The Best Indian Indie Songs of 2022

The best Indian indie songs of 2022 came from everywhere: bedroom singer-songwriters, Jaipur rock bands, Shillong R&B, Mumbai rap and Kashmiri folk-rock. Some of them became huge, like King's "Maan Meri Jaan" and Anuv Jain's "Meri Baaton Mein Tu". Others are quieter songs that deserve a second life. Here are 20 songs released in 2022 that are still worth playing today.

How we chose. Every song here was released in 2022 by an Indian independent or independent-minded artist. We checked each song's own release date on Apple Music India (iTunes catalogue, country IN) on 28 October 2026, not just the album date, so songs first released as singles in 2021 are left out. Listed in release order, not ranked. For full records from the following years, see the best Indian indie albums of 2023. For the next year's songs, see the best Indian indie songs of 2023.

The 20 songs

1. The Yellow Diary – "Sajni" (27 January 2022). A warm, heartfelt single from the Mumbai band that opens the year on a high. The Yellow Diary.

2. The Lost Symbols – "Kaash" (2 February 2022). One of the singles that led into the Jaipur band's album Gharq. Moody Hindi rock with a big chorus. The Lost Symbols.

3. The Western Ghats – "Faces of the Moon" (11 February 2022). A gentle song from Self Help Radio, released with the album. The Western Ghats.

4. Anuv Jain – "Meri Baaton Mein Tu" (4 March 2022). A soft acoustic song about someone who is always in your conversations. One of his most loved songs. Anuv Jain.

5. Naezy – "District" (3 May 2022). The opener of the Tarqeeb EP. Focused, serious rap from one of Mumbai's street-rap pioneers. Naezy.

6. Prateek Kuhad – "Co2" (20 May 2022). From The Way That Lovers Do. An English-language love song that became one of the album's best-known tracks. Prateek Kuhad; Prateek Kuhad songs.

7. Bawari Basanti – "Tu Haina" (15 July 2022). A tender single from the singer-songwriter. Tu Haina; Bawari Basanti.

8. Zicr – "Ab Nahi Hoga" (30 August 2022). The opener of the Silver Linings EP: a soft Hindi song with a hip-hop edge. Zicr.

9. Ritviz – "Aaj Na" (2 September 2022). The opening song of Mimmi, Ritviz's first full album. Gentler than his festival hits, and very catchy. Ritviz; Ritviz songs.

10. Anuv Jain – "Mazaak" (16 September 2022). A lighter, wry single from the same year as "Meri Baaton Mein Tu". Anuv Jain.

11. DIVINE – "Gunehgar" (16 September 2022). A hard-hitting single from the Mumbai rapper. Gunehgar; DIVINE; DIVINE songs.

12. Easy Wanderlings – "Center of the Universe" (7 October 2022). From the Caught in a Parade EP. Bright, soulful indie pop. Easy Wanderlings; Easy Wanderlings songs.

13. King – "Maan Meri Jaan" (12 October 2022). From King's album Champagne Talk. The biggest crossover hit on this list; it later got a lofi flip and a version with Nick Jonas.

14. When Chai Met Toast – "Lovin' U" (18 October 2022). A sunny, easy love song from the Kochi band. When Chai Met Toast; When Chai Met Toast songs.

15. Ali Saffudin – "Wolivo" (21 October 2022). The title track of Wolivo. Kashmiri folk-rock at its most hopeful. Ali Saffudin.

16. Thermal and a Quarter – "What World" (21 October 2022). A single from the Bengaluru rock veterans, released the same day as Wolivo. Thermal and a Quarter.

17. Dee MC – "Look At Me Now" featuring Meba Ofilia (22 October 2022). From the MMM EP. Two of the strongest voices in Indian hip-hop and R&B on one track. Dee MC.

18. Meba Ofilia – "Best Behaviour" (28 October 2022). From Untitled.shg. Smooth, confident R&B from Shillong. Meba Ofilia.

19. Mitraz – "Mulakaat" (18 November 2022). The opener of Zehen. Soft Hindi pop that found a huge young audience. Mitraz.

20. When Chai Met Toast – "Tere Aane Se" (16 December 2022). A Hindi single to close the year. When Chai Met Toast.

Left out, and why

• The Lost Symbols' "Riha" and The Western Ghats' "Le Chal" are on 2022 albums, but Apple Music India dates both songs to 2021, when they were first released as singles.
• Easy Wanderlings' "Enemy" and "Makin' My Move" are on the 2022 EP but were released as singles in 2021.
• We only list released songs; no upcoming releases or promotional teasers.

What the year sounded like

• Quiet songs won big. Anuv Jain, Prateek Kuhad and Mitraz all showed how far a soft voice and a guitar can travel.
• Hip-hop got more melodic, from Zicr's soft songs to Dee MC and Meba Ofilia's R&B crossover.
• Rock bands old and new kept going, from The Lost Symbols to Thermal and a Quarter.
• One song, "Maan Meri Jaan", crossed into the mainstream so fully that many listeners do not think of it as indie at all.

More to explore

See Indian indie love songs, the best Hindi indie songs, Indian indie songs, Indian indie pop artists and Indian indie collabs. For later years, see the best Indian indie songs of 2024 and 2025.

FAQ

What were the biggest Indian indie songs of 2022? King's "Maan Meri Jaan" was the biggest crossover. Anuv Jain's "Meri Baaton Mein Tu", Prateek Kuhad's "Co2" and Mitraz's "Mulakaat" were also widely played.

When was "Maan Meri Jaan" released? 12 October 2022, on King's album Champagne Talk, according to Apple Music India.

When was "Meri Baaton Mein Tu" released? 4 March 2022.

How were the dates checked? Each song's own release date was checked on Apple Music India on 28 October 2026.