Murshidabad-born Aarvan is enjoying his moment with Ramji aake bhala karenge, the song from the upcoming film Bhoot Bangla, part of Akshay Kumar’s popular horror-comedy franchise. The song became an instant hit, crossing 42 million views within a few days. The much-anticipated film marks the coming together of Akshay Kumar, composer Pritam and director Priyadarshan again, something that, Aarvan says, has been the most endearing part of his newest project.
“I was in seventh heaven when I came to know that I am part of such a big Bollywood film where the trio of Akshay Kumar, Priyadarshan and Pritam are coming together again. I have always been a huge fan of their hit franchise Bhool Bhulaiyaa. I have grown up watching Akshay Kumar’s films and have always admired his work. So being part of an Akshay Kumar starrer directed by Priyadarshan, with music by Pritam, truly feels very special for me,” said Aarvan, whose musical journey is deeply influenced by his cultural roots. He has also sung Bengali numbers in Tollywood, including Rajar Raja for the Bengali film Khadan.
Having worked closely with Pritam helped him land the song, which required a specific texture and tonality.
“I have been associated with Pritamda and the team for the last five years, so the collaboration happened very organically, built on trust and creative understanding. For Ramji aake bhala karenge, the team was looking for a specific texture and energetic tonality. Anurag Sharma, fondly known as Froggy and an integral part of the team, briefed me about the vocal requirement, and Pritamda felt that my voice would bring the right flavour to the track. That’s how the opportunity naturally came my way,” shared Aarvan, who grew up listening to Kishore Kumar, Mohammed Rafi, Manna Dey, Lata Mangeshkar, Kavita Krishnamurthy, Alka Yagnik and KK.
Every song brings its own set of challenges, and Ramji aake bhala karenge blends humour with devotional energy while maintaining a commercial, high-energy sound. Speaking about the challenges he navigated, Aarvan said: “The challenge was to maintain the right balance between the comic tone and the musicality of the track. Since the song had to match the quirky mood of the film, we had to ensure that the vocal delivery carried the right amount of playfulness and energy without losing its musical depth. But working with such an experienced team made the process enjoyable. It was more of a creative exploration than a pressure-filled experience.”
How did he approach the song and carry the energetic spirit associated with Akshay Kumar? “I approached it more as a cinematic performance while keeping the devotional flavour intact. The song is written in a devotional context, but at the same time it carries a comic and theatrical energy that fits perfectly within the narrative of the film. So the idea was to maintain that balance — to keep the devotional feel while delivering it in a fun, entertaining and slightly dramatic way that matches the tone of the film,” said the singer, who aims to remain versatile and explore different musical styles.
“If people remember my voice through songs that made them feel something — whether it is joy, nostalgia or comfort — that would be the biggest achievement for me as an artist,” signed off Aarvan.