Bhuvan Bam: I have never had Western influences in my songs

Bhuvan Bam

After you hit a certain number, it all stops mattering. Then, it's only about topping the last video," Bhuvan Bam tells us as he sits in our studio. Even if numbers don't matter, he has a lot of them. He is, easily, among India's most popular YouTubers. His channel, BB Ki Vines, has 9.2 million subscribers, and the group keeps growing by the second. His funny vines, where he plays different but relatable middle-class characters, have made him a hit with the younger audience. "My family has inspired most of my vines. We all have that uncle who is funny, or that friend who [is peculiar]. We all sit and talk about my characters," he laughs. He is a DIY artist. Most of the vines are shot in his Delhi bedroom.

But the YouTuber didn't leave it at that. He started releasing songs as well. "I was always a singer, and became a vine-maker only by chance. I'd frequent hotels in Delhi and sing my original compositions. So, it made sense to release them when the channel got popular." His last song, Safar, was a hit. It earned almost 9.5 million views. This week, he comes out with his fourth single, Rahguzar, which he shot amid hundreds of fans. "I have never had any Western influences [in my songs]. I used to listen to old Hindi music and ghazals throughout my childhood, and in college. I have now started listening to English music, particularly to legends like Frank Sinatra."

Another song was written at 5 am, he says. "The video showcases a father-son relationship. The son is seen regretting letting his father go. In Indian families, it happens often. We come to a point where we think we don't need our parents. But we do. I hope my fans realise the message that the song carries."

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