Best Indian Indie Albums of 2009: Bhayanak Maut, Midival Punditz, Blackstratblues

2009 sits one year before the start of our year-by-year chain, and it was a busy year for Indian independent music on digital stores. Apple Music India still carries a strong set from that year: Bhayanak Maut's self-titled metal album, Midival Punditz's Hello Hello, Blackstratblues' The New Album, a Bengali rock double from Fossils and Bhoomi, electronic records from Bandish Projekt and Jalebee Cartel, and a few quieter jazz, blues and fusion albums. This list picks the best Indian indie albums of 2009 you can stream on Apple Music India today.

How we checked. Every date and track count below comes from Apple Music India (iTunes catalogue, country IN), checked on 28 October 2026. We also checked the date of every song on every record. A record makes the main list only if its songs carry a real 2009 date on Apple. Where Apple shows a 1 January placeholder date, or where the songs carry an older date than the album, we say so and keep that record apart. Film soundtracks are left out. Only released music is covered. For the year after, see the best Indian indie albums of 2010.

Quick answer: the best Indian indie albums of 2009

• Bhayanak Maut – Bhayanak Maut (7 August 2009, 11 tracks)
• Midival Punditz – Hello Hello (31 March 2009, 11 tracks)
• Blackstratblues – The New Album (16 December 2009, 8 tracks)
• Rupam Islam & Fossils – Fossils 3 (25 May 2009, 14 tracks)
• Bhoomi – Aamra Nuton Joubaneri Doot (12 September 2009, 10 tracks)
• Bandish Projekt – Correkt (18 October 2009, 12 tracks)
• Jalebee Cartel – Onepointnothing (June 2009, 12 tracks)
• Advaita – Grounded in Space (6 March 2009 on Apple, 10 tracks)
• Soulmate – Moving On (11 June 2009 songs, 12 tracks)
• Dhruv Ghanekar – Distance (22 January 2009, 8 tracks)

The albums

Bhayanak Maut – Bhayanak Maut (August 2009, 11 tracks). The Mumbai metal band's self-titled album is fast, loud and full of dark jokes. The album and all eleven songs are dated 7 August 2009, from "Habemus Papam" and "Ranti Nasha" to "MNS Messenger", "Blasted Beyond Belief" and "You're Perfect. Now Change." Start with: "Habemus Papam". See the best Indian metal albums and Indian metal bands.

Midival Punditz – Hello Hello (March 2009, 11 tracks). The Delhi duo's album mixes electronic beats with Hindustani vocals and strings. All eleven songs are dated 31 March 2009, including "Electric Universe", "Tonic", "Atomizer", "Naina Laagey", "Sun Mere Sanam" and an acoustic "Electric Universe". Start with: "Tonic". See Indian electronic music producers.

Blackstratblues – The New Album (December 2009, 8 tracks). Warren Mendonsa's guitar project, all melody and tone, no vocals needed. All eight songs are dated 16 December 2009: "The Happy Billi Song", "Lullabyebye", "Cowboys & Indians", "Newness", "Another Sun", "Ode To a Rainy Day", "Older Wise & Grey" and "Ode To a Sunny Day". Start with: "The Happy Billi Song". See Blackstratblues albums and Blackstratblues songs.

Rupam Islam & Fossils – Fossils 3 (May 2009, 14 tracks). The Kolkata band's third album, heavy and dramatic Bengali rock. The album and all fourteen songs are dated 25 May 2009, including "Swabhabik Khoon", "Maa", "Guru", "Phire Chaulo", "Haspatale" and the two parts of "Bhoot Aar Tilottoma". Start with: "Bhoot Aar Tilottoma, Pt. 1". See Fossils songs and the Fossils band page.

Bhoomi – Aamra Nuton Joubaneri Doot (September 2009, 10 tracks). The Kolkata folk-rock band's album of Bengali songs, warm and easy to sing along to. All ten songs are dated 12 September 2009, including "Premero Joare", the title song, "Purano Sei Diner Kotha", "Neel Digonte" and "Aguner Poroshmoni". Start with: "Purano Sei Diner Kotha". See the Kolkata music scene and Bengali indie songs.

Bandish Projekt – Correkt (October 2009, 12 tracks). The Ahmedabad electronic act's album mixes folk, garba and club beats. All twelve songs are dated 18 October 2009, from "Pragat Pritam" and "12345" to "Folk Tronic", "Garba Rave" and "Agar Main Tumse Puchoon". Start with: "Garba Rave". See the best Indian electronic albums.

Jalebee Cartel – Onepointnothing (June 2009, 12 tracks). The Mumbai electronic band's album is moody and dance-ready. Eleven songs are dated 24 June 2009 and "Fade Away" 22 June 2009; the set includes "Blue Over Red", "Back Up", "Dark Shadows", "Mirrors" and "Apartment 88". Start with: "Blue Over Red". See Mumbai indie bands.

Advaita – Grounded in Space (March 2009 on Apple, 10 tracks). The Delhi band blends Hindustani singing with rock and electronic sounds. Apple India dates the album and all ten songs 6 March 2009; the band's own release story is often told as later, so treat Apple's date as the store date. Songs include "Rasiya", "Suspended", "Miliha", "Ghir Ghir", "Durga" and "Hamsadhwani". Start with: "Ghir Ghir". See Indian folk fusion bands.

Soulmate – Moving On (2009, 12 tracks). The Shillong blues band's album, led by Tipriti Kharbangar's voice and Rudy Wallang's guitar. Apple lists the album with a 1 January 2009 date, but all twelve songs carry 11 June 2009. Songs include "Peace Prayer", "Moving On", "Set Me Free", "Remembering Rory" and "Koolkatstrut". Start with: "Set Me Free". See Indian blues bands.

Dhruv Ghanekar – Distance (January 2009, 8 tracks). The Mumbai guitarist and composer's album, jazz and world music with a light touch. All eight songs are dated 22 January 2009: "Seven/Eleven", "Conscious", "Tricky Disaster", "Sundays", "Perfect", "Cunning Politics", "Pop Quiz" and "Only If...". Start with: "Seven/Eleven". See the Mumbai indie scene.

Also from 2009 (placeholder dates)

Apple dates these albums and every song on them 1 January 2009, which is a placeholder rather than a real release day. They are 2009 records on Apple, but we keep them apart from the main list.

• Swarathma – Swarathma (8 tracks): the Bengaluru folk-rock band's debut, with "Jana Kahan Hai Mujhe", "Pyar Ke Rang", "Ee Bhoomi" and "Pyaasi". Apple spells the artist "Swaratma" here. See Swarathma songs.
• Mohit Chauhan – Fitoor (10 tracks): the singer's non-film album, with "Fitoor", "Challeya", "Musafir" and "Main Hoon Baadal". See Hindi indie songs.

EPs and singles worth hearing

• Inner Sanctum – Provenance EP (20 September 2009, 4 tracks): Bengaluru thrash with "Agent of Chaos" and "Quarantine".
• Jalebee Cartel – Heat Wave EP (2 October 2009, 4 tracks) and Fizz single (10 March 2009).
• Parikrama – One (15 November 2009, 3 tracks): the Delhi rock band's short release.
• Midival Punditz – Atomizer Remixes (25 August 2009, 7 tracks).

Left out, and why

• Junkyard Groove – 11:11: Apple dates the album 21 March 2009, but its songs carry 2008 dates, so it fails our song-level check. Their 2010 album is on the 2010 list.
• Kailash Kher – Chaandan Mein: song dates are mixed (2006, 2007 and 2009), and the band Kailasa sits close to film music.
• Film soundtracks such as Raat Gayi Baat Gayi, Aao Wish Karein, Shortkut and Dil Dosti Etc are left out; we only list independent releases.

Where to go next

2009 was the year electronic acts like Midival Punditz, Bandish Projekt and Jalebee Cartel put full albums out, while metal and Bengali rock kept growing. The songs list for the year picks single tracks from these records. For the next year, read the best Indian indie albums of 2010 and the best Indian indie songs of 2010. For the whole decade that followed, see the best Indian indie albums of the 2010s, and for the all-time picks, see essential Indian independent albums.