It’s only a matter of time before pop music will make a global star: Arjun Kanungo
Singer-songwriter Arjun Kanungo is optimistic about the non-film music industry, which is slowly expanding and getting popular across the country. “What people don’t realise is how big our music industry and market is. It’s a matter of time before pop music will make a global star. That, Bollywood will never be able to do,” he says.
The 28-year-old is one of the few musicians who have focused more on creating music outside the film space than working for films. “Nonfilm [space] is your own. Film songs belong to actors. I prefer the former in that sense,” he says.
However, he adds that he will focus on film music this year. “I am doing a lot of film this year,” he says.
Talking about his recent independent single, Tu Na Mera, he says that it gave him a chance to achieve one of his dreams. “Tu Na Mera is a labour of love. It was a 12week process of singing, composing, training for the video, suffering lots and lots of injuries, and finally seeing the final product. I have always wanted to do something with action and, with this video, I got to be an action hero for a day!” he says. Since its release on January 16, the song has crossed 15 million views on YouTube, and while he is happy about the number of hits, he isn’t bothered by it.
“We have expectations but what matters is not the numbers but the impact. Baaki Baatein Peene Baad has only 35 million views on YouTube but has a very distinct impact on youth culture. Same with Aaya Na Tu, which has over 130 million streams on YouTube,” Arjun says.