Goongoonalo Opens a New Chapter for Indian Poetry

A Dedicated Poetry Section Launches at Kavyaraag Mehfil, Celebrating the Timeless Bond Between Words, Music and Storytelling

There are moments when technology simply becomes the bridge, allowing timeless art to find new audiences.

One such moment unfolded in Mumbai at Kavyaraag Mehfil, where Goongoonalo unveiled its dedicated Poetry section—a significant step towards creating a digital home where poets, lyricists and storytellers can share their work, connect with audiences and collaborate with fellow creators.

Founded by legendary lyricist Javed Akhtar, acclaimed composer Shankar Mahadevan and technocrat Sridhar Ranganathan, and led by CEO Sherley Singh, Goongoonalo was built on a simple yet powerful belief: every original creator deserves the opportunity to be discovered, celebrated and fairly rewarded while retaining ownership of their artistic identity.

More than a music streaming platform, Goongoonalo is steadily evolving into an artist-first creative ecosystem—bringing together musicians, lyricists, poets, composers and storytellers under one shared vision of nurturing originality.

Today, that vision is supported by a growing collective of more than forty of India's most respected artists and creators, including Sonu Nigam, Hariharan, Arijit Singh, Shreya Ghoshal, Sunidhi Chauhan, Prasoon Joshi, Sameer Anjaan, Irshad Kamil, Amitabh Bhattacharya and many others, all united by a common purpose: to place creators at the heart of the creative economy.

An Evening Where Poetry Became Music

▶View on Instagram

The launch of the Poetry section was woven naturally into the spirit of Kavyaraag Mehfil, an evening dedicated to celebrating India's extraordinary literary heritage through contemporary musical expression.

The event was graced by legendary poet, lyricist and screenwriter Javed Akhtar, who attended as Guest of Honour. Joining him were celebrated actor, writer and poet Piyush Mishra; renowned lyricist and screenwriter Shellee; acclaimed theatre director and playwright Atul Tiwari; noted poet and lyricist Tanveer Ghazi; actor and theatre personality Girija Godbole; cultural patron Ashok Bindal; and numerous distinguished members of India's literary, music and performing arts communities.

Adding to the evening's emotional resonance, Goongoonalo artists Chinmayi Tripathi and Joell Mukherji presented moving musical interpretations of timeless poetry, reminding audiences that great literature continues to find new life through every generation of artists.

A Celebration of India's Literary Legacy

Throughout the evening, audiences experienced beautiful interpretations of works by some of India's most cherished literary voices, including Harivansh Rai Bachchan, Kabir, Gopaldas Neeraj, Bhawani Prasad Mishra, Sarveshwar Dayal Saxena, Naresh Saxena and Vinod Kumar Shukla.

Blending folk traditions, classical influences and contemporary musical arrangements, the performances explored themes of love, longing, spirituality, humour, reflection and human resilience, demonstrating that poetry remains as relevant today as it has ever been.

Giving Poets a Home in the Digital Age

For generations, poets have shaped India's cultural imagination, yet few digital platforms have been designed specifically with their creative journey in mind.

Goongoonalo's dedicated Poetry section seeks to change that.

The platform enables poets to publish original work, reach new audiences, collaborate with musicians and fellow creators, and become part of a vibrant artistic community where creativity is encouraged, recognised and celebrated.

It also reflects Goongoonalo's broader mission of helping creators not only share their work but also build sustainable creative careers while retaining ownership of their artistic identity.

Where Creativity Meets Community

Unlike conventional streaming platforms, Goongoonalo brings together music streaming, digital distribution, creator tools, audience engagement and artist communities within a single integrated ecosystem.

Whether someone is a singer, composer, lyricist, poet or storyteller, the platform is designed to help creators build lasting relationships with audiences rather than simply accumulate streams.

It is a place where discovery is driven by authenticity, collaboration and meaningful creative expression.

Authentic Voices in an AI World

Speaking at the launch, Sherley Singh, CEO of Goongoonalo, reflected on the growing role of artificial intelligence in creative industries while emphasising the enduring value of human originality.

"Goongoonalo was created with one simple belief—that every original artist deserves to be discovered, heard and celebrated, irrespective of language or geography. Our vision is to build India's most inclusive artist-led ecosystem, where musicians, poets, lyricists and creators can publish their work while owning their creative journey.

The launch of our Poetry section is another important milestone in that vision. Poetry has always been the soul of Indian storytelling, and we wanted to create a digital home where poets can connect directly with audiences and collaborate with musicians and fellow creators.

As AI continues to transform creative industries, authenticity becomes even more valuable. Technology can support creativity, but it can never replace lived experience, human emotion or an artist's unique voice. Our role is to amplify that originality and help creators build meaningful, lasting relationships with audiences."

A Platform for Every Original Voice

The launch of Goongoonalo's Poetry section represents far more than the introduction of a new category within the app.

It reflects a larger vision—one where music, poetry, literature and storytelling exist side by side, where artists support artists, and where originality is not only preserved but celebrated.

As Goongoonalo continues to grow, its purpose remains unchanged: to build India's most comprehensive artist-led platform, ensuring that every authentic voice has the opportunity to be discovered, appreciated and remembered.

Want to add your poetry to Goongoonalo or learn more about our Poetry section? Get in touch with Fedora at +91 90710 79372 and begin your journey with India's artist-first creative ecosystem. Download the app : www.goongoonalo.com/app

‍