On August 10, Caf\u00e9 Wisdom Tree in Kolkata reverberated with music and emotion as the five-member rock band Punch launched their second single Azaadi<\/span>, a tribute to the spirit of freedom ahead of India\u2019s 78th Independence Day. Known for their unique Indian rock sound, Punch blends traditional instruments like the sitar and flute with electric guitars, bass, and drums. Azaadi<\/span> also marked a rare international collaboration for the band, as they partnered with Bangladesh-based animation artist Mir Hisham, who brought the fictional war for freedom to life through cinematic animation. The narrative portrays countries, led by India, uniting against oppressors depicted as beasts and demons, while also referencing histories of colonial rule in India, Kenya, Estonia, Latvia, and Bangladesh. The video even pays tribute to traditional Indian puppetry, with characters appearing as manipulated puppets to signify oppression. <\/p>\n The launch evening featured the screening of the video followed by an intimate unplugged performance from Punch, supported by Backdoor Caravan, The Miliputs, and singer-songwriter Rupsha. Speaking about the launch vocalist Wriddh said, \u201cIt was important to share the stage he with all the bands as we consciously involve fellow city musicians at all our events because Azaadi is meant to be a song for all.\u201d <\/p>\n Multi-instrumentalist Ayan Mukherjee explained how the band experimented sonically, saying they designed the music for a war sequence on a sitar, something he felt was new for listeners, while the flute carried \u201ca sweet and positive hook line\u201d that balanced the heavy guitars. Guitarist Aritro Ghosh called the track \u201cthe highlight of 2025 for Punch,\u201d admitting that the challenges of making it had tested the band in many ways but ultimately brought them closer, paving the way for \u201cmore heartfelt, fearless and intuitive music.\u201d Bassist Tamal Bhattacharjee described Azaadi<\/span> as more than just a song, calling it \u201cthe pulse of people reclaiming their spirit of freedom,\u201d while drummer Anindya Maity likened it to \u201ca chiaroscuro-esque dialogue\u201d that wove together light and dark, happiness and angst, and the joy and anguish that always accompany victories against oppression. Animator Mir Hisham reflected on the deeper emotional weight of the project, saying it was \u201coverwhelming\u201d to bring to life the struggles for freedom that people around the world have endured. He expressed hope that audiences would \u201cgrasp the meaningful message we aimed to convey.\u201d Bringing together six Bengali artists, including Hisham from Bangladesh, Azaadi<\/span> is a rare Hindi rock collaboration. The music video is already streaming online, while the audio track released on all major platforms from August 15. <\/p>\n![\"Punch](\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/photo\/imgsize-23456,msid-123358673,resizemode-4\/punch-avatars.jpg\" "\\"\\""){kind=avatar}
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