How friendship became music for independent band Khatth

Khatth is an independent Hindi music band formed by three friends – Aditya Atmakuri, Ashutosh Verma and Satyam Nayak living across three countries. The band is currently in focus with its latest single, Bewaqt, an introspective track that explores longing, separation, and the ache of unfulfilled love.

The song is accompanied by a music video directed by Smriti Thakur and features actor Ida Ali, daughter of filmmaker Imtiaz Ali, whose restrained performance mirrors the emotional tenor of the track. Bewaqt marks a reflective turn for the band, foregrounding mood and emotional restraint over spectacle.

Batchmates turned musicians

Bewaqt – album cover
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

Khatth’s story began with friendship before music, at the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) in Bhubaneswar. Batchmates at the time, the three would spend evenings at the hostel’s fire-exit staircase, talking about life and listening to music. Gradually, those conversations found their way into lyrics and melodies.

“We came from similar middle-class backgrounds, where pursuing music as a full-time career didn’t feel like an obvious choice,” says Ashutosh, the lead vocalist. “Music became our way of expressing things we didn’t know how to say out loud. Writing together felt natural over time, and we realised that even though our tastes were different, that contrast actually enriched our sound.”

Diverse interests

Friends turned musicians
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

Ashutosh largely shapes the band’s sonic and production direction, while Satyam handles lyrics, sings on several tracks, and plays bass during live performances. Aditya plays rhythm guitar, steps in on vocals when needed, and contributes to songwriting and melodies.

Although the members live in different countries, their varied musical skills and influences have helped them find a collective voice. Ashutosh is currently pursuing an MBA at Georgia Tech in Atlanta, USA; Aditya works as a project manager at Meta in Dublin; and Satyam is a software development engineer based in Hyderabad.

Distance, they admit, is a challenge. But when they come together, the process feels “less like work and more like a reunion.” “We write separately and share ideas remotely,” explains Aditya. “Then we choose one city to meet, record multiple songs, and live together for that short period.”

Story behind the name

As a collective voice
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Special Arrangement

The band’s name, Khatth, meaning “letter” in Hindi, came from a song they once performed at a college festival competition. Satyam recalls, “When the results were announced, the host referred to us by the song’s name, and even the certificate had ‘Khatth’ written on it. We decided to stylise it as Khatth to make it distinct, though people still spell it in different ways.”

The 11 independent tracks they have released so far reflect different phases of their lives, but Bewaqt captures where they stand today, both emotionally and artistically. The song reflects on how life continues to move forward even as one holds on to memories. “It could be the loss of a person, the end of a relationship, or a dream that didn’t materialise,” says Ashutosh. “It sits in a bittersweet space between pain and acceptance. We didn’t want it to be overly sad or falsely hopeful—just honest.”

For the band, music videos are a natural extension of the emotions driving their songs. “We discuss the mood and emotional core of the track, then give the director space to interpret it,” says Aditya. “We go through storyboards, talk about character arcs, and ensure the visual language feels aligned.”

The trio have released 11 independent tracks till now
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

Grateful for the reach their videos have brought, Ashutosh adds, “A strong visual identity makes a song more memorable and shareable. But beyond reach, it’s about connection. When someone tells us a particular scene changed how they experienced the song, that’s when we know the visuals have done their job.”

Bewaqt is available on all major music streaming platforms.

Published – February 12, 2026 12:24 pm IST