Best Indian Rock Songs: 25 Essential Tracks, From Kandisa to Choo Lo

Indian rock has been making great songs for more than three decades, from Bengali rock in Kolkata to Bengaluru's pub-rock bands and Kerala's folk-rock crossovers. This page picks the 25 best Indian rock songs, spread across the bands that shaped the sound, so you get the whole story and not just this year's hits.

How we checked. Every date below is the song's own date on Apple Music India (iTunes catalogue, country IN), checked on 28 October 2026. Only released music is included. We leave out film songs, covers and remixes, and only pick Indian independent bands. A few older albums carry store dates on Apple that come after their first release; we flag those as "dated".

For heavier music, see our best Indian metal songs list. For the bands themselves, start with Indian rock bands and legendary Indian rock bands.

Quick answer: the best Indian rock songs

• "Kandisa" by Indian Ocean (2000)
• "Hasnuhana" by Fossils (2001)
• "Electric" by Pentagram (2007)
• "Bangalore Blues" by Thermal and a Quarter (2015)
• "Choo Lo" by The Local Train (2015)
• "Fish Rock" by Thaikkudam Bridge (2013)
• "Beparwah" by Parvaaz (2014)
• "Nada Nada" by Avial (2008)

The pioneers

1. "Kandisa" by Indian Ocean (1 March 2000). An Aramaic church chant turned into a slow-burning rock epic. Still the song most fans name first.

2. "Ma Rewa" by Indian Ocean (1 March 2000). A hymn to the Narmada river, built on Rahul Ram's bass and Susmit Sen's guitar. More in Indian Ocean songs.

3. "Hasnuhana" by Fossils (12 July 2001). Rupam Islam's band made Bengali rock a stadium sound. This is one of its signature songs. See Fossils songs.

4. "Sunset Man" by Thermal and a Quarter (dated 2000). Bengaluru's long-running trio at their most melodic.

5. "Brigade Street" by Thermal and a Quarter (2002). A love song to a city's nightlife.

The 2000s

6. "Electric" by Pentagram (1 March 2007). Vishal Dadlani's band at full volume: synths, big guitars and a festival-sized chorus. See Pentagram songs.

7. "Tomorrow's Decided" by Pentagram (22 March 2011). The standout song from Bloodywood, their second album.

8. "Nada Nada" by Avial (8 February 2008). Malayalam folk songs rewired as alt-rock. It opened doors for every Kerala band that followed.

9. "Anuva's Sky" by Blackstratblues (2007). Warren Mendonsa's instrumental guitar rock, warm and lyrical. More in Blackstratblues songs.

10. "Feel Like a Knife" by Junkyard Groove (2008). Chennai funk-rock with a hard edge. See Junkyard Groove songs.

11. "Ee Bhoomi" by Swarathma (dated 2009). Bengaluru folk-rock in Kannada, joyful and theatrical. Read Swarathma songs.

The 2010s boom

12. "Topiwalleh" by Swarathma (11 May 2012). A sharp, funny song about politicians, and a live favourite.

13. "Meter Mele One-and-a-Half" by Thermal and a Quarter (2012). A Bengaluru auto-rickshaw song every local knows.

14. "Fish Rock" by Thaikkudam Bridge (dated 29 August 2013). The Kerala band's viral breakout, with folk singing over crunchy guitars.

15. "Navarasam" by Thaikkudam Bridge (25 July 2015). The title song of their debut album, built on the nine emotions of Indian aesthetics. See Thaikkudam Bridge songs.

16. "Smoke a Cigar" by Skrat (5 February 2013). Chennai's loudest rock band, short and raucous. More in Skrat songs.

17. "Beparwah" by Parvaaz (2014). Psychedelic rock in Kashmiri and Urdu from Bengaluru. See Parvaaz songs.

18. "Brahma's Dance" by Agam (11 October 2012). Carnatic progressive rock with a huge build. Read Agam songs.

19. "Bangalore Blues" by Thermal and a Quarter (2015). The band's best-loved city song. See Thermal and a Quarter songs.

20. "Choo Lo" by The Local Train (25 September 2015). The Hindi rock love song of a generation. More in The Local Train songs.

21. "Aaoge Tum Kabhi" by The Local Train (25 September 2015). Another Aalas Ka Pedh favourite.

22. "Mizaaj" by The Local Train (29 January 2018). From Vaaqif, more confident and polished.

Recent highlights

23. "Kun" by Parvaaz (2019). The title song of their second album, slower and darker.

24. "Raah E Fakira" by Swarathma (1 October 2018). A mature, reflective song from a band that keeps growing.

25. "The Seventh Ocean" by Agam (12 January 2019). Long, patient and heavy, and a great place to end.

Where to start

• Classic Indian rock: Indian Ocean, Fossils, Thermal and a Quarter.
• Hindi rock: The Local Train, then Parvaaz.
• Regional rock: Avial, Thaikkudam Bridge, Swarathma.

FAQ

What is the most famous Indian rock song? "Kandisa" by Indian Ocean and "Choo Lo" by The Local Train are among the best-known Indian rock songs of their eras.

Which Indian rock band has been around the longest? Among the bands here, Indian Ocean and Thermal and a Quarter both formed in the early 1990s and are still active.

Does this list include film songs? No. Only independent, released band songs are included.