Javed Akhtar has spent a lifetime giving India words that have become memories. Now, the legendary poet, lyricist and screenwriter has given poetry itself a new home by launching Goongoonalo’s dedicated Poetry section during the soulful Kavyaraag Mehfil, creating a vibrant digital space where poets, lyricists and storytellers can find new audiences and new collaborations.
Speaking at the launch, Javed Akhtar said, “Poetry is one of the oldest and strongest expressions of human emotion. Civilisations change, technology evolves, but poetry continues to touch hearts because it speaks the language of truth and feeling. If we want future generations to value literature, we must create spaces where poets are heard, celebrated and encouraged. Goongoonalo’s Poetry section is a meaningful step in that direction.”
The Poetry section has been launched on Goongoonalo, the artist-led and artist-owned platform founded by Javed Akhtar, Shankar Mahadevan and technocrat Sridhar Ranganathan, further strengthening its vision of building an artist-first ecosystem where musicians, lyricists, poets and storytellers can create, collaborate, distribute, promote and monetise their work while retaining ownership of their artistic identity.
Today, Goongoonalo brings together a growing collective of 40+ of India’s most celebrated artists, lyricists, composers and creators, including Sonu Nigam, Hariharan, Arijit Singh, Shreya Ghoshal, Sunidhi Chauhan, Prasoon Joshi, Sameer Anjaan, Irshad Kamil and Amitabh Bhattacharya, united by a shared belief that original creativity deserves recognition, ownership and a platform built by artists, for artists.
The launch brought together an extraordinary constellation of voices from India’s literary and entertainment worlds. Acclaimed actor, writer and poet Piyush Mishra; celebrated lyricist and screenwriter Shellee; renowned theatre director and playwright Atul Tiwari; noted poet and lyricist Tanveer Ghazi; actor and theatre personality Girija Godbole; cultural patron Ashok Bindal; along with several distinguished personalities from the literary, music and entertainment fraternity attended the event.
Adding melody to every verse, Goongoonalo artists Chinmayi Tripathi and Joell Mukherji captivated audiences with live performances that transformed timeless poetry into contemporary musical experiences.
The newly launched Poetry section provides poets with a dedicated digital platform to publish their original work, discover new audiences and collaborate with musicians and fellow creators. It forms an integral part of Goongoonalo’s larger vision of creating a comprehensive creator ecosystem where artists can create, distribute, promote and monetise their work while retaining ownership of their artistic identity.
Unlike conventional streaming platforms, Goongoonalo combines music streaming, digital distribution and integrated social engagement into a single creator-first platform. Through one unified dashboard, artists can release content across major streaming platforms, market their work, build audiences and manage every aspect of their creative journey.
The platform is also committed to promoting India’s linguistic diversity by encouraging creators from every corner of the country to showcase their originality. Musicians, poets and creators can connect through Goongoonalo’s website and social media channels, after which the platform’s Artist Relations team works closely with them to help publish and amplify their work.
Sherley Singh, CEO, Goongoonalo, said, “Every original artist deserves to be discovered, heard and celebrated. With the launch of our Poetry section, we are creating a dedicated digital home where poets can publish their work, collaborate with musicians and connect directly with audiences. Even in the age of AI, authenticity remains an artist’s greatest strength, and Goongoonalo is committed to helping creators build sustainable creative careers while retaining ownership of their artistic identity.”
Today, Goongoonalo stands as one of India’s largest artist-led creative collaborations, bringing together some of the country’s most respected musicians, lyricists, poets and composers. With the launch of its dedicated Poetry section, the platform extends its artist-first vision beyond music, ensuring that poetry, literature and original storytelling continue to find new listeners, new readers and new life in the digital age.
Kavyaraag Mehfil celebrated India’s rich literary legacy through original musical interpretations of the works of Harivansh Rai Bachchan, Bhawani Prasad Mishra, Sarveshwar Dayal Saxena, Vinod Kumar Shukla, Gopaldas Neeraj, Naresh Saxena and Kabir, taking audiences through love, longing, humour, satire, spirituality and self-discovery while reaffirming poetry’s timeless relevance.
