Three weeks ago, Mehran Hodiwala’s music suddenly hit a high note. Though the Mumbai singer-songwriter had been posting tunes on social media since 2024, he had been reaching a relatively small group of listeners. But 20 days after sharing learning, it had racked up over 10 lakh views.
For most musicians, this kind of sudden attention would be a dream come true. Hodiwala, though, is a little hesitant about what it means to have so many new listeners.
“The more ears you have listening, the more on guard you tend to get,” Hodiwala said. And being on guard, he thinks, is hardly ideal for making art.
At one point, the second-year college student worried that the burst of attention would make it impossible for him to write music. But then, he managed to compose another song, which put him somewhat at ease.
The comments under the video of learning – which is about the frustration of struggling to learn and change despite knowing better – capture some of what makes his music so appealing. “It might be the best song of all time... considering he cannot play the guitar or sing,” reads one of the top comments. “I still love it.”
The 18-year-old has a knack for making life’s more uneasy...