"Can an artist stay authentic in an industry built on trends?" - Amit Trivedi

Khwabida is a soulful Hindi indie ballad composed by Shantanu Ravindra Pande, featuring emotive vocals by Ashish Kulkarni and evocative lyrics by Atharva Gogayan. The song was created entirely during the national lockdown in 2020 through remote collaboration — without studios, deadlines, or expectations.

There were no rules. No briefs. No commercial goals. Just instinct, emotion, and the desire to make something beautiful. Every sound, word, and texture in Khwabida was chosen simply because it felt right — not because it was trending.​

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Sonically, Khwabida flows like a memory. It breaks the typical structure of verse–bridge–chorus. Instead, it unfolds in waves — ambient, immersive, and fluid — allowing the listener to drift through its emotions. It’s built more like a journey than a pop song, with sections that evolve naturally, almost like thoughts forming in solitude.

The song was later licensed to Meta Sound Collection and has already found its way into over 14,000 reels across Instagram. After years of listener requests, Khwabida is now being released on all digital streaming platforms on August 1, 2025.

It marks Shantanu’s first independent release as a composer outside of films — a sincere, slow-burning piece of music crafted straight from the heart.