Badshah's 'Chimna': Marathi hip-hop debut is a love letter to Maharashtra
Synopsis
Badshah has crossed into Marathi music with 'Chimna', a folk-meets-hip-hop track shot entirely in Kolhapur. Collaborating with folk artist Nagesh Morwekar and singer Divya Kumar, the rapper calls it a love letter to Maharashtra — a sign of mainstream Hindi artists increasingly betting on regional music to expand their reach.
Key Takeaways
Badshah released his first Marathi hip-hop track 'Chimna' on 31 August , calling it his love letter to Maharashtra .
The song blends traditional Marathi folk textures with Badshah's commercial hip-hop style.
Collaborators include Bollywood playback singer Divya Kumar , Marathi folk artist Nagesh Morwekar , and producer Hiten .
The music video was shot entirely in Kolhapur , featuring wedding processions, daily wage workers, and mud wrestlers at a traditional akhada .
Marathi actress Neha Khan also appears in the video.
Rapper Badshah has made his Marathi music debut with 'Chimna', a genre-blending hip-hop track that fuses traditional Maharashtrian folk textures with his signature commercial sound, releasing on 31 August. The artist has described the song as his personal ode to Maharashtra, dedicating it to his Maharashtrian fanbase.
What 'Chimna' Sounds Like
The track opens with the folk lines 'ek chimna chiv chivla / majha sajan jaga zhala ho / surya ugavla' — meaning 'A sparrow chirped, my beloved woke up, the sun has risen' — before shifting into hip-hop verses. Badshah weaves in local flavour with lines like 'dance kar rahi dekho maushi maushi / nacho jab tak subah chidiya bole', and closes with the declaration 'tumcha mulga badshah' — 'Your boy Badshah'.
The Collaborators Behind the Track
For this Marathi debut, Badshah teamed up with Bollywood playback singer Divya Kumar and Marathi folk artist Nagesh Morwekar. The track was produced by Hiten. Marathi actress Neha Khan also features in the accompanying music video.
Shot Entirely in Kolhapur
The music video was filmed entirely in Kolhapur, capturing slices of everyday Maharashtrian life — from wedding processions and daily wage workers to mud wrestlers training at a traditional akhada. The visual treatment anchors the song's cultural ambitions in recognisable, ground-level imagery rather than stylised abstraction.
Badshah on the Song's Meaning
Speaking about the project, Badshah said: 'India's regional music is a goldmine and I want to celebrate every corner of it. Chimna is my love letter to Maharashtra's rich creative canvas. I am incredibly grateful for how this project turned out, and this one's dedicated to all my day one Maharashtrian fans!'
The Bigger Picture
The release signals a broader trend of mainstream Hindi-language artists venturing into regional music, tapping into growing listener bases on streaming platforms in states like Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal. For Badshah — known for chart-topping commercial Hindi and Punjabi tracks — 'Chimna' marks a deliberate cultural pivot, spotlighting homegrown Marathi talent alongside his own commercial reach. Whether the experiment translates into sustained regional engagement will be closely watched by the industry.
Point of View
And Maharashtra — with its massive urban listener base — is too large a market for any commercial artist to ignore. The interesting test is whether a track produced by a Hindi-Punjabi mainstream act genuinely moves Marathi music culture forward, or whether it borrows folk aesthetics for reach without deepening the ecosystem. The involvement of Nagesh Morwekar is a credible step; whether Badshah returns for a sustained regional body of work, rather than a one-off, will determine the real impact.
NationPress
31 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Badshah's 'Chimna' about?
'Chimna' is Badshah's first Marathi hip-hop track, released on 31 August, blending traditional Maharashtrian folk music with his signature commercial hip-hop style. The song celebrates Maharashtra's culture and community, and Badshah has described it as his love letter to the state.
Who collaborated on 'Chimna' with Badshah?
Badshah collaborated with Bollywood playback singer Divya Kumar and Marathi folk artist Nagesh Morwekar on the track. It was produced by Hiten, and Marathi actress Neha Khan features in the music video.
Where was the 'Chimna' music video shot?
The music video for 'Chimna' was shot entirely in Kolhapur, Maharashtra. It captures everyday life in the state, including wedding processions, daily wage workers, and mud wrestlers training at a traditional akhada.
Why is Badshah's Marathi debut significant?
It marks the first time Badshah — known primarily for Hindi and Punjabi commercial hits — has released a track in Marathi, signalling the growing commercial interest of mainstream artists in India's regional music markets. The collaboration with local folk talent also puts a spotlight on homegrown Marathi artists.
What are the opening lines of 'Chimna'?
The track opens with the traditional folk lines 'ek chimna chiv chivla / majha sajan jaga zhala ho / surya ugavla', which translate to 'A sparrow chirped, my beloved woke up, the sun has risen', before transitioning into hip-hop verses.
