From partnering with a major music label for covers of Bollywood hits to fully engaging in cultural events, Kpop idol Aoora’s adventures in India had it all. And now that he has established an office in Mumbai, the South Korean star is all set for exciting collaborations, concerts, and more. Here’s everything you need to know.
The Hallyu wave has taken over the world, with finger hearts, expressions like Hwaiting! (good luck), and kimchi becoming part of popular culture. But South Korea is not immune to the enchantment of Indian culture. Idols like BTS’ RM and GOT7’s Jackson Wang have expressed their appreciation for India, its cuisine, and way of life. Aoora, a singer-composer and former member of the Kpop boy group Double-A, took his passion for all things ‘desi’ to the next level by creating Korean renditions of popular Bollywood songs that gained millions of views. Here’s what we know about the artist and his plans for his fans in India.
K-pop star Aoora embraced Indian culture with Baaghi’s Cham Cham
Aoora developed a passion for Kpop music during his teenage years and received formal training. He started his career as a member of the Kpop group Double-A, as well as its subunit Aoora and Hoik. On September 4, 2009, he released the electro-dance track Love Back, followed by his first solo single Body Party featuring Betty Rose, a sensual number with tongue clicks as a recurring motif.
His introduction to Indian entertainment came with the Bollywood song Cham Cham from the movie Baaghi (2016), which he danced to. In an interview with CNN-News-18, he revealed that this led him to explore not only Bollywood but also Tamil, Telugu, and Punjabi songs. His interactions with fans from India made him realize that the country’s “culture, vibe, and energy” resonated with his own. He also started listening to songs in other Indian languages. “What immediately resonated with me was their vibrant energy, catchy rhythms, and effective use of chorus, all of which are distinctive features of K-pop,” he told The Week.
He creates Korean versions of Bollywood tracks, some in collaboration with Saregama
The Indophile has performed at various venues, concerts, and events across India, sharing that he has had many fun and memorable interactions with fans and hopes to spend more time with them. “I love Indian food. Indian weather. Indian people,” the artist told India Today, expressing his fondness for Punjab in particular. “The weather and the mood there were so nice.”
His set-list features his most popular renditions of Indian songs. Among them, Auva Auva, Jimmy Jimmy, and Yeh Shaam Mastani are creations in collaboration with Saregama, which is responsible for music across various media platforms in over 25 local languages. “I loved the disco mood of the song,” he revealed to India Today when referring to his version of Jimmy Jimmy. He considered it an honor to create a Kpop version of the track. “This collaboration showcases my deep admiration for Indian music and my desire to create something truly special that resonates with fans from both cultures,” he said, as quoted by Wion News.
He added, “It has been such an honor to work with India’s most prestigious label and infuse the Kpop flavor into a wonderful song like Jimmy Jimmy.” Recreating the song in the Kpop style while maintaining its original flavor was a challenge. “But together with my music producer, we were able to create a sound that I am very proud of. I hope all my fans will remember this version for a long time.”
He has dedicated and well-produced music videos for each song. His versions of Naatu Naatu and Woh Kisna Hai are also extremely popular, and he performed the latter at a concert in Mathura, where he was invited by the Uttar Pradesh government. He also treated fans to a mashup of Mai Tera Boyfriend (Raabta) and Euphoria (Jungkook).
He also enjoys choreographed dances and festivals
In addition to singing, Aoora is known for his dance performances to Indian tracks. He went viral with his dances to Cham Cham (Baaghi) and Naach (Dream Girl 2). However, his favorite is Badtameez Dil from the movie Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, which he confessed took him a day to learn all the steps. He has also been spotted doing garba and celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi in traditional attire. Recently, he was seen at pandals during Durga Puja 2023, participating in the Dhunuchi dance.
He’s learning Hindi and English to connect better with fans
In several interviews, Aoora has mentioned his focus on learning Hindi and English to improve his interaction with fans and create music. He believes that making music is his destiny and has a few mashups of Tamil, Telugu, and Punjabi songs in the pipeline. Currently, he is captivated by the song Chaleya from the movie Jawan. He also hopes to strengthen the ties between India and South Korea.
All images: Courtesy Aoora
