Tune in to this all-Marathi rap track about self awareness

Shreyas Sagvekar (centre) during a performance in Andheri

There is something familiar and comforting about your mother tongue. It lacks the pretense, and is a lot more personal than one admits. For Shreyas Sagvekar, it is core to individual identity. The 27-year-old Pune-based lyricist and rapper has been rapping for close to a decade. But till he randomly scribbled down his thoughts in his mother tongue, Marathi, he did not truly discover the genre.

It feels odd, he admits, to say that it was a random act. "I started rapping in English, and still do. But I have to say, it feels easier and comfortable to write in Marathi," Sagvekar shares. Tracing his roots to Ratnagiri in Konkan, Sagvekar grew up in the neighbourhood of Wadala, before moving to Pune to pursue engineering. Yet, the sense of stubbornness and defiance that the city teaches stayed with him. It is captured in the title of his first all-Marathi track, Uddhat, produced by his collaborator, Vedang Deshpande.

Sagvekar performs alongside fellow rappers at a gig

"The title translates to cocky or arrogant. It is a reference to the dismissive nickname children get when they question authorities or parents," Sagvekar says. It is also a reference to a lack of appreciation for individualism. "We are trying to be self-aware with the single. No matter how you approach your art, you need to be self-aware. That comes from knowing your identity. You can learn technique, production or style, but unless you are self-aware, you can never truly utilise these skills," he remarks.

The track flows with lyrics that explain the anger and stubbornness of the duo. Deshpande's production is sharp, stylish and raises the verve and tenacity of the lyrics. The catchy track has enough hook, despite any linguistic barriers, to catch on for a hip-hop fan.

It is part of the culture, the lyricist explains. "Marathi, as literature and culture, has a long tradition of anti-establishment works. Whether you refer to the literature of Namdeo Dhasal or others from the past, they were anti-establishment in some ways. I remember listening to my mother read them to me, and being surprised at the ideas and themes they explored," he shares.

Vedang Deshpande sets a groove

For Deshpande though, the focus remains the music. He insists, "When it comes to Marathi hip-hop, Shreyas and I have always tried to bring something fresh to our sound. It cannot be the same thing. As a producer, I look for a distinct sound which can be an instrument or a vibe as well. But it has to be something melodically distinct in my beats."

While the style is fresh - considering the few Marathi rap tracks that emerge - it is not an easy genre to navigate. Sagvekar admits as much, saying, "Marathi hip-hop is still in its nascent stage. Right now, many are still figuring out their identity and style. As a hip-hop community, we are still not completely confident in our own work. This might change in the next two or three years."

The duo hopes to be part of the change. Their next single is Mumbaichi paidaish (a product of Mumbai), crafted from Sagvekar's life experiences. "This city has taught me the need to work hard, no matter where I go. It gives you a lesson in stubbornness like no other," he says. The track is the first of two, and will release in October 2023. "We are also planning an album, but that will take longer. We hope to be ready to release it in 2024," Sagvekar concludes.

Log on to; Uddhat on Spotify; YouTube

Expose the audience to more genres

I started making House music by remixing popular Marathi songs, on a whim. There was no strategy to it. In fact, the first time I played, few people even showed up. Then I realised that there is a need to promote such events properly. What I have noticed is that regional writers are protective of the genre. They believe that if you are fusing it with regional elements, you are spoiling it.

My genre is still house, and the fundamental elements remain constant. The same goes with hip-hop. Unless the core elements [of the genre] are present, you will lose out on the audience. The presentation needs to be according to that. This responsibility falls upon the artiste.

There is a space for an audience in new genres, especially in Marathi. I see rappers in hip-hop pushing that line with experimentation. But we need to understand that Marathi people, in general, are proud of their old music. The issue is that they don't expose themselves to too many forms from outside. This is the void, which needs to be filled by artistes like us.

Krunal Ghorpade aka DJ Kratex, 29

Marathi rappers to watch out for

>> RockSun
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