerd, working with a spirited artist like Reble. Perhaps Agust D (Suga’s solo rap alter ego) will finally emerge from the shadows on an OT7 album. One can only wait with bated breath.

Talwiinder

Pairing the elusive Punjabi hip-hop artist with BTS may sound slightly hard to digest. But let’s not forget just how experimental the lyrical powerhouse likes to get. Aside from being the eternal misfit that he is, Talwiinder also has a curatorial eye for sonic details. Donning the hats of songwriter, producer, and singer, the artist has been incorporating pop, drill, lo-fi and folk rhythms into power-packed anthems that resonate across sold-out arenas. Multi-hyphenates think alike. Take a closer look at BTS’s upcoming tracklist credits, and you’ll spot the boys, especially RM, sprinkled across multiple roles, from production to songwriting. As a listener, we’d get the best of both worlds: the innate softness of Punjabi and Korean couplets, along with power-packed production and cultural nuance. We can already picture the insane visual universe these storytellers would be able to build together. After all, they both are fans of the genre first, artists second, and this sort of dedication can only lead to the start of something groundbreaking.