As student protests continue to make headlines across the country, Bengaluru-based musician Sunil Koshy chose to respond not with a social media post, but with a song. In just 24 hours, working alongside collaborators in Mumbai and Kochi, he wrote, recorded and released
Datey Raho — a track dedicated to the students risking their safety to stand up for what they believe in. In a conversation with
Bangalore Times, Sunil says the song isn’t about politics. It’s about giving voice to those who feel unheard.




‘I’
m not a political person; I’
m only a musician’

Every WhatsApp group Sunil is part of right now revolves around a single conversation — the protests. “I’m not a political person, I’m only a musician,” he says, adding that the only way he can show his solidarity with the students and stand up for what is right is through a song. “That’s all I know to do. I can compose a song and maybe sing. I made the decision in a split second, I had to do it,” he shares.



Walking us through his process, Sunil reflects, “I told my lyricist, let’s keep it very apolitical. Let it be more like giving voice to the students who are standing up for themselves. And what is right.” He adds, “Sometimes, when you have an idea, you sit with it for days… but with this one, I couldn’t sleep. I kept waking up every hour.”



‘Stand up for yourself; what is not right is not right
’

Sunil believes music can leave a lasting impact in ways other forms of communication cannot. “Anything that is hummable, and is repeatedly hummed, goes into your conscience more than a speech can. What ten speeches cannot do, a song can,” he says, adding, “A song strikes a very deep chord within and connects to the subconscious or soul level.”



As for the students, his message is simple. “Stand up for yourself,” he says. “What is not right is not right.” And if the song can inspire even one listener, Sunil believes it has achieved its purpose: “Even if it makes just one person stop and think about the protests, my purpose is served. Everything starts with that single thought.”