In the last few years, Anuv Jain has become a defining voice of India’s indie music scene—quietly, without spectacle. With just his guitar, a mic, and words soaked in melancholy, he built a catalogue of songs that feel personal and universal all at once. Tracks like Baarishein, Gul, and Husn have become cultural staples, not through commercial push but by word of mouth and emotion. Jain’s music doesn’t chase trends; it creates space. Introspective, sparse, and poetic, he gave Indian indie a language of softness at a time when most artists were still competing with the scale of Bollywood.
So when Kushagra’s Finding Her unexpectedly hit No. 1 on Spotify India, the comparison came easily. He too sings about love and loss in a voice that doesn’t need to be loud to be heard. His melodies are simple, his lyrics grounded, and his presence refreshingly unpolished. Like Jain, he operates independently and lets the music speak first.
But Kushagra isn’t a copy. His songs—especially Better With You—showcase a different texture. Where Jain thrives in solitude, Kushagra leans slightly toward connection. There’s a hint of lightness in his sound, more bilingual phrasing, and a pop accessibility that could take him in a broader direction. His production is also more layered, though still understated.
Anuv Jain carved the path; Kushagra is walking alongside it, not behind. The real story isn’t about succession, but expansion—Indian indie now has room for more than one kind of vulnerability.
So no, Kushagra isn’t the next Anuv Jain. He’s a sign that artists like Anuv have opened the door for others to thrive, honestly and on their own terms. And Kushagra, in his own way, is already doing just that.