Arjun Kanungo

Arjun Kanungo (born 6 September 1990) is an Indian singer and music composer, recording artist, music producer, and entrepreneur from Mumbai.^[1][2][3][4]

Arjun Kanungo
Kanungo performing at Delhi University.
Background information
Born	(1990-09-06) 6 September 1990 (age 34) Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Origin	Mumbai, India
Genres	Pop rock dance
Occupations	Singer actor composer entrepreneur
Instruments	Vocals guitar piano
Years active	2013–present
Labels	Sony Music India, VYRL Originals, Universal Music India, Desi Music Factory
Spouse	Carla Dennis

Kanungo began his career at the age of 17, initially working on building recording studios^[5][4] and developing his skills as a recording engineer and music producer. He later performed as a touring singer and guitarist for Asha Bhosle.^[6][7] His breakthrough came in 2015 with the release of "Baaki Baatein Peene Baad," with rapper Badshah, which gained popularity and marked a turning point in his career.^[8][9]

Following his breakout success, Kanungo released several successful tracks, including "Fursat,"^[10] "Aaya Na Tu",^[11] "La La La," with Neha Kakkar, "Sirrikadhey,"^[12] with Anirudh Ravichander and "Ilzaam"^[13] with rapper King. "Ek Dafaa (Chinamma)" peaked at number 33 on the UK Album Download Chart.^[14] "La La La" with Neha Kakkar also peaked at 33 on the UK Album Download Chart.^[15] "Ilzaam" peaked at 85 on Spotify's top 200 in India and 102 in Pakistan.^[16]

Kanungo's music has accumulated 100s of millions of streams on digital platforms, and has had a notable impact on pop culture through his blend of urban production, contemporary melodies and emotive lyrics.^[7]

In addition to his music career, Kanungo founded One Mind Music,^[17] an independent music label in India. In 2024, he expanded the label to Japan with One Mind Music Japan, focusing on producing music for the Japanese and South-Asian markets. The label launched its operations with a collaboration between Kanungo and Japanese pop vocalist Ren, on the single "Tell Me",^[18] a J-pop ballad sung in Japanese and English. Kanungo continues to create and perform music in multiple languages and is currently learning Japanese.^[4][19]

Early life

Kanungo was born and raised in Mumbai.^[20] His mother, a pistol shooter by profession,^[21] trained Kanungo in the sport where he won multiple medals at the national level. He also played Basketball for his college and his state team of Maharashtra.^[22][23]

He went on to major in Journalism and Mass communication at R.D. National College, Mumbai.^[24]

He is a trained Indian classical singer and plays the piano and guitar. ^[25][26]

He is a qualified trained method actor from Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute in New York City.^[27]

Career

At the age of 18, Kanungo opened a recording studio in Mumbai called Promethean Audio.^[28][29]

Kanungo's first commercial success came with "Khoon Choos Le" in the 2013 film Go Goa Gone, starring Saif Ali Khan.^[30][31]

His debut single 'Baaki Baatein Peene Baad' was released on 25 September 2015 by Sony Music India. The song was written by Mayur Puri and was composed, written, recorded and produced in Sweden. The song also features Badshah.^[32]

Since then he has had Several hit songs - Fursat, Ek Dafaa (Chinnama), La La la with Neha Kakkar, Tang Mujhko, Zara Zara (which peaked at 98 on Spotify India's top 200 chart^[33]), Sirrikadhey and Ilzaam, to name a few. Arjun has lent his voice to several Bollywood films. His Tamil Debut came with 'Sirrikadhey', composed by Anirudh Ravichander, from the film 'Remo'.^[34]

In 2022, Kanungo released his first studio album titled 'Industry' on June 16, 2022.^[35][36] The album currently has over 250 millions streams across platforms. The album also featured rapper King, American singer songwriter Vaultboy, Rashmeet Kaur and Yash Vaid. Kanungo promoted the album via an India tour labelled the 'We are Industry' tour which went to 11 cities in India.^[37][38]

In 2023, Kanungo released a follow up album titled 'Industry 2'. The first single from the album released on 5 July 2023.^[39][40] Kanungo attributed not doing a tour for the album to a hip fracture which he experienced on a trip the Maldives with his wife.^[41]

He made his debut in Bollywood alongside Salman Khan in Radhe (2021 film) where he played the role of 'Mansoor', a drug dealer.^[42] He also played an extended cameo role in Mahesh Bhatt's 'Jalebi' where he played himself.^[43][44]

Acting Filmography

Films

	Year	Title	Role	Notes	Ref.
	2018	Jalebi (film)	Himself	Extended Cameo Appearance	[43][44]
	2018	Side-hero (OTT)	Ranjit	Lead	[45][46]
	2021	Radhe (film)	Mansoor	Film Acting debut	[47]

Discography

As a Playback Singer

Year	Song	Also featuring	Movie	Music	Writer	Label
2013	Khoon Choos Le[30]	Suraj Jagan, Priya Saraiya	Go Goa Gone	Sachin–Jigar[30]	Priya Saraiya	Sony Music
	Learn To Adjust	Asha Bhosle	Mai[20]	Nitin Shankar
2014	Tum Chal Diye[48]		Pizza	Saurabh Kalsi[48]		Times Music
2015	Jahan Tum Ho[49]	Shalmali Kholgade	Prasad Ruparel	Prasad Ruparel
2016	Sirikkadhey	Srinidhi Venkatesh	Remo	Anirudh Ravichander		Sony Music
2019	House Party Song	Sukhwinder Singh, Parry G	Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga	Rochak Kohli	Gurpreet Saini	Zee Music
	Nadaaniyaan	Lisa Mishra	The Sky Is Pink	Pritam	Pritam	Zee Music
2022	Joshuga Hasharuga		Joshuga Hasharuga (film)	Praneeth Music		Aditya Music

Singles and Albums - As lead artist

Year	Song	Also featuring	Movie	Music	Writer	Label
2015	Saibo (Rendition)	Jonita Gandhi	Rendition	Arjun Kanungo, Sachin-Jigar	Sachin-Jigar	Sony Music
	Hasi (Rendition)	Sanah Moidutty	Rendition	Ami Mishra	Kunaal Vermaa	Sony Music
	Baaki Baatein Peene Baad[50]	Badshah	Single	Arjun Kanungo, Ludwig Lindell, Ylva Dimberg	Mayur Puri	Sony Music
2016	Fursat[51]	Sonal Chauhan	Single	Arjun Kanungo, Ludwig Lindell, Ylva Dimberg	Mayur Puri	Sony Music
	Sanam Mere sanam		Jammin Season 1	Mithoon	Sayyed Quadri	Independent
	Yaara	Sanam (band), Jonita Gandhi, Sanah Moidutty	Jammin' Season 1	A.R. Rahman	A.R. Rahman	Independent
	Saturday Saturday (Khul Jaaye Masti)	Badshah, Pulkit Samrat, Aastha Gill	Single	Badshah	Badshah	Sony Music
2017	Ek Dafaa		Single	Arjun Kanungo, A.R. Rehman	Mayur Puri, A.R.Rehman	Sony Music
	Gallan Tipsiyaan		Single	Arjun Kanungo, LH4L	Vayu	Sony Music
2018	La La La	Neha Kakkar	Single	Arjun Kanungo, Bilal Saeed	Bilal Saeed, Arjun Kanungo	Desi Music Factory
	La La La (Reprise)		Reprise version	Arjun Kanungo, Bilal Saeed	Arjun Kanungo, Bilal Saeed	Desi Music Factory
	Aaya Na Tu	Momina Mustahsen	Single	Arjun Kanungo, Momina Mustehsan	Kunaal Vermaa	VYRL/ Universal Music
	Aaya Na Tu Reprise		Reprise version	Arjun Kanungo	Kunaal Vermaa	VYRL/ Universal Music
	Sar Utha Ke Jiyo	Jonita Gandhi	Promotional	Arjun Kanungo	Arjun Kanungo, Kunaal Vermaa	Universal Music
2019	Tu Na Mera		Single	Arjun Kanungo	Kunaal Vermaa	VYRL/ Universal Music
	Woh Baarishein	Shriya Pilgaokar	Single	Arjun Kanungo	Manoj Muntashir	VYRL/ Universal Music
	Hona Chaida		Single	Arjun Kanungo, Nisha Asnani & Leny Magoufakis	Mayur Puri	VYRL/ Universal Music
2020	Dil Kho Ke	Jonita Gandhi	Promotional	Arjun Kanungo	Abhishek Arora, Anvita Dutt, Arjun Kanungo, Razik Mujawar	Universal Music
	Woh Baarishein Reprise		Reprise Version	Arjun Kanungo	Manoj Muntashir	VYRL/ Universal Music
	Tum Na Ho	Prakriti Kakkar, Awez Darbar, Nagma Mirajkar	Single	Ajay Vyaas	Kunaal Vermaa	VYRL/ Universal Music
	Fursat Hai Aaj Bhi	Sonal Chauhan	Single	Arjun Kanungo	Mayur Puri	VYRL/ Universal Music
	Yeh Chahatein		Single	Arjun Kanungo	Arjun Kanungo	One Mind Music
	Waada Hai	Shehnaaz Gill	Single with Shehnaaz Gill	Arjun Kanungo & Shehnaaz Gill	Manoj Muntashir	VYRL/ Universal Music
	Waada Hai Reprise		Reprise Version	Arjun Kanungo	Manoj Muntashir	VYRL/ Universal Music
	Statue	Fotty Seven	Promotional	Arjun Kanungo	Fotty Seven	Universal Music
2021	Mere Dil Vich	Tanzeel Khan	Single	Arjun Kanungo	Tanzeel Khan	One Mind Music
	Famous		Single	Arjun Kanungo	Arjun Kanungo	One Mind Music
	Famous ft. Fotty Seven	Fotty Seven	Single	Arjun Kanungo	Arjun Kanungo, Fotty Seven	One Mind Music
	Famous ft. King	King	Single	Arjun Kanungo	Arjun Kanungo, King	One Mind Music
	Dil Kisi Se	Nikki Tamboli	Single	Arjun Kanungo	Kunaal Vermaa	Saregama
2022	Baha Le Ja		Single	Arjun Kanungo	Kunaal Vermaa	Saregama
	Tera Tha Tera Hoon	Iulia Vântur	Single	Arjun Kanungo	Kunaal Vermaa	Zee Music
	Ilzaam	King, Carla Dennis	INDUSTRY (Album)	Arjun Kanungo, King	Arjun Kanungo, King	One Mind Music
	Bura Sapna	Sana Sultan		Arjun Kanungo	Arjun Kanungo
	Barsaat			Arjun Kanungo	Kunaal Vermaa
	Waapas Aa Jao	Yash Vaid		Arjun Kanungo, Yash Vaid	Arjun Kanungo, Yash Vaid
	Foto	Rashmeet Kaur		Arjun Kanungo	IP Singh
	Ishq Samundar	King		Arjun Kanungo, King	Arjun Kanungo, King
	Everything sucks (India Remix)	Vaultboy		Arjun Kanungo	Arjun Kanungo, Vaultboy, Dhruv Yogii
	Zara Zara (MTV Unwind)		MTV unwind (TV show)	Harris Jayaraj, Arjun Kanungo	Harris Jayaraj	Saregama Music
	Chura Liya (MTV Unwind)		MTV unwind (TV show)	Arjun Kanungo, RD Burman		Saregama Music
	Rangrez	Aisha Sharma	Single	Anurag Saikia	Shakeel Azmi	Sony Music
	Tang Mujhko		Single	Arjun Kanungo	Arjun Kanungo	One Mind Music
	Killer Haseena	Tulsi Kumar	Single	Arjun Kanungo	Vayu, Diksha C	T-series
	Gedi	Channa Jandali	Single	Arjun Kanungo	IP Singh	Universal Music
2023	Teri Aadat	Sandro Silva, DJ Shadow	Single	Arjun Kanungo	Arjun Kanungo, Dhruv Yogii	Spinnin Records
	India to Japan	Cyber Rui, Shirley Setia	INDUSTRY 2 (Album)	Arjun Kanungo	Arjun Kanungo	One Mind Music
	Kismat
	Kehne ko kya raha	Nemo
	Danger	Ju!ie
	Sach Bata Mujhe	Shirley Setia
	Kismat (extended)
	Tu Hain	Zaeden
	Destiny
2024	Tell Me	Ren	Single	Arjun Kanungo, Kanata Okajima, Ren	Arjun Kanungo, Ren	One Mind Music
	Lobby Talk	Ocean Sharma, Nesz	Single	Arjun Kanungo	Arjun Kanungo	One Mind Music
	Suno Na	Chamath Sangeeth	Single	Chamath Sangeeth	Murtuza Gadiwala	One Mind Music
	Mahi Ve	Shivvyy	Single	Arjun Kanungo, Shivvyy	Shivvyy	One Mind Music
	Sajna		Single	Arjun Kanungo	Arjun Kanungo	One Mind Music
	Inni Soni	Prince Sharma	Single	Arjun Kanungo, Prince Sharma	Prince Sharma	T-Series
	Make up your mind	Fotty Seven, Edwin Honoret, Nemo	Single	Arjun Kanungo, Fotty Seven, Edwin Honoret, Nemo	Arjun Kanungo, Fotty Seven, Edwin Honoret	One Mind Music

Awards and honors

Award	Year	Song/Film	Category	Result	Ref
Global Indian Music Academy Awards	2015	Baaki Baatein Peene Baad	Jagjit Singh Award for Best Music Debut - Non Film	Won	[52]
IWMBuzz Awards	2019		Most popular music single artist	Won	[53][54]
12th Mirchi Music Awards	2020	Woh Baarishein	Independent Song of the Year	Nominated

Personal life

As a nature enthusiast, Kanungo promotes green energy and other alternative energy sources. He has also planted over 800 trees.^[55]

He is also a three-time national gold medalist in center fire pistol shooting and a national-level basketball player.^[56]

Kanungo's father, Rajendra Mehta, passed away from liver cancer in April, 2022.^[57][58]

In February 2023, Kanungo suffered a hip fracture after an accident, while on vacation with his wife in the Maldives which forced him to take a break from public life for over a year.^[41][59]

References

1. "I had no music scene till I was 18: Arjun Kanungo". The Statesman. 19 July 2018. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
2. "Arjun Kanungo | Bollywood Music Project". The Bollywood Project. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
3. "I am a singer today only because of Asha Bhosle ji: Arjun Kanungo". Hindustan Times. 19 June 2017. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
4. Tagat, Anurag (9 May 2024). "Cover Story: Arjun Kanungo Has a Grand Plan". Rolling Stones India.
5. Joseph, Krupa (8 June 2021). "11 Jam Rooms In Mumbai Providing Space For Musicians To Practice". Homegrown.co.in.
6. Suri, Rishabh (26 July 2017). "I am a singer today only because of Asha Bhosle ji: Arjun Kanungo". Hindustan Times.
7. "Singer Arjun Kanungo Is Excited To Collaborate With Mentor Asha Bhosle!". Koi Moi. 16 July 2019.
8. Ferreira, Venus (5 November 2022). "'Baaki Baatein Peene Baad is the one song that changed me,' says Arjun Kanungo".
9. "Badshah, Arjun Kanungo join hands for new party song". Hindustan Times. 26 September 2015.
10. "Watch: Arjun Kanungo's new love song 'Fursat' will leave you mesmerised". 4 April 2016.
11. "Arjun Kanungo's 2018 song Aaya Na Tu clocks 100 million on YouTube: 'Glad people are still enjoying it'". 29 July 2021.
12. "I don't understand Tamil, Anirudh was patient enough with me: Arjun Kanungo". 26 July 2016.
13. "Watch New Hindi Trending Song Music Video - 'Ilzaam' Sung By Arjun Kanungo, King". The Times of India.
14. "Ek Dafaa (Chinamma)". officialcharts.com.
15. "La La La - Officialcharts.com". officialcharts.com.
16. "Ilzaam - Spotify Chart History". kworb.net.
17. Shah, Masumi (17 July 2024). "The want to stay original is missing in the current music scene: Arjun Kanungo". The Times of India.
18. "アルジュン・カヌンゴｘれん、ポップ・バラード「Tell Me」でインド＆日本のコラボが実現". Billboard Japan. 4 April 2024.
19. Ferreira, Venus (5 August 2024). "Arjun Kanungo On Music Ventures And International Collaborations At All About Music Conference". Free press journal.
20. "Arjun Kanungo: 'Umeedien' is about hope and ambition - The Times of India". Timesofindia.indiatimes.com. 10 April 2015. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
21. "Arjun Kanungo's Mother, Sheila Kanungo Is A Pistol Shooter And Is Representing India For Past 30 Yrs". 3 August 2023.
22. "Arjun Kanungo believes shooting as a sport helps him stay focused and honest in life!". Radio and Music. 22 January 2019.
23. Kurian, Anila (17 January 2017). "Music has always been my passion". Deccan Herald.
24. "Deja vu college moment for Arjun Kanungo". Bollywood Curry. 14 February 2016.
25. "Arjun Kanungo makes his home environment-friendly". Timesofindia.indiatimes.com. 26 May 2017. Retrieved 26 May 2017.
26. "Arjun Kanungo". IMDb.
27. "Arjun Kanungo to release 26 videos through one-year deal with Sony Music India". Radioandmusic.com. 4 May 2015. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
28. Joseph, Krupa (8 June 2021). "11 Jam Rooms In Mumbai Providing Space For Musicians To Practice". Homegrown.co.in.
29. Tagat, Anurag (24 July 2024). "Los Angeles-based Indian composer worked his way from the rock scene to assisting pop artist Arjun Kanungo at the latter's Promethean Studio in Mumbai". Rolling Stones.
30. "Hindi Film Song - Khoon Choos Le (Go Goa Gone, 2013)". MySwar. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
31. "Telegraph India". Archived from the original on 29 May 2015.
32. Banan, Aastha. "YouTube sensation Arjun Kanungo, speaks about busking in New York". Mid-Day. Retrieved 21 October 2015.
33. "Zara Zara - Chart history - Kworb". kworb.net.
34. "Anirudh patiently taught me: Arjun Kanungo". The Times of India. 14 January 2017. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
35. "Arjun Kanungo drops 3 tracks from his debut album 'Industry'". The Statesman. 16 June 2022.
36. Kurian, Anila (3 July 2022). "Can't Separate Art from the Artist, says Arjun Kanungo". New India Express.
37. "Have incorporated life learning of 6 years in 'Industry': Arjun Kanungo". 12 July 2022.
38. Kurian, Anila (3 July 2022). "'Can't separate art from the artiste,' says singer Arjun Kanungo". Indian Express.
39. "Arjun Kanungo unveils first single 'Danger' from his highly anticipated album 'Industry 2'". 5 July 2023.
40. Paul, Chokita (10 August 2023). "Independent musician Arjun Kanungo breaks down his latest album, Industry 2". Indian Express.
41. Sen, Debarati (19 October 2024). "I went into a shell, but now I'm better than ever before - Arjun Kanungo". Times of India.
42. "Arjun Kanungo - Asian Network Live 2017 Highlights". BBC.
43. "Jalebi movie review: Mahesh Bhatt's new-age romance". Firstpost. 13 October 2018. Archived from the original on 28 November 2018. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
44. "Non-film music is reaching more people than film songs: Arjun Kanungo". outlookindia.com. Archived from the original on 3 June 2019. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
45. "Sidehero". IMDb.
46. "Kunaal Roy Kapur: 'Side Hero' is the perfect spoof on the film industry". DNA India.
47. "Arjun Kanungo on working with Salman Khan in Radhe: He is very inspiring". The Indian Express. 27 May 2020. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
48. "Hindi Film Song - Tum Chal Diye - Reprise (Pizza, 2014)". MySwar. Archived from the original on 21 August 2015. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
49. "Hindi Film Song - Jahan Tum Ho (Coffee Bloom, 2015)". MySwar. Archived from the original on 22 March 2015. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
50. "Hindi Film Song - Baaki Baatein peene baad". MySwar. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
51. "Hindi Film Song - Fursat". The Indian Express. 13 March 2016. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
52. "GiMA :: Non Film Music Winners 2016". www.gima.co.in. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
53. "Arjun Kanungo - Awards - IMDB". Imdb.com.
54. "Singer and music composer Arjun Kanungo wins big at a prestigious event; bags the best singer award". 10 September 2022.
55. "Music and acting will have equal importance: Arjun Kanungo". The Week. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
56. "This is what I call stuff of legends: Singer Arjun Kanungo". The Week. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
57. "Arjun Kanungo's father dies of liver cancer, singer says 'until we meet again'". Hindustan Times. 30 April 2022.
58. "Singer Arjun Kanungo shares a throwback picture with father after he loses him to cancer". The times of India. 30 April 2022.
59. "Arjun Kanungo's Dramatic 27 Kg Weight Loss in 18 Months; Here's How He Did It". Only my health. 20 September 2024.

External links

• Arjun Kanungo at IMDb