Kolkata rock band unveils second single, blending music, history, and resistance

On August 10, Café Wisdom Tree in Kolkata reverberated with music and emotion as the five-member rock band Punch launched their second single Azaadi, a tribute to the spirit of freedom ahead of India’s 78th Independence Day. Known for their unique Indian rock sound, Punch blends traditional instruments like the sitar and flute with electric guitars, bass, and drums. Azaadi also marked a rare international collaboration for the band, as they partnered with Bangladesh-based animation artist Mir Hisham, who brought the fictional war for freedom to life through cinematic animation. The narrative portrays countries, led by India, uniting against oppressors depicted as beasts and demons, while also referencing histories of colonial rule in India, Kenya, Estonia, Latvia, and Bangladesh. The video even pays tribute to traditional Indian puppetry, with characters appearing as manipulated puppets to signify oppression. The launch evening featured the screening of the video followed by an intimate unplugged performance from Punch, supported by Backdoor Caravan, The Miliputs, and singer-songwriter Rupsha. Speaking about the launch vocalist Wriddh said, “It was important to share the stage with all the bands as we consciously involve fellow city musicians at all our events because Azaadi is meant to be a song for all.” Multi-instrumentalist Ayan Mukherjee explained how the band experimented sonically, saying they designed the music for a war sequence on a sitar, something he felt was new for listeners, while the flute carried “a sweet and positive hook line” that balanced the heavy guitars. Guitarist Aritro Ghosh called the track “the highlight of 2025 for Punch,” admitting that the challenges of making it had tested the band in many ways but ultimately brought them closer, paving the way for “more heartfelt, fearless and intuitive music.” Bassist Tamal Bhattacharjee described Azaadi as more than just a song, calling it “the pulse of people reclaiming their spirit of freedom,” while drummer Anindya Maity likened it to “a chiaroscuro-esque dialogue” that wove together light and dark, happiness and angst, and the joy and anguish that always accompany victories against oppression. Animator Mir Hisham reflected on the deeper emotional weight of the project, saying it was “overwhelming” to bring to life the struggles for freedom that people around the world have endured. He expressed hope that audiences would “grasp the meaningful message we aimed to convey.” Bringing together six Bengali artists, including Hisham from Bangladesh, Azaadi is a rare Hindi rock collaboration. The music video is already streaming online, while the audio track released on all major platforms from August 15.