Non-film music has given facial identity to singers: Ankit Tiwari

After creating a name for himself in the Bollywood music industry, singercomposer Ankit Tiwari, says that non-film music has given him a new identity.“Non-film music allows singers to explore themselves... It not only gives them the freedom to create songs in their own unique ways but also gives them a facial identity that’s mostly taken away from them by stars (when it comes to movies),” says Ankit, who launched his new single, Naina, earlier this month.

Speaking about the challenges while making independent songs, the Sunn Raha Hai (Aashiqui 2, 2013) singer shares, “Creating nonfilm songs in a country where everyone is so fond of Bollywood, is quite challenging. Reaching the masses through singles is a little bit difficult, but the scenario is changing in our country as now people have started following independent artists.”

Ask him if he isn’t interested in working in Bollywood any longer, and the Galliyan (Ek Villan, 2014) hitmaker quickly clarifies, “No, it is not that I am pulling myself away from Bollywood. Whoever I am today is because of this industry only. It is just that I wanted to do something new and that’s why I started creating my singles.” While on the subject of the film industry, Ankit also doesn’t shy away from expressing his anger over the prevailing “royalty” issue. “Indian singers have been fighting for the royalty for a long time. Obviously, it hurts when you don’t get due credits for your own songs. In independent music, there is no such issue...It’s your own loss and your own profit,” he says.

Singercomposer Ankit Tiwari