Best Indian Indie Albums of 2011: Cinema, Bloodywood, Sky Rabbit

2011 sits right before the streaming era, and many of its Indian indie albums are easy to miss on Apple Music today. But the year gave us Karsh Kale's Cinema, Pentagram's last album Bloodywood, Sky Rabbit's first album, Bhoomi's Bengali folk-rock and Euphoria's ITEM, along with the first EPs from Dualist Inquiry and Prateek Kuhad. This list picks the best Indian indie albums of 2011 you can stream on Apple Music India today, plus the EPs worth hearing.

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 is only here if its songs carry a 2011 date on Apple. Where the album and song dates differ, or where Apple shows a 1 January placeholder date, we say so. Only released music is covered. For the year after, see our 2012 albums list.

Quick answer: the best Indian indie albums of 2011

• Karsh Kale – Cinema (26 April 2011, 13 tracks)
• Pentagram – Bloodywood (songs dated 22 March 2011, 14 tracks)
• Sky Rabbit – Sky Rabbit (dated 2011, 9 tracks)
• Bhoomi – Lokgeeti Local (22 July 2011, 9 tracks)
• Palash Sen & Euphoria – ITEM (11 October 2011, 10 tracks)
• Goddess Gagged – Resurfaces (19 November 2011, 7 tracks)
• Bhoomi – Desh Jurrey (dated 2011, 8 tracks)

The albums

Karsh Kale – Cinema (April 2011, 13 tracks). A cinematic electronic album built around songs, from the producer behind the Asian Underground sound. The album and all thirteen tracks are dated 26 April 2011, from "Island" and "Mallika Jam" to "Supernova", "Man On Fire" and "Sunbeam". Start with: "Cinema". See Karsh Kale albums and Karsh Kale songs.

Pentagram – Bloodywood (2011, 14 tracks). The Mumbai band's last studio album, a big electronic rock record. Apple lists the album with a 2011 date and every song is dated 22 March 2011: "Identify", "Tomorrow's Decided", "Lovedrug Climbdown", "Paper Toys", "Nutter" and "Nocturne". Start with: "Tomorrow's Decided". See legendary Indian rock bands.

Sky Rabbit – Sky Rabbit (2011, 9 tracks). The Mumbai band's self-titled debut, playful and synth-heavy. Apple dates the album and every song 1 January 2011 (a placeholder date). Songs include "Anti-Coke Ganpati", "Oil", "Swimmer", "Clone" and "Hilltop". Start with: "Hilltop". See Mumbai indie bands.

Bhoomi – Lokgeeti Local (July 2011, 9 tracks). Kolkata's Bhoomi playing Bengali folk songs with a band. The album is dated 22 July 2011; seven songs share that date, including "Bhabosagoro Rey", "Chol Mini" and "Radhika Hobey Paar", while "Conductor Babu Go" and "Menoka Mathaye Dilo" are dated 6 April 2010. Start with: "Bhabosagoro Rey". See the Kolkata music scene.

Palash Sen & Euphoria – ITEM (October 2011, 10 tracks). The Delhi band's pop-rock album. The album is dated 11 October 2011. "C U Later" and "Kabootar" share that date; the other eight songs, including "Ram Ali", "Gumsum", "Akela" and "Item", show 1 January 2011. Start with: "Kabootar". See Euphoria albums and Euphoria songs.

Goddess Gagged – Resurfaces (November 2011, 7 tracks). A heavy, groove-led metal album. All seven songs are dated 19 November 2011, including "Modern Machines", "Rosemary's Baby", "Sink or Swim" and "Preliminary Stages of the Master Plan". Start with: "Modern Machines". See Indian metal bands.

Bhoomi – Desh Jurrey (2011, 8 tracks). A second 2011 set from Bhoomi. Apple dates the album and every song 1 January 2011 (a placeholder). Songs include "Rasogolla", "Mast Kalandar", "Jugni" and "Tutak Tutak". Start with: "Rasogolla".

The best EPs of 2011

• Dualist Inquiry – Dualism (8 June 2011, 4 tracks): "Orbital", "Qualia", "Gravitat" and a spoken-word edit of "Qualia". His first EP, two years before Doppelganger. See Dualist Inquiry albums.
• Prateek Kuhad – Prateek Kuhad (15 July 2011, 3 tracks): "Something Wrong", "Rubber Bits" and "A Shot of Alcohol", early English songs, two years before Raat Raazi. See Prateek Kuhad albums.
• Nucleya – Khandit Nayaka (25 October 2011, 4 tracks): the original mix plus three remixes. See Nucleya albums.
• Alobo Naga & The Band – Painted Dreams (5 May 2011, 5 tracks): "Painted Dreams", "Color My World" and "Free" are dated 11 January 2011; "Beyond" and "The End" 5 May 2011. See Northeast India bands and artists.
• Soulmate – Live in the Now (19 September 2011, 4 tracks): "Love Comes Easy", "Live in the Now", "I Remember You" and "Ghost Song". Shillong blues. See Indian blues bands.
• Bandish Projekt – Chase (5 March 2011, 4 tracks) and, with Shaa'ir, Lover (12 December 2011, 4 tracks).
• Kohra – Shiromonaki (13 September 2011, 4 tracks) and Sidewinder (19 December 2011, 3 tracks), for techno listeners.

What is left out

• Film soundtracks, even with indie involvement: Shaitan (with Bhayanak Maut), Raghu Dixit's Kote and Mujhse Fraaandship Karoge, and Vishal & Shekhar's 2011 scores.
• Compilations, live sets and tribute records: Indian Ocean's Best Of (14 January 2011), Highway 61's Bob Dylan tribute albums, and Pentagram's When the Screams Come (Live).
• Releases from same-named non-Indian artists. Apple has more than one act called Pentagram and Indigo Children, so we only list records we could match to the Indian band.
• Singles. The best 2011 songs are in our songs list for the year.

How to use this list

For one evening, play Cinema, Bloodywood and Sky Rabbit back to back: electronic, rock and synth-pop from three different corners of the 2011 scene. For folk, go to the two Bhoomi records. For the first steps of artists who got much bigger later, play the Dualist Inquiry, Prateek Kuhad and Nucleya EPs. For the decade view, see the best Indian indie albums of the 2010s and the essential Indian independent albums.

FAQ

What was the best Indian indie album of 2011? On this list, Karsh Kale's Cinema (26 April 2011). Pentagram's Bloodywood is close behind.

When did Pentagram release Bloodywood? Apple Music India lists the album with a 2011 date and dates every song 22 March 2011.

What did Prateek Kuhad release in 2011? On Apple Music India, a self-titled 3-track release dated 15 July 2011, with "Something Wrong", "Rubber Bits" and "A Shot of Alcohol".