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Lothika: The Indie Singer-Songwriter

Lothika Jha was a private singer-songwriter who kept her music within closed circles, jamming with friends. Then one of those friendships — with school friend Kabeer Kathpalia, better known as OAFF — carried her voice into Gehraiyaan, one of the biggest soundtracks of 2022, and made her one of the most recognisable new voices in Indian music.

Early Life

Lothika was born and raised in Ahmedabad, India, and now lives in Mumbai. She completed her schooling at Mahatma Gandhi International School and studied at the Srishti School of Art, Design and Technology. Her primary education was in film studies, and she once aspired to become a film director. She also worked in production and creative roles, including with Drishyam Films and Discovery Inc.

A Private Musician

For years, Lothika kept her singing private. As she has described it, music was an extremely emotional expression for her, and she was a little scared of how wonderful it would be to put her work out there. She jammed with friends and wrote songs in closed circles, including with Kabeer, her friend from school in Ahmedabad.

The Gehraiyaan Breakthrough

That friendship changed everything. Lothika sang two of the defining tracks of the Gehraiyaan soundtrack — the title song and "Doobey" — making her Bollywood playback singing debut in 2022. The title song was adapted from an earlier English song she and Kabeer had composed called "Frontline", written when Lothika was dealing with the loss of a family member. The same pieces of music were translated to express contrasting emotions on screen.

What Came Next

After Gehraiyaan, Lothika's vocals appeared on more major tracks, including "Hone Do Jo Hota Hai" from Kho Gaye Hum Kahan and the Instagram hit "Tu Kahaan". She made her Tamil debut with producer Anirudh Ravichander on the song "Anbenum" for the film Leo. She has also released independent collaborations, including the synth-pop track "Besabar" with Bharg Kale.

Signature Sound

Lothika bridges mainstream Bollywood and feel-good pop through dreamy vocal textures. Her voice is intimate and atmospheric — the sound of a private singer-songwriter who found a public stage without losing the feeling that made her music personal in the first place. From closed-circle jams to chart-topping soundtracks, her journey shows that quiet voices can carry the farthest.

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