Ghazal Blues, Contemporary Folk Fusion and More on Pranita N.P.’s Debut ‘Rang’

With about 16 years of training in Hindustani Classical vocal, Mumbai-based singer-songwriter Pranita Nair Pandurangi spent the last four years traveling and involved in theater productions across India. It led to her upcoming debut album Rang, which features folk songs from six different Indian music traditions, in six different languages. “I just wanted my first album to be a tribute to Indian music and folk music,” she says.

Presenting everything from ghazal blues (“Kaanton Se”) to Punjabi folk (“Kheryaan De Naal”) and Marathi abhangs (“Aata Kothe Dhaave Mann”), the artist focuses on the stories of love, devotion, celebration and home. Pandurangi adds, “I was pretty confident from the start itself, because I chose the songs I felt at home singing. Of course along the way, I had to learn to fine tune it and get the pronunciations right and really understand the text – that’s been a long process.”

In addition to the songs already, there’s the joyous Marwadi ghoomar song “Peelo Peelo Ghaagharo,” a Holi-themed Bhojpuri song “Aail Phagunwa” and a rearrangement of a Kumar Gandharv composition sung in the Hindi dialect of Malviya, “Naiharwa.” Pandurangi says the songs will be released in October and November on YouTube, followed by distribution on other platforms.

Recorded with help from rock trio Unohu (whom Pandurangi knew from college), Rang also features violinist Siddharth Iyer, melodica player Rahul Gajjal and was produced by Rishikesh Kamerkar, known for his work in Marathi and Hindi cinema as singer-composer. Pandurangi says, “All of us sat down and rehearsed, arranged and produced it together. Rishikesh has sort of mentored us through the whole project. I hope everyone enjoys the music.”

Hear “Aata Kothe Dhaave Mann” below. 

Listen to “Kaanton Se” below. 

Hear “Kheryaan De Naal” below.