Parvaaz: The Band That Let Music Breathe in Urdu and Rock

Parvaaz isn’t your typical rock band. They didn’t follow a formula. They followed a feeling. Started in Bengaluru back in 2010, the band was formed by two friends, Khalid Ahamed and Kashif Iqbal, who wanted to create music that was honest and different. Over time, they were joined by drummer Sachin Banandur and bassist Fidel D’Souza. What came out of this mix was a sound that blended progressive rock with Kashmiri and Urdu poetry, giving India something it hadn’t really heard before.

Their early work, like the Behosh EP, gave people a taste of what was coming. Then came their full-length albums Baran and Kun, which cemented their place in the Indian indie scene. Their music is emotional, cinematic, and full of atmosphere. It doesn’t scream for attention but pulls you in slowly, track by track. Even if you don’t understand every Urdu word, the mood and the voice carry the meaning. The band became known for live performances that weren’t just concerts. They felt like journeys.

Over the years, Parvaaz played at big festivals like NH7 Weekender and even internationally at Canadian Music Week. Their fanbase kept growing quietly, without big media hype. People found them through word of mouth, YouTube sessions, or that one friend who played Shaad on a long night drive. In 2021, the band saw a major change when Kashif Iqbal, one of the founding members and main writers, left to explore solo projects. Bharath Kashyap came in as the new guitarist. The lineup shifted, but the soul of the band remained strong.

So where is Parvaaz now?

Right now, Parvaaz is focused on live shows. They’re not putting out new albums at the moment, but they’re very much active. You’ll still catch them playing at festivals, city gigs, and summer shows like the recent Sundowner in Pune. According to updates from fans and sources online, the band is now mostly performing and keeping their energy on stage. And honestly, that’s where they’ve always been at their best.

For a middle-class Indian audience that loves music with meaning, Parvaaz is special. They don’t make tracks for reels. They make songs for silence, for thinking, for late-night bus rides and solo walks. Whether you’re 16 or 46, their music speaks in a language that’s emotional, rooted, and unafraid to take its time.

At Sound of the Streets India, Parvaaz stands out because they didn’t try to fit in. They created their own lane. Right now, they’re not chasing trends. They’re playing their music live, in front of real people. And sometimes, that’s exactly what we need.