Jonita Talks New Song ‘Channa’ and Meeting Dua Lipa

Jonita Gandhi’s first track of the new year is the love song “Channa” which takes into deep consideration the push and pull in relationships, with the pop artist starring alongside actor Gurfateh Pirzada in the music video.

“Channa” is the “What Jhumka?” singer’s trilingual solo song, in which she effortlessly traverses Hindi, Punjabi and English lyrics. Gandhi says she began working in June last year on the project. “I instantly knew this song would be special.” She worked with producer-songwriter Siddhant Bhosle, the writer/producer duo Never Sober (comprising Riz Shain and Soham Mukherjee), lyricist Shayra Apoorva and producer Juan Ariza on the buoyant, easygoing pop song. “It was a true collaborative effort, and I’m grateful to have worked with such a fun and creative group,” Gandhi says.

For the music video, Gandhi and Pirzada portray a couple who are in and out of love, with the lyrics of missing a beloved emphasizing the bond. Produced by Jugaad Motion Pictures, the video was directed by Bhavna Kankaria and shot by Nirali Naik. Gandhi recounts the experience of working on the “Channa” music video as “fantastic.” She adds, “The team at Jugaad Motion Pictures was incredibly cooperative and open to my ideas. Having worked with them before, I knew I was in good hands. Director Bhavna and DOP Nirali took the time to understand the song’s emotion and brought my vision to life in a beautiful, cinematic way. I’m thrilled with the final result.”

The artist particularly highlights that the single can be perfect for upcoming celebrations like Valentine’s Day, since it “captures the essence of love.” She adds, “‘Channa’ aligns sonically with my previous solo work and sets the tone for upcoming releases. I have several singles and collaborations in the works, as well as a couple of playback songs in the pipeline.”

The singer previously released her rendition of “Noorie (Two Sides)” – which drew from the 1979 song “Aaja Re O Mere Dilbar Aaja” sung by Lata Mangeshkar and Nitin Mukesh, composed by Khayyam and featuring lyrics written by Jan Nisar Akhtar. The song came out just as Gandhi went on to perform at Zomato Feeding India Concert 2024 at the end of November in Mumbai, headlined by pop star Dua Lipa.

Beyond sharing the lineup billing, Gandhi got to meet Lipa and say it was the year’s highlight. “Meeting her backstage was a memorable experience – we chatted about her love for India and how she felt about performing here. I also gifted her a pair of Amrapali jhumkas as a keepsake, and she graciously complimented my scent,” Gandhi says with a laugh. She adds, “She was warm and kind, making the experience even more special.”

Watch the video for “Channa” below.