MUMBAI: The Indian music industry is full of surprises. It covers everything from Bollywood to Kollywood music, from Rock to pop, Indian Classical to Western Classical, Sufi to Indian folk, Jazz to hip-hop and the list can just go on. In this wide list of musical opportunities a singer usually chooses a genre that works the best for him/her. And while doing so, one keeps in mind the end goal. For most artiste these days its name and fame more than anything thus, Bollywood music turns out to be the most preferred option. But, there are a few who make music because they are passionate about it. Indian folk band Antarman belongs to this rare breed of musicians.

Antarman comprises of musicians, Pooja Shankar, Randeep Bhaskar and Rahul Mukherjee. All three have their independent careers but their passion and knowledge for the genre has got them together.

The band was formed in August 2016 and in such a short span they won many accolades amongst the music lovers. The band recently won the Mirchi Music Award Bangla for the Song Of The Year - Bangla Band for their hit number ‘Hobe Na’.

We at Radioandmusic contacted this special gang for a little chit-chat and they let us enter their world with open arms. Excerpts.

Antarman was officially a band in 2016, but the friendship between Pooja, Randeep and Rahul took the musical centre stage in 2010. Both Randeep and Rahul had known each other for a while, but after they met Pooja they felt like a team. “We met Pooja in Delhi and she was more into theatre then. Around this time she went on a tour with Shilpa Rao. She performed for Shilpa as they are friends,” said Rahul.

“This was the inception of Antarman,” added Pooja.

This was when the trio got together. However, they weren’t named Antarman then. “We started working together but we did not have a name till then. It was only after people started addressing us a as a band that we thought of calling ourselves a band,” revealed Pooja.

They had got together, but what was it that had brought these different personalities together? It was folk music that turned out to be the connecting link for them. “To be together you have to be on the same page and this realization for folk music came to us in 2014,” stated Pooja.

This is also when they started working on their first music album - A self-titled album. The album was later launched under Times Music.

Furthermore, talking about their future plans Randeep said, “We want to change the way people look at folk music and musicians. We also want to make it to their hearts without letting language be a barrier.”

Antarman not only focuses on the Eastern part of the country but also pledges their support to folk music all across the country. Many of their songs comprise of 40 per cent Bangla lyrics and 60 per cent Hindi lyrics. The band looks at spreading the reach of the oldest form of music in the world amongst the youth and more. The band also foresees them in being a major inspiration to many unsung and upcoming folk artists in all the nooks and corners of India and world. What makes them even more special is the fact that they create their own folk music, which is unheard of in Indian Folk. Many of their creations have also been appreciated big time by Indian Folk aficionados.

“We keep the essence of folk intact, but also try bringing in a more modern approach, to connect with the present generation,” added Randeep.

Seconding his thought Pooja stated, “The sufi songs have been appreciated by the youngsters and Coke Studio has been successful in promoting folk. We are trying to present it in a manner that is very different.”

The band recently released their version of well-known Bengali folk song ‘Kalankini Radha’. And they have plans of releasing three singles a year. An album, however, will take more time as the trio also works on individual projects.

Check their latest track here -