Some of the best underrated singers in India are found in the indie scene, not on film soundtracks. Our updated 2026 list: The Local Train, Raman Negi, Sanam, Anuv Jain and Prateek Kuhad. The last two have since become big names, but their journey started exactly where this list began: outside Bollywood.
India has never been short of great voices. Kishore Kumar, Lata Mangeshkar and Mohammed Rafi defined earlier decades, and Arijit Singh, Shreya Ghoshal, A.R. Rahman and Amit Trivedi lead the current one. But many talented singers and bands still build their audience slowly, through YouTube, Spotify and live gigs. Here are five worth your time.
Underrated singers in India: quick list
| Artist | Base | Start with |
|---|---|---|
| The Local Train | New Delhi (formed in Chandigarh, 2008) | Choo Lo, Aaoge Tum Kabhi |
| Raman Negi | Solo, ex-The Local Train | Shaksiyat (2022 album) |
| Sanam | Mumbai (formed 2010) | Bollywood covers, Main Hoon |
| Anuv Jain | Ludhiana roots | Baarishein, Husn |
| Prateek Kuhad | Jaipur roots | cold/mess, Kho Gaye Hum Kahan |
1. The Local Train
The Local Train is a Hindi rock band formed in Chandigarh in 2008 and based in New Delhi since 2015. Its songs mix Hindi and Urdu lyrics with pop rock and alternative rock, and it has stayed independent, without a record label.
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The band has released two albums, Aalas Ka Pedh (2015) and Vaaqif (2018). “Aaoge Tum Kabhi” was used in the 2015 film Angry Indian Goddesses, and “Khudi” from Vaaqif won an award at the 2017 India Film Project Awards. In 2024, the band worked with Lucky Ali on “Tu Hai Kahaan” for the film Do Aur Do Pyaar.
The line-up has changed. Lead vocalist and lyricist Raman Negi left in December 2021. The current members are Paras Thakur, Ramit Mehra and Sahil Sarin.
Songs to start with: Choo Lo, Aaftaab, Vaaqif, Aaoge Tum Kabhi, Khudi.
2. Raman Negi
If you loved the voice and lyrics of The Local Train’s early work, follow Raman Negi. After leaving the band, he released his debut solo album, Shaksiyat, in 2022.
His solo work has not had the reach of the band’s biggest songs, which makes him a natural fit for a list of underrated singers. Fans of Choo Lo and Aaoge Tum Kabhi will recognise his writing style straight away.
Start with: the album Shaksiyat (2022).
3. Sanam
Sanam is a Mumbai pop rock band formed in 2010. Its members are Sanam Puri (vocals), Samar Puri (guitar), Venky S (bass) and Keshav Dhanraj (drums). The band first broke through by winning Times Music’s Supastars pop band hunt in 2010.
Sanam is best known for fresh takes on old Bollywood songs, and in 2016 it was ranked among India’s top 10 independent YouTube channels. It has also released originals, including “Main Hoon” (2014), written for The Amazing Spider-Man 2, and albums such as Sanam Revolution (2018) and Memories Vol. 1 (2020). The band was still releasing music in 2025 and 2026.
Songs to start with: Gulabi Aankhen, Lag Ja Gale, Likhe Jo Khat Tujhe, Dil Kya Kare.
4. Anuv Jain
When we first wrote this list in 2021, Anuv Jain was a quiet acoustic singer whose song “Mishri” had just crossed a million streams. He is no longer underrated. His simple, guitar-based songs about love and heartbreak have made him one of India’s most-streamed indie artists.
“Baarishein”, his first recorded song, became a sleeper hit and crossed 200 million Spotify streams. “Husn” (2023) went to No. 1 on Spotify India and Apple Music India, and was the most-streamed indie song of 2024. “Jo Tum Mere Ho” (2024) crossed 100 million Spotify streams within two months. In 2025 he released “Afsos” with AP Dhillon and “Arz Kiya Hai” with Coke Studio India. He was on Forbes India’s 30 Under 30 list in 2023.
Songs to start with: Baarishein, Husn, Jo Tum Mere Ho, Gul, Alag Aasmaan, Riha, Mishri.
5. Prateek Kuhad
Prateek Kuhad, from Jaipur, writes gentle indie folk songs in Hindi and English. His film breakthrough was “Kho Gaye Hum Kahan” from Baar Baar Dekho (2016), and he has since written songs for films and shows such as Karwaan and Netflix’s Mismatched.
His song “cold/mess” was on Barack Obama’s list of favourite music of 2019. In 2020 he signed with Elektra Records, the first Indian artist on the American label. He won Best India Act at the 2016 MTV Europe Music Awards. His albums include In Tokens and Charms (2015), The Way That Lovers Do (2022) and Full Moon Chamber (2026), his fourth studio album.
Songs to start with: Kho Gaye Hum Kahan, cold/mess, Kasoor, Co2, Saansein.
A note on this update
Our original 2021 list included the artist Advait, credited with the song “Tu Hai Kahaan”. We could not verify that credit or the related claims, so we have replaced that entry with Raman Negi. Discover more music and pop culture picks in our listicles and celebs sections.
Frequently asked questions
Who are some underrated singers in India?
The Local Train, Raman Negi and Sanam are strong picks from the indie scene. Anuv Jain and Prateek Kuhad started out the same way before becoming mainstream.
Is Raman Negi still in The Local Train?
No. Raman Negi left The Local Train in December 2021, which was announced in April 2022. He released a solo album, Shaksiyat, in 2022.
What is Anuv Jain’s most popular song?
“Husn” (2023) is his biggest commercial hit. “Baarishein” and “Jo Tum Mere Ho” are also among his most-streamed songs.
Which Prateek Kuhad song did Barack Obama like?
“cold/mess” was on Barack Obama’s list of his favourite music of 2019.
Sources: Wikipedia: The Local Train, Wikipedia: Anuv Jain, Wikipedia: Prateek Kuhad, Wikipedia: Sanam (band).
