2025 has been a great year for South Asian musicians in Canada. The Juno Awards introduced a new category, the South Asian Music Recording of the Year, and its first nominees included Toronto-based Bollywood singer Jonita Gandhi and Scarborough-born producer Yanchan Rajmohan (a.k.a. Yanchan Produced).
The Juno Awards acknowledge that Canada is a global hotspot for South Asian music. This is reflected in the excitement young people have for these artists, whose fanbases, backgrounds, and musical styles span across borders.
Gen-Z Tamil Canadians are also big fans of Anirudh Ravichander, Yuvan Shankar Raja, G.V. Prakash Kumar, and Hip Hop Tamizha, along with singers like Shreya Ghoshal and Sid Sriram from India, as well as Canada’s own Jonita Gandhi.
Similarly, the huge impact of Punjabi language and culture on Bollywood is amplified in the diaspora, leading to several Punjabi artists—such as A.P. Dhillon, Shubh, Karan Aujla, and Diljit Dosanjh, among others—finding major success in both Canada and India.
In August, the TamilCulture team met legendary Tamil Indian composer A.R. Rahman at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) during a meet-and-greet with South Asian Canadian filmmakers, offering another glimpse into the growing cultural influence from the region.
Tamil Indian composer Harris Jayaraj was honoured in July by the Canadian government, which said, “Through your unforgettable melodies and innovative compositions, you have elevated the global reach of Tamil music and inspired a new generation of artistes.”
Jayaraj performed a sold-out show at Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena at the end of June, drawing a massive crowd. The turnout reflects the growing relevance of South Asian musicians, who connect with audiences steeped in a film-and-music-driven fan culture that has been cultivated over generations. Now that people from the region have been in Canada for over a century, it is only natural that their musical heritage is flourishing here as well.
South Asians of many nationalities and cultures make up over seven per cent of the Canadian population. This has created an ongoing cultural dialogue between Canada and their countries of origin. Young people of the diaspora are taking the “mainstream” into their own hands and refusing to simply stay on the sidelines or blend in.
Adopting diverse music signals that youth want to reshape norms and broaden what it means to be Canadian. Cultural belonging is inseparable from being Canadian, and the youth of the South Asian diaspora are stepping up to make their mark. It is a win-win situation for both Canada and South Asian countries, as each grows soft power and builds stronger connections between their peoples.
Canada is the 8th-largest music market in the world, according to Billboard, generating CAD $660 million in 2024. India’s expanding market for music and film also plays a role in this growth. Spotify reports that over 50% of the revenues generated by Indian artists in 2024 came from listeners outside the country. Canada is one of the places where these artists are gaining new listeners—and plenty of love.
The Canadian music industry is paying attention.
In 2023, Warner Music launched 91 North, a joint venture between its Canada and India divisions designed to promote artists of South Asian heritage. Live events and related cultural activities are also major engines of economic impact, boosting tourism, hospitality, merchandise sales, and other allied sectors—driven by a demographic that is largely middle-class, upwardly mobile, and aspirational.
Artists and musicians from the diaspora are enjoying the “best of both worlds.” Canada provides the infrastructure and creative freedom that allow them to thrive, while their cultural roots enrich their sound and ensure a loyal fanbase in their homelands—so long as they can cut through the noise and reach audiences.
There are so many reasons for South Asian Canadians (or residents), young or old, to be proud of their musicians. It is a way to assert identity and belong on equal terms. It is a community’s signature and a celebration of its uniqueness. And most importantly, desi music is a lot of fun. Just ask anyone who has been to a Bollywood dance party!
