Javed Akhtar, Shankar Mahadevan, Sonu Nigam, Prasoon Joshi, Sherley Singh and others launched "Goongoonalo" - India's first "for-the-artiste,by-the-artiste-owned Cultural App"! by Chaitanya Padukone

"Goongoonalo," India's first artiste-owned cultural app is finally here . The grand star-studded event took place on Monday night at the Studio Theatre, Jio World, BKC,  Mumbai. Goon-goona-lo is a timeless, catchy. melodious name which means start humming or singing. It may be recalled that the landmark musical mega-hit movie 'Aradhana' has this evergreen duet song 'Gun-Guna-Rahen Hai Bhawrein'  released in1969 ( 56 years ago !)  

It was a historic moment for the Indian music industry, when over 27 renowned music-centric artistes, including Javed Akhtar, Shankar Mahadevan, Sonu Nigam, Sameer Anjaan, Prasoon Joshi, Salim- Sulaiman, Shaan, Lalit Pandit, Anand- Milind, Papon ,Aruna Sairam, Manan Shah , Anusha Mani ,Shweta Mohan, Hariharan and Raju Singh, launched "Goongoonalo," India's first artiste-owned cultural app. The grand event took place at the Studio Theatre, Jio World, BKC,  Mumbai.

Goongoonalo is a path-breaking amazing digital platform created by artistes for artistes. It is dedicated not only to music but also to poetry, storytelling, and other creative expressions. The app features original content, unreleased classics, mentorship sessions, masterclasses, jam sessions, open mics, and direct fan interactions.

Founding dynamic, visionary members include Javed Akhtar, Shankar Mahadevan, Sonu Nigam, Shreya Ghoshal, Arijit Singh, Prasoon Joshi, Sameer Anjaan, Vishal Dadlani, Amit Trivedi, and others. The app was developed by technology expert Sridhar Ranganathan, with Sherley Singh serving as CEO.

Celeb Artistes' visionary view-points on Goongoonalo:

Javed Akhtar:

"May 5, 2025, is a historic day. Goongoonalo gives artists the freedom to create without the constraints of producers or music companies. It's the first of its kind globally, where musicians, lyricists, and singers are shareholders. Artists will have complete creative freedom, and no committee will oversee their work. Members will also introduce new talents, giving exposure to emerging singers, lyricists, and composers."

Shankar Mahadevan:

"Goongoonalo is a platform created by artistes for artistes. It's a stage to write the next chapter of music. Today is a significant and historic day for all artistes. Through this platform, the dreams of many artistes will come true."

Sonu Nigam:
"When I came to Mumbai in the 90s, we wanted to do something different. Now, Goongoonalo is the platform that offers the creative freedom we were looking for."

Sameer Anjaan:
"This is the best day for people in the music field. After years of dreams and efforts, this app has been launched. Whether it's folk singers or classical artists, this platform is unparalleled. Creators are given complete freedom to do what they want."

Prasoon Joshi:
"People think that if an artist has a microphone and a stage, they don't need anything else. But writers and musicians often express someone else's thoughts. This platform allows them to share their own voice. Goongoonalo provides the freedom to think and create without any constraints."

Sridhar Ranganathan (Founder Member):
"We've been working on this app for the past four years. Bringing all artists together was challenging, but after years of effort, this platform is ready. Artists and fans can register at www.goongoonalo.com to become part of this creative family."

Sherley Singh (CEO):
"If you're a dreamer, Goongoonalo is where you should be. This platform changes the equation. Typically, when an artiste releases a song, the rights belong to the makers or music label. Here, the artiste owns their song, and any revenue generated is shared with them."

Hariharan:
"This platform is different because artistes themselves own the company. I hope some excellent music will be produced, which listeners can enjoy on Goongoonalo."

Salim Merchant:
"This is a significant opportunity for art and music. We've become accustomed to composing based on others' stories, but this app allows us to express what we feel and think. Our community will inspire many people."

Sulaiman Merchant:
"This is a historic initiative that will empower artistes. It's the first streaming platform of its kind."

Raju Singh:
"This unique collab platform initiative with almost 40 eminent artistes, will fulfill our incomplete dreams that we couldn't realize due to market pressures. We can present our creative ideas with freedom here. In the next phase we hope to also introduce new promising musical-vocal talents "

Lalit Pandit:
"We've been waiting for this day for years, and now this historic app is finally here."

Anand - Milind:
"Goongoonalo will bring forth creations close to our hearts. It's an essential and excellent platform for songwriters, composers, and singers."

Aruna Sairam:
"I'm thrilled to be a shareholder in Goongoonalo. As a classical singer, I've always wanted to collaborate with non-classical artists, and this platform offers that opportunity."

Papon:
"There's no other app in the world that offers artists such freedom and partnership. All artists will work together, and songs will be released on Goongoonalo's platform."

Shaan:
"This is truly historic. It started with good intentions, and anything done from the heart yields good results. We'll strive to present our best songs on Goongoonalo."

Ehsaan Noorani:
"This platform allows us to create something new and different on our terms. It's a unique platform owned by artistes, offering numerous collaboration opportunities."

Amitabh Bhattacharya:
"I hope this platform proves to be a game-changer for music-related artistes. Through this platform, we can work on ideas we've longed to realize."

Siddharth (Shankar) Mahadevan:
"We artists will release our songs on our own company, Goongoonalo. Its USP is that every artiste will promote each other's songs, reaching a vast audience."

Features and Upcoming Events:
Under 'Goongoonalo Originals,' a special song by Shreya Ghoshal will be released first. Activities like a singing workshop with Arijit Singh, a lyrics lab with Irshad Kamil, and production sessions with Salim-Sulaiman will follow. The 'Fanverse' feature will allow fans to design merchandise, participate in crowdfunding, and join virtual meetups.

The Future of Culture with Goongoonalo:
Shankar Mahadevan concluded, "Here, unique collaborations like Aruna Sairam with Sonu Nigam or Vishal-Shekhar with Kaushiki Chakraborty will be seen. This is the new digital form of India's cultural soul."