Filmmaker Rishabh Anupam Sahay Debuts As Composer With ‘Dil Udta Phire’ In Collaboration With Raghav Kaushik

Mumbai, 19^th July 2026: Filmmaker, writer, and visual artist Rishabh Anupam Sahay is opening an exciting new chapter in his creative journey with the release of ‘Dil Udta Phire,’ his debut original song as a composer and songwriter. Featuring vocals of Raghav Kaushik, the track blends poetry, melody, and emotion into a heartfelt musical experience that explores longing, hope, and the quiet courage to dream beyond life’s everyday confines. Written during the lockdown, Dil Udta Phire transforms deeply personal reflections into a universally relatable anthem about emotional freedom, making it one of the most compelling independent music releases of 2026.

Describing the song as “an independent song for a liberated heart,” Sahay said, “Yeh gaana swantantra hai, yeh ek azaad geet hai. Dil Udta Phire is about longing for a liberated version of ourselves. The heart has a curious habit of wandering, even when the body is confined to a cubicle, a laptop screen, or the slow procession of traffic and the daily humdrum of life. Raghav’s voice brings an effortless warmth and freshness. If, for a few moments, Dil Udta Phire reminds someone the feeling of dreaming a little more recklessly, to love deeply, or simply to feel a little lighter, then this story has found its home.”

Stream the song here:

Drawing parallels between cinema and songwriting, Sahay elaborated, “I’ve never really seen these as separate disciplines. Every story arrives with its own rhythm. Some ask to become films, some begin as poems, and a few grow into songs. Of course, each medium has its own grammar. Cinema gives you images, performance and sound. Music has far fewer tools, so every word and every note has to carry greater emotional weight. But the search is identical. You’re simply trying to arrive at an emotion, honestly.”

Sahay’s musical identity reflects the same artistic depth that has defined his work in cinema. Drawing inspiration from Hindustani classical music, ghazals, old Hindi film melodies, rock, jazz, progressive rock, and world music, he refuses to be confined by genres. On the music that has inspired him across different stages of life, Sahay expressed: “As a young teenager, I fell in love with rock and roll. The Doors, Led Zeppelin, Bob Dylan, Pearl Jam, alongside Jazz, Progressive Rock and World Music. He futher opened up about, Let’s just say I’m musically promiscuous! My playlists drift happily between Rafi Sahab, Mehdi Hassan, Mr. Big, Baker, Dylan, Sinatra, Gardot, Krall and so many others. But if you put a gun to my head and ask me to sum it up, I’d still roll the windows down, turn the volume up and go home burning gas with rock and roll.”

Choosing Raghav Kaushik as the voice of Dil Udta Phire was an instinctive decision after hearing his emotionally resonant performances. Speaking about collaborating with vocalist Raghav Kaushik and finding the perfect voice for Dil Udta Phire, Rishabh shared, “I first heard Raghav through one his songs, Khaare Raste, and his tonal quality resonated with me. For Dil Udta Phire, I wanted a voice that felt intimate, warm, and non-performative. Raghav brought exactly that. Once we jammed, it felt like the song had finally found the voice it had been waiting for.”

A filmmaker, writer and composer, Rishabh Anupam Sahay’s work has traversed long-form fiction, independent cinema and culture. His acclaimed Sony LIV series, Salt City with Applause Ent, international recognition at the Prix de la Photographie Paris (PX3) amongst others, and collaborations with leading brands reflect a practice built on a deep instinct for human stories.