India’s first Urdu R&B artist, Farhan Khan is crafting a bold new chapter in Indian music—where poetry meets rhythm and emotion finds cinematic depth. After capturing hearts with his debut album Khansaab and winning the Best Lyricist award for Jannat, Farhan returns with Alif Laila—a powerful 12-track concept album rooted in love, loss, and legacy. In an exclusive chat with The Pioneer, he reflects on his creative journey, cultural roots, and how he’s redefining music through storytelling, style, and soul
Highlighted text: I’ve worked in my father’s shop since I was a kid. That experience taught me what sells, and how to sell it. Listeners don’t just want sound — they want emotion. If you can move people, they’ll connect with you, no matter how unconventional the music
Tejal Sinha
Farhan Khan is not your conventional rapper. Rooted in the poetic legacy of Agra and sharpened by the hustle of Mumbai, he has emerged as India’s first Urdu R&B artist — a title he wears not with ego, but with sincerity and purpose. From the viral success of his debut album Khansaab to his award-winning single Jannat, Farhan has carved a lyrical path that blends heartbreak, heritage, and hip-hop into something deeply personal, profoundly artistic, and culturally resonant.
Now, with Alif Laila — a groundbreaking 12-track Urdu concept album — Farhan presents a cinematic and emotional saga that’s never been attempted before in Indian music. In this candid and reflective conversation, he opens up about music, memory, and the man behind the mic.
After the release of Khansaab, which drew admiration from heavyweights like Badshah, Raftaar, and Divine, Farhan took his storytelling ambitions to another level. “People call me India’s first Urdu R&B artist,” he says with humility. “It’s a title I don’t take lightly. I feel grateful that people resonate with my journey — but I always focus on the next piece, created with the same honesty and precision I carry in my heart.”
Farhan believes it is the sincerity in his work that sets it apart. “The honesty in my work is what people connect with,” he says. “Even in a space led by giants, when your art is real, people can feel it.” That authenticity was central to Jannat, the song that earned him the Best Lyricist award at the 2024 CMA Awards. But for him, the true success lay in staying true to his vision. “I wrote Jannat in 2020 but waited four years to release it exactly the way I envisioned. That’s the kind of victory I value most,” he shares. “Success was choosing to believe in my sound, my pace, and my vision — even when it wasn’t easy.”
With Alif Laila, Farhan has built not just an album but a universe. Narrated through the fictional character of Alif Abbas Qadri, the project delves into themes of love, loss, memory, and legacy. Hailed as India’s first major Urdu concept album, it follows an unconventional narrative structure — Side B, which captures the heartbreak, was released first, followed by Side A, which celebrates love. “It’s often said that those who stand by you in your pain deserve to share your joy,” Farhan explains. “By showing Alif’s heartbreak first, listeners can deeply feel the weight of his eventual happiness. That emotional contrast was essential.”
Bridging the two parts was a poetic prologue, powerfully narrated by veteran Bollywood actor Kiran Kumar. “We always knew it had to be Kiran Kumar sir,” Farhan reveals. “His emotional connection to the song Ajnabi from Dhadkan added another layer to our story. His voice brought not only gravitas but legacy.”
Between Side B and Side A, Farhan took a deliberate five-month creative pause — not just for production, but for introspection. “Just like a film needs an intermission, life sometimes demands a pause too,” he says. “We used that time to refine our craft, and when we returned, it had to feel complete.”
Alif Laila is also a deeply personal tribute to his father, a tailoring master and ghazal writer from Agra. “The character of Alif Abbas Qadri is inspired by my father,” he shares. “That’s why Alif wears custom-designed vintage outfits — it’s a tribute to my father’s craft. He was also a writer, and that’s where Alif’s poetic nature comes from.”
Farhan’s fascination with storytelling began early — not only through music but also through cinema. “Since childhood, I’ve been obsessed with cinema,” he says. “Writing songs, filming, acting, storytelling — I’m living all my passions through this album. It’s a story shaped from the pieces of my own journey.”
Though poetic, Alif Laila also shows Farhan’s sharp understanding of the business of music. “I’ve worked in my father’s shop since I was a kid. That experience taught me what sells, and how to sell it,” he says. “Listeners don’t just want sound — they want emotion. If you can move people, they’ll connect with you, no matter how unconventional the music.”
He credits the right partners with helping him bring that balance of soul and strategy to life. “Believe Artist Services has been incredible. They support my vision fully,” he says. “We’re not just building an album — we’re building Farhan Khan, the artist.”
When it comes to genre or form — be it rap, R&B, poetry, or visuals — Farhan says there is always one common thread in his art. “What ties everything together is my perspective,” he reflects. “The way I observe life and express it authentically — that’s my strength.”
Collaborations, too, are guided by the same spirit of honesty. “I always look for honesty and innocence in an artist,” he says. “Also, would I want to be their friend if they weren’t famous? That’s how it was with Munawar Faruqui, Mujtaba Aziz Naza, and Gravity. They’ve become like brothers.”
While Urdu music is sometimes considered niche, Farhan insists it’s deeply embedded in India’s cultural identity. “It surprises me when people ask if Urdu music is finally getting space,” he says. “Urdu was born in India. We’ve always carried its poetry in our hearts — it’s not something new.”
Having grown up in both Agra and Mumbai, Farhan believes the contrast between the two cities has shaped him profoundly. “I carry the simplicity of Agra in my roots, and the fire of Mumbai in my spirit,” he says. “That duality gives my music both heart and hustle.”
Through Alif Laila, Farhan doesn’t just want to entertain — he wants to connect. “I want people to lose themselves in the experience,” he says. “If a song makes you cry, cry. If it makes you smile, smile freely. I want people to feel understood — even if they can’t express their own story, maybe they’ll hear mine and feel less alone.”
And while Khansaab introduced the world to Farhan the artist, Alif Laila, he says, reveals Farhan the person. “I’ve always believed I was meant for something bigger,” he says. “Not from ego — but purpose. And this album is the path unfolding. It’s my soul in sound.”
