Life makes sense after listening to Jagjit Singh: From ghosting to heartbreak, Gen Z is decoding modern love through Ghazals

When Riya was 12 years old, her father used to make her sleep by singing Ghazals. On nights, when she lay awake for hours, he would softly sing, ‘Tumko dekha toh yeh khayal aaya’. Somewhere between those lyrics and his voice, sleep would eventually find her. Then she grew up, and like most people, she found other ways to fall asleep like endless scrolling and late-night binge watching on Instagram.


Recently, on one such sleepless night, while scrolling through Instagram, she suddenly stopped at a GRWM reel. She watched it 3-4 times, not because of the outfit or makeup but because of the audio playing in the background: ‘Saanu nehar waale pul te bula ke, Te khore maahi kithe reh geya’. Without even realising it, she opened Spotify and searched Noor Jehan and ended up listening to all her ghazals on loop. Slowly and steadily that became her new norm.






From getting hooked on the age-old voices of Jagjit Singh and Mehndi Hassan to listening to new-age singers like Ali Sethi and Papon recreating the classics, Ghazals have become a new form of solace for this generation. Instagram has a habit of bringing old-long forgotten gems in trend and ghazals are one of them.

Ghazals are a form of poetry that originated in the 7th century. Initially, they were used by mystics to express their unconditional love and devotion for the almighty. Later, they evolved into a poetic form centered around love, longing, heartbreak and human emotions.

Mehdi Hassan is often referred to as the shahenshah-e-ghazal, who revolutionized the way ghazals were sung and brought them to a wider audience. On the other hand, Jagjit Singh, known as the King of Ghazals, modernized the genre of ghazals by incorporating western instruments like guitar, piano and violin while still preserving its poetic essence and touch.







Perhaps that is exactly why Gen Z is rediscovering these OGs. The honesty of the lyrics and the rawness of the music is so enthralling that it makes a strong connection and impact on the mind. This feels rare today as contemporary music is unable to make that same connection and impact.

With the growing interest in Ghazals, Mehfils and Baithaks are also slowly finding their place among young audiences. These intimate musical gatherings are often packed with Gen Z listeners seeking a more soulful and immersive experience.

Papon recently launched a six-city India tour titled Shaam-E-Mehfil with Papon. Following the success of its first edition, the new tour promises to be “grander and more immersive,” reflecting the rising demand for live ghazal and sufi experiences among younger audiences.

Similarly,IBTIDA-Ek Mehfil, known for organising mehfils, baithaks, poetry gatherings, art events, and sufi music performances across the country, has also witnessed a recent boom in popularity and audience engagement.

Even events like these are seeing packed audiences filled with Gen Zs, many of them even show up with their dates. In an age where most outings are around loud clubs, theseMehfils offer something new and rare, which is slow conversations, shared silences and music that actually makes people feel something.


Gen Z seems to be relating to Ghazals in a way that even older generations sometimes did not. They think that these songs perfectly capture the emotional chaos of modern dating culture. Take Ali Seth’s rendition of Ranjish He Sahi, which has recently been trending across Instagram, is being related to zombie-ing, when someone who once disappeared suddenly comes back into your life as if nothing happened.

Similarly, Noor Jahan’s viral ghazal Sanun Nahar Wale Pool Te Bula Ke is being interpreted through the lens of ghosting and love bombing. Maybe that is why, after exhausting days, failed talking stages, or nights filled with overthinking, Gen Z ends up returning to the voices of Jagjit Singh and Mehdi Hassan.




Life is tough and hard but somehow, when Jagjit Singh softly sings,“Aaj phir dil ko humne samjhaya, zindagi dhoop tum ghana saaya,” life feels a little less heavy. The heartbreak does not disappear, but for a moment, it feels easier to carry, with just a small pinch of hope hidden between the lyrics.