In Conversation with Saar Punch: Building Cult, Not Crowd
From his cinematic debut project Oopar Neeche to self-directed visuals that feel like short films, Saar Punch has always moved with intent.
His music doesn’t chase clout, it chases clarity. Vulnerable, raw, and richly crafted, his work speaks to anyone navigating the chaos of emotions, identity, and artistry.
We caught up with the Delhi-based rapper to dig into the roots of his name, his visual instincts, and how he’s building something deeper than numbers, a movement grounded in honesty.
Q) Your name Saar Punch immediately sparks curiosity—not just because it sounds striking, but because it suggests both meaning (saar) and impact (punch). Was that duality something you were intentionally trying to embody in your music from day one, or did the name evolve with your sound?
Saar: It actually started out as a FIFA username.
I went with “Saar,” but a friend suggested I add “Punch” because he felt my writing and delivery had a punchy feel to it. I went with it.
It’s also a bit of wordplay between my nickname Saar and “Sarpanch,” the term for a village leader.
Q) I first came across your work through Kaloli with Burrah and Bharg, which also opens your 2022 project Oopar Neeche. That whole album left a lasting impression. How did Oopar Neeche come together, and looking back now, how do you feel about where it fits in your journey?
Saar: I had been actively listening to the scene since 2015, and started writing around then too. But whatever I was making back then, I wasn’t confident enough to share publicly.
I wanted to do music the right way. I had written over 20 songs before Oopar Neeche, but none of them felt authentic enough.
Eventually, I started writing about the ups and downs I was experiencing in real-time, and that’s how the album began to take shape.
The project plays like a movie. It’s an emotional rollercoaster that reflects life itself, fun moments, loneliness, heartbreak, toxic coping mechanisms, and eventually inner peace.
I wanted it to be cinematic and wanted listeners to see a series of pictures in their minds, something visual and deeply relatable.
Q) What made you start making music in the first place—was it a form of escape, expression, rebellion or something else entirely?
Saar: Definitely expression. I’ve always wanted to express what goes on inside me, because I find it hard to voice things out otherwise.
Music has this ability to beautify even the darkest thoughts and that can help both the artist and the listener.
Q) If someone’s hearing your music for the very first time, what’s the one thing you’d want them to walk away with about who Saar Punch is? And if you had to pick just two songs to introduce your sound to a new listener, which ones would you choose and why?
Saar: Saar Punch is an artist who knows how to make you feel seen and heard, because he’s going through the same emotions as everyone else.
Instead of ‘thugging it’ or ‘blinging it,’ I choose to be vulnerable and authentic, because that helps me too.
(While he doesn’t name two tracks specifically, songs like “Maykhana” and “Kaloli” serve as strong entry points into his sound.)
Q) You also direct your own music videos, and visually Maykhana, Sabar Rakh, and Khudbakhud really stand out for their storytelling and concepts. Is visual direction something you’ve studied or picked up along the way? And do these ideas usually come to you while writing the song, or after the music is done?
Saar: I’ve always been a fan of cinema. I wanted to direct my own music videos because I feel closest to my emotions and it’s hard to trust someone else to deliver that visually.
Sometimes, I even add an entirely new dimension in the video that doesn’t necessarily align with the lyrics. I just enjoy playing with it creatively.
Q) You have this striking line: “Banaane jaa raha cult, yaha kathi karni bheed nahi hai.” But in today’s landscape where numbers, virality, and reach seem to define success – how do you stay true to that mindset without losing relevance?
Saar: Numbers don’t necessarily mean success. For me, it’s about building a strong community that’s faithful to the art.
Once that’s in place, creating becomes fun. People start seeing you for who you are. It becomes word of mouth and that’s when the numbers follow, all organically.
This or That Segment:
- West Delhi or South Delhi? Delhi
- Bharg or Circle Tone? Bharg
- Divine or Seedhe Maut? Both, can’t choose
- Studio or stage? Again, both.
Q) Before we wrap up, what can we expect next from Saar Punch? Any upcoming projects, songs, or collaborations you’re excited about?
Saar: A lot is on the way. Singles first, then maybe another EP. I can’t reveal the collaborators just yet… but you’ll see :)
Q) And lastly your journey so far feels deeply intentional, from the name Saar Punch to the storytelling in your music and visuals. Fast forward a few years what would you want people to say about your evolution as an artist?
Saar: That he’s still evolving.
In a scene often obsessed with numbers, Saar reminds us that there’s strength in stillness, depth in honesty, and power in staying true to your vision.
He’s not chasing a crowd, he’s nurturing a community. And if there’s one thing this conversation makes clear, it is that he’s only getting started.
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