For many, Anmol Malhotra from Mismatched could be the first image that comes to mind when they hear the name Taaruk Raina. But beyond the ‘boy next door’ image, Raina has carved himself a musical career too. Now, with his upcoming Lost & Found tour, he is all set to wow audiences in the city that first welcomed his voice. “My first ever performance was at the Humming Tree at least seven years ago. It was a brief 15-minute set of covers, but it was the first time I had sung live. So it’s really special to return here,” he reminisces.
Interestingly, the title of Raina’s tour is a metaphor that encapsulates his evolving relationship with music and self-expression. His song of the same name, which was conceptualised over a year and a half ago, serves as an emotional ode to acceptance and release. “It just kind of sums up my situation with music,” he shares, adding, “It’s about letting go and letting things happen.”
As an artiste, he wears many hats: actor, singer, songwriter, and performer. Yet he sees each role as a different outlet for the same creative force. Acting, as he notes, is more interpretive, an expression through someone else’s script, unlike music which is deeply personal. “In music, I’m baring it all. I’m not playing a part. I’m just being me,” he says. This self-expression is what he hopes to share with his audience. “I’m just trying to get my thoughts out there and make some people happy, I actually don’t care about which version of me does that, as long as it does, and every word is based on my own life. It’s exposing,” he adds.
When asked about what the audience can expect in Bengaluru, he promises an immersive experience, stating, “Every single song I’ve ever made, maybe some unreleased tracks, and a few surprise covers -- the idea is to make people feel something – laugh, cry, sing, scream. Whatever they want.” Moreover, the show offers to bring the concept of love in all its complexities. “I write a lot about love. But not just romantic love – how complicated and often misunderstood it is. I want people to think of love as love again,” he concludes.
(The show is set to happen at Phoenix Marketcity on June 14 at 6pm. Tickets are available on bookmyshow.com)