Dhvani Bhanushali on her single `Aankhon`: I got cooler with this song

At the first listen of Aankhon, chances are you’ll do a double take. After all, the gentle melody is nothing like the songs belted out by singer Dhvani Bhanushali so far. Collaborating with OAFF, Savera, and lyricist Ankur Tewari, she has crafted a number that blends emotional depth with an experimental edge. “I think I got slightly cooler with this song,” Bhanushali says with a smile, admitting that Aankhon marks a shift in her music. “I went niche with it, and for once, I didn’t seek too many opinions. I just loved it and wanted to put it out. So, I did.”

Aankhon, she reveals, is one of the two songs the musicians made together in 2024. “This one sounded fresh. We felt like writing about how we make different connections throughout life; Ankur started penning the lyrics, and the structure just kept forming. As soon as we heard the final version, we related to it immediately. There was something [novel] in the sound — a space I hadn’t explored before,” she recalls.

Kabeer Kathpalia aka OAFF; Savera; Ankur Tewari. Pics/AFP, Instagram

However, the song was on the backburner throughout last year. Bhanushali eventually felt that it was the right piece to launch in 2025. “I dropped the audio recently and released a visualiser as well. It’s quite a cool concept, experimental for me. Let’s see how people respond,” she smiles.

In her seven-year career so far, the singer has straddled film music and her originals with ease. If she is the voice behind Bollywood chartbusters like Dilbar (Satyameva Jayate, 2018) and Duniya (Luka Chuppi, 2019), she has also belted out popular singles like Vaaste and Leja re. Does the growing influence of social media, where tracks go viral for their hooks, affect her creative process and approach to music? “A song is made like a song,” she responds, after some thought. 

“Subconsciously, yes, the pressure is there. But no one can predict which part of a song will go viral. We follow the organic process, where there is a chorus, verse, and bridge. While some music might be made with Instagram in mind, I don’t think we consciously do that. But we’ve seen so many reels that maybe something gets embedded in our minds. Not every song needs to go viral, some just need to be heard.”

Bhanushali, whose live performances and fan interactions have played a big part in her rise, believes she has evolved with her experiences. The journey so far has left her with valuable lessons. “One of the biggest learnings is detaching from the obsession with views and traction. As a musician, you need to separate yourself from that. Otherwise, it becomes too much about business. During the creation process, it’s important to set that aside; it’s difficult, but necessary.”

This article first appeared on Mid Day