Marathi music gains popularity on the city’s nightlife scene

Until a few years ago, the pub and party scene in the city would have either English or Bollywood tracks being belted out by the DJs. But about a year ago, things started changing with the inclusion of Marathi music at multiple venues, leading to the rise of Marathi house, or M-House, music. From having no gigs to performing at least 2-3 a month, artistes say opportunities are picking up pace. Krunal Ghorpade, aka Kratex, who has been taking the Marathi music scene by storm with songs like Lajran Sajra Mukhda and Aga Naach Radhe, shares, “In the past, Marathi music almost never featured on the club music tracks. Now, partygoers actively request for Marathi tracks to be played at clubs. Popularity of these tracks online have contributed to this demand.”


From ghaati to cool
Artistes cite the perception of Marathi music as down-market or ghaati among clubgoers being the reason behind it not being played at these venues earlier. But the younger audience is open to diverse genres as long as it matches the party vibe when they head out. "I played a Marathi lavani flip track at a music festival in Udaipur and was surprised that it got the crowd vibing. That’s enough to break the earlier perception about Marathi music and proves that it can get people grooving," says Vedang Deshpande, a 26-year-old music producer from Pune, adding that sampling of popular Marathi songs has also helped boost this trend. Restaurant owner Kartik More agrees that Marathi music and artistes were limited to a niche audience in the past. “But their reach has evolved as event organisers recognized the diverse appeal of Marathi music and started actively promoting it. Additionally, collaborations and partnerships between Marathi artistes and organisers have helped break barriers and integrate Marathi music into mainstream events in the city,” says the Pune-based restaurateur.

Popular tracks at venues
Ek lazran sajra mukhda
Dhagala lagli kala
Uddhat
Paristhiti