Aanchal Tyagi & Madhur Sharma On ‘Adhoora': 'We Brought Our Own Shades Of Pain And Peace'
Aanchal Tyagi and Madhur Sharma explore heartbreak, silence, and soulful contrast in their latest song Adhoora—a melody that lingers and heals.
Aanchal Tyagi & Madhur Sharma On 'Adhoora': 'We Brought Our Own Shades Of Pain And Peace' | Exclusive
Some songs are statements. Others are sighs. Adhoora is the latter—a sigh wrapped in melody, suspended in a moment that never quite ends. It doesn't scream for attention or rush toward resolution. Instead, it lingers—soft, soulful, and unapologetically incomplete.
When singer-composers Aanchal Tyagi and Madhur Sharma came together to create Adhoora, they weren't chasing a trend or a viral hook. They were chasing a feeling—something unshaped and quiet, like heartbreak that never had a proper goodbye. The result is a track that doesn't just explore the idea of incompleteness—it inhabits it.
Their voices, distinct in texture and tonality, meet like dusk meets night—gradually, tenderly. Madhur, known for his deep-rooted Sufi influences and viral renditions of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's classics, brings gravitas and stillness. Aanchal, whose musical path has touched everything from indie rap to Indian classical, infuses the song with nuance, fluidity, and emotional range. Together, they create a soundscape where two truths can exist side by side without needing to resolve into one.
In a world increasingly dictated by virality and speed, Adhoora is an act of rebellion. It slows down, breathes, and invites the listener to feel—to sit with what's missing, instead of rushing toward closure. As Madhur says in this interview, 'Your silence will become your sound." And that silence is what echoes through Adhoora—resonant, raw, and universal.
In this exclusive conversation with News18 Showsha, Aanchal and Madhur talk about the moment their voices met and the music clicked, about the creative tension between tradition and experimentation, and about why staying emotionally honest—especially in the age of reels, metrics, and masked vulnerability—feels like the boldest artistic act.
They also reflect on fan stories that left them speechless, the haunting beauty of imperfection, and the quiet joy of holding space for things that don't need to be finished to be felt. Because perhaps, in the end, it is the unfinished songs that keep singing within us the longest.
Here are the excerpts:
'Adhoora" beautifully evokes a sense of incompleteness. What was the emotional starting point for this track, and how did the two of you bring your distinct voices into a shared emotional space?
Aanchal Tyagi: The idea came from that feeling of something unfinished — in love or in life. Madhur and I brought our own emotions into it, and even though our voices are very different, we used that contrast to express two sides of the same feeling. It was all about finding connection in incompleteness.
Madhur Sharma: The starting point was that silent heartbreak……when something ends, but never really leaves….Aanchal and I brought our own shades of pain and peace into it, and somehow they blended into one voice.
Was there a specific moment during the making of Adhoora where everything just clicked—where you both looked at each other and said, 'This is it"?
Aanchal Tyagi: Yes, there was! While recording the chorus, we layered our vocals for the first time — and the emotion just hit differently. We looked at each other and knew, this was the heart of the song. It gave us goosebumps.
Madhur Sharma: Yes..when we heard the first scratch of the chorus. We didn't say a word, just exchanged a look and knew this was the heart of the song.
Tell us about the musical dialogue between your two styles—Madhur's rooted Sufi influences and Aanchal's multilingual versatility. How did you find a common rhythm while working together?
Aanchal Tyagi: Our styles are very different — Madhur brings that deep, soulful Sufi vibe, and I tend to flow between languages and genres. But that contrast actually worked in our favor.
We didn't try to match each other — we let our individual styles breathe and meet naturally. The rhythm came from emotion, not rules. That's what made it feel honest.
Madhur Sharma: It was like two different rivers flowing into the same ocean. Sufi brings depth, and Aanchal added freshness with her dynamic approach. The rhythm found us, not the other way around!!!
The song's title is 'Adhoora'—incomplete. As artists, do you think some part of you always remains incomplete after a song is out in the world?
Aanchal Tyagi: Yes, I think a part of us always stays adhoora with every release. No matter how complete a song feels, there's always more you could've said or sung. But maybe that's the point — to leave space for the listener to feel and complete it in their own way.
Madhur Sharma: Always. Every release is a letting go. But that little incompleteness is what keeps us going….it's the fuel for the next one!!
Do you believe heartbreak songs like Adhoora hit differently in today's age of reels and rapid content? How do you keep the emotion intact while also being aware of virality?
Aanchal Tyagi: Yes, they definitely hit differently now. In a fast-paced world of reels and short content, a heartfelt song like Adhoora can feel like a pause — a moment to feel something real.
We were mindful of structure and flow, but never at the cost of emotion. The key is to stay honest — if it's genuine, people will connect, whether in 30 seconds or 3 minutes.
Madhur Sharma: Yes, they hit harder because people crave real in a world of scrolls. We didn't chase virality we just stayed honest. If the emotion is true, people feel it.
Madhur, your covers of Nusrat Saab's work have created waves online. What's the personal ritual or mindset you follow before taking on a song so steeped in legacy and depth?
Madhur Sharma: It's never just singing—it's surrender. I remind myself that I'm just a vessel. With Nusrat Saab's work, you don't perform, you feel!!!!
You've managed to bridge traditional music with digital virality. How do you strike that balance between old-world soul and new-age scale?
Madhur Sharma: By not choosing between them. I carry the soul of the old and speak the language of now that's where the magic happens…
From 'Tera Rang' to 'Adhoora,' your songwriting often leans into intense emotions. Is there a personal story or philosophy that guides your lyrical tone?
Madhur Sharma: I write from silence!!!!!! From the moments where emotions don't have words yet. That's where truth lives, and that's what guides me.
Social media has amplified your reach massively. But has it also changed the way you create or perceive your music?
Madhur Sharma: It's changed the reach, not the reason. I still write for one listener, not one million. If it's honest, it'll find its way!
If you could sit down with the younger Madhur Sharma—struggling, unseen, still trying—what would you tell him today?
Madhur Sharma: Your silence will become your sound. Just keep going even if no one's listening yet.
From 'Kojagiri' to 'Dhak Dhak' and now 'Adhoora'—your journey has touched classical, indie, and even rap. Is genre fluidity a conscious artistic choice for you?
Aanchal Tyagi: Yes, it is. I've always seen music as emotion first, genre second. Exploring different styles lets me express different parts of myself. So whether it's classical, indie, or something experimental like rap — it's all part of the same journey.
You've worked with powerhouses like Shashwat Sachdev and Raga. What's the most unexpected creative advice you've received from any collaborator so far?
Aanchal Tyagi: Someone once told me, 'Don't perfect the take, perfect the emotion."
It shifted my focus — instead of chasing flawless vocals, I started chasing real feeling. That made all the difference.
Your ability to sing in multiple languages is rare and powerful. Do you feel that helps you access a wider emotional spectrum in your performances?
Aanchal Tyagi: Yes, absolutely. Every language carries its own emotion, its own rhythm. Singing in different languages lets me tap into feelings I might not express the same way in just one. It opens up a deeper emotional range.
Coming from Indore and now navigating the national music scene, how has your relationship with your roots evolved as your platform grows?
Aanchal Tyagi: My roots keep me grounded. No matter how far I go, that simplicity and warmth stay with me. As my platform grows, I feel even more connected to where I come from — it's my foundation, creatively and personally.
You've had viral moments with tracks like 'Dhak Dhak.' But which song of yours, lesser-known perhaps, is closest to your heart—and why?
Aanchal Tyagi: One song that's really close to my heart is Lifafey. It didn't get the same viral push as Dhak Dhak, but artistically, it's a masterpiece to me. The writing, the emotion, the arrangement — everything came together so naturally. Creating it felt like a pure emotional release. That connection means more to me than numbers.
First Published:
July 19, 2025, 16:44 IST
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