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Time of India

Raja Kumari: There is so much room for experimentation in Bollywood songs

Raja Kumari, fresh from her American Music Award win for 'Renegade We Never Run,' reflects on her journey in the music industry. She emphasizes the importance of authenticity and creating space for women. Kumari also expresses her love for Bollywood's vibrant music scene and its ability to connect her with a global audience. Fresh off her big win at the American Music Awards for Renegade We Never Run in the Favourite Soundtrack category, singer-rapper-songwriter Raja Kumari, (aka Svetha Yallapragada Rao), invited us into her beachside home for an exclusive chat. The singer known for Husn Parcham and Jawan Theme, posed for our camera between conversations about her journey, her genre-defying sound, and the power of owning her voice on the global stage. Excerpts… From co-hosting the AMA Red Carpet to earning a nomination and now winning for Renegade We Never Run, what does this full circle moment mean to you personally and professionally? Manifestation has always driven my career. But after 10 years and five albums, you sometimes fall into a rhythm and start questioning, should I still dream that big? Getting nominated, and now winning, for a song I created purely from passion, without expectations, is such a powerful reminder that I'm not done. There's still so much more to do, so many new places to share my music and art. I'm humbled. Five years ago, I was on the AMA red carpet interviewing the greats on live television. That in itself felt surreal. To now be on the other side, winning an award, it's a crazy full circle moment. More than anything, it reflects our growth, not just mine, but the entire community's. And that feels really powerful. You've worked globally in the music industry and this industry sure is male dominated, especially in India. Did you as an unconventional woman artiste have to fight to create space for yourself? I think all artists, in the beginning, have to fight to create space, it's part of proving yourself. But once you truly know who you are and show up authentically, things start to flow. The 'male-dominated' tag is just a perspective. The more I put out work, the more I felt that perspective shifting. And honestly, the industry today looks so different from when I started, I see so many more women getting opportunities. Yes, maybe early on I leaned into my masculine side, took on bolder themes, but I always made room for the spiritual, for the diverse. And now, I don't feel like I'm fighting for space anymore. I just hope that inspires other women to be their full selves, without giving in to the noise or the rat race. What do you love about the Bollywood music industry? Oh my gosh, I love how fun Bollywood music is! There's so much room for experimentation. Bollywood has always pulled in so many musical influences, you'll hear a Spanish section, a pop hook, and the dance elements are inspired from all over the world. I love being part of that mix and bringing my own flavor to it. And writing for films? I absolutely love it. Hearing about a character or a scene and building a musical world around it, it's such a creative rush. Bollywood is such a fun medium, and I really hope to keep exploring it more and more. Many Indian fans know you through Bollywood hits like Husn Parcham and Jawan Theme. How do these mainstream collaborations fit into your broader artistic narrative? I think it brings people to me. Bollywood offers this incredible platform to do something different on a massive scale. Like with Jawan, it probably opened in every theatre around the world at once. Hearing my voice throughout that film, I realized just how many people were being introduced to me. That's a power only Bollywood has. And because I write all my own parts when I work in Bollywood, it's not so different from my own music. So if you found me through a Bollywood track, there's a whole world of my music waiting for you. Raja Kumari with her French Bulldog, 'Luv Kumar'. She fondly calls him Lallu Your music consistently bridges classical Indian elements with contemporary hip-hop. What were some pivotal moments or influences that helped shape this hybrid sound? I think it really started when I was a teenager. Timbaland was huge in the U.S., and I remember hearing Indian samples, tablas, classical instruments on the radio. It was like proof that our culture was beautiful and deserved to be shared. Growing up in America, Indian culture wasn't widely understood. If I said I was Indian, people thought I meant Native American and they'd ask me what tribe I was from. So hearing Indian sounds in hip-hop, the coolest genre at the time, made me feel like I belonged. It felt like hip-hop was saying, you're welcome here. That moment really inspired me to see hip-hop as a space where I could be fully myself, and use it as a vehicle to blend who I am with how I create. 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