It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say Yashraj Mukhate has revolutionised the way we perceive viral content. With his unique ability to craft catchy tunes from pop culture snippets, he has become a global sensation. His journey began in Aurangabad, where he juggled his passion for music with an engineering education. However, it was his innovative video in August 2020 that set rap beats to a scene from the TV soap opera ‘Saath Nibhaana Saathiya’ that catapulted him to fame. The video exploded on social media, amassing millions of views and spawning countless memes.
Mukhate’s talent extends beyond just one viral hit; he has consistently created music that resonates with a wide audience, earning him over 7.7 million followers across various platforms. His work has not only entertained but also caught the attention of leading music directors, showcasing his exceptional musical sense. Despite his engineering background, Yashraj’s heart has always been in music, leading him to establish his own studio and share his original compositions with the world.
In an exclusive interview with IndiaToday.in, Yashraj Mukhate opened up about his journey and how he did not end up becoming just one viral video wonder.
Here are excerpts from the interview:
From ‘Rasode Me Kaun Tha’ to ‘Looking Like a wow’, you have managed to hit the chord with your renditions each and every time. How do you manage to do it?
I follow my instincts. And also, because I’ve practiced it so many times now, the judgment of what will work and what won’t, has become a little better than what it was before.
If not a musician, what would have Yashraj Mukhate been?
I’d love to be an animator. Make animated films. I still might do it sometime in the future.
Everyone’s journey is special. What aspect do you think makes yours special?
I think the fact that I don’t stay in Mumbai and made all this content sitting in a small room in Aurangabad, makes it special. I’d never imagine that top celebrities in Mumbai would dance on the tracks that I sat and made here.
You worked with Lucky Ali, the musician who has managed to stay relevant even today, how was the experience like?
Absolutely amazing! Like all 90s kids, he’s my favourite too. It was a really fun shoot and the song has also turned out really well.
You also had the chance to collaborate with Virat Kohli and make a World Cup Jingle. How was the entire experience for you?
Another amazing experience of my life. I was blown by how humble and chilled out he was on the shoot. I also realised that he is an amazing actor, he read the script just once and performed it like a star. We were done shooting way before our schedule. Fun shoot.
Did you ever get an offer for a reality television show? Would you ever participate in Bigg Boss? Please elaborate the reason for your answer
Yes I’ve been asked for that. But right now I’m just focusing on making better content for my social media and more songs for my label YM Originals. There are really interesting collaborations lined up, so the focus is fully there.
Your rise to fame was overnight but you managed to stay up there with your constant relevant and peppy songs. However, not many today are able to do that. They come get famous and then gone in a jiffy? What do you think is the reason?
That’s exactly what I had in mind when my video went viral. I was pretty aware that I’ll have to keep on making good content consistently to be relevant. I did not want to be a one hit wonder and then be forgotten by people. That’s why I started making diverse content like acapella videos, original jingles, mimicry, voice dubbing etc. so that the profile is not known only for one thing.
As a musician, who do you look up to?
AR Rahman, Amit Trivedi, Santosh Narayanan, AV Prafullachandra, Charlie Puth, Pritam, Vishal-Shekhar.
Top 5 songs on your playlist
Right now it’s a mix of many things:
Darav Darav (Marathi song)
Nachley (from Lakeer)
Bairi Birhaa (from AT Azaad)
Dekhne Walo Ne (by Anu Malik)
Khalasi (Coke Studio Bharat)
You have met several celebrities for work or at an event, tell us who is the
Most Charming: It has to be Ranveer Singh, no doubt.
Down to earth: Everyone is humble here. But for the kind of things he has achieved, Virat Kohli felt most grounded. Super humble.
Most attractive: Deepika Padukone, I have not spoken to her one-on-one but I got to see her at an event. She really looked like a wow.
Published By:
Tiasa Bhowal
Published On:
Nov 16, 2023
