The Soundtrack to the New-Gen Indian Protest
India is no stranger to anthems of protest. From the familiar tunes of independence to the movie songs we’ve grown to love, protest music has been revolutionary (pun intended) in shaping public perceptions across eras and helping movements retain momentum.
Most recently, the 2026 student movement brought a wave of new protest music to the fore. While old anthems like Rang De Basanti, Sadda Haq, and Ye Jo Des Hai Tera resurfaced, the protests also found their own stride in capturing Gen-Z’s mindset. Popular artists like Emiway Bantai, MC STAN, Lifafa, Hanumankind and Seedhe Maut became the voices of the students, with lyrics that call out injustice in our modern day.
As the activists chose to harness art to project their voices, songs like Jaago, Azadi, Ek Din Pyaar, Genghis, and more made their way to Instagram Reels too. On the other hand, students also discovered a newfound appreciation for classic revolutionary poetry through time-tested anthems like Hum Dekhenge and Bol Ke Lab Aazad Hain (Faiz Ahmad Faiz), or even Zulm Mit Jata Hai (Sahir Ludhiyanvi).
Here’s a really cool piece in the international newspaper, Al Jazeera did about the protests and at the music around them. Click through to read:
Al Jazeera Featured News
Sedition to anthem: Many lives of ‘Azadi’ chants in India’s youth protests
A decade ago, student leaders were jailed for shouting ‘Azadi’. The slogan has returned, gaining new life in Indian politics and challenging Modi’s government.
By Yashraj Sharma • Published On 15 Aug 2026
Interestingly, this score has persisted even after the NEET hunger strike in Delhi. Even during decentralised college-level protests, artists like KR$NA have made appearances, with their music still looming large as the student sentiment.
Voicing dissent through music is certainly not new, but merely evolving as a new generation of youth takes the reins to bring change, one song at a time.
