In a country where music often means Bollywood blockbusters and chart-topping remixes, there’s a quieter revolution happening—led by artists whose voices don’t dominate the radio, but echo in the hearts of those who truly listen. These are the underrated, the under-hyped, the relentlessly original. They’re not waiting for a big label deal or a Bollywood placement. They’re already making timeless music. You just haven’t found them yet.
Rishbh Tiwari
He started in a dentist’s coat and ended up writing breakup ballads that feel surgically precise. Mumbai-based singer-songwriter Rishbh Tiwari, known to his fans as Acoustic Rishbh, didn’t just pivot from medicine to music—he found a way to make healing melodic. His breakout track “Aankhon Ke Darmiyan” was selected by the International Songwriting Competition, judged by Coldplay and Dua Lipa, and later went viral across indie playlists for its raw romanticism.
Kavita Seth
Despite giving Bollywood one of its most unforgettable gems in “Iktara”, Kavita Seth still exists on the fringes of mainstream fame. Her Sufi-rooted, ghazal-infused style remains unmatched, haunting, and deeply spiritual. She’s the kind of artist who doesn’t just sing lyrics—she channels them.
Mame Khan
Rajasthan’s folk firestorm, Mame Khan brings the desert to life with every note. His voice is power wrapped in tradition. He’s appeared in Bollywood and Coke Studio India, yet somehow, his name still doesn't echo as loudly as his sound deserves.
Thomson Andrews
Multilingual, genre-fluid, and a powerhouse performer, Thomson Andrews is like India’s best-kept global pop secret. He’s worked with AR Rahman, done background vocals for major productions, and still flies under the radar in the Indian mainstream.
Arunaja
A finalist from The Stage, Arunaja sings like she’s setting fire to the room—every performance raw, bold, and technically precise. Soul, R&B, jazz, even Carnatic inflections—she’s one of the few artists who can genuinely stretch across genres without losing herself.
Ankur Tewari
Known more as a composer for Gully Boy, Ankur is also a masterful singer-songwriter whose solo work is dripping in melancholy and minimalist poetry. His music isn’t made for radio—it's made for rainy nights and unread journals.
Raghav Meattle
He writes in English, but it’s deeply local. His indie-pop tunes feel like a conversation with a friend—honest, awkward, and quietly powerful. He’s carving out a space that’s uniquely his, even if the crowd hasn’t caught on yet.
Anand Bhaskar
From scoring for shows like Mirzapur to releasing indie-rock anthems with the Anand Bhaskar Collective, his vocals hit with both grit and grace. He’s a bridge between alt-rock urgency and classical training—still waiting for the recognition that seems overdue.
Ritviz (in a different lane)
Yes, he’s had hits. But Ritviz is still underrated in terms of artistic depth. Beyond the viral singles, he’s crafting a new language of Indian electronic music that blends Hindustani roots with future bass aesthetics.
Ditty
An ecological urban folk artist and poet, Ditty is a genre unto herself. She sings about the environment, urban alienation, and quiet resistance—all in a lullaby tone that disarms you before hitting your core.