Delhi-based DJ and producer duo MadStarBase have partnered with Saregama for the official release of four remixes, marking a notable milestone for artists whose early edits circulated primarily through DJ sets, YouTube uploads and word-of-mouth discovery.
The duo, comprising Neal Sekhri and Anant Ahuja, built a reputation over the past decade through their reworks of classic Bollywood recordings, creating club-ready versions that found audiences across India’s electronic music scene and beyond. This month, four of those reinterpretations are being formally released through Saregama, India’s oldest music label.
The rollout began with a reimagining of RD Burman’s Dum Maaro Dum, originally sung by Asha Bhosle, and continues with a new version of Saat Samundar, which arrived on streaming platforms this week.
For MadStarBase, the deal represents an unusual journey from unofficial edits to label-backed releases.
“It rarely happens that illegal bootlegs get signed by a major label,” the duo said in a statement. “Ours did. What started as throwaway edits to include in just our sets became recognised as valuable IP, legitimised by the labels themselves.”
The pair first began producing Bollywood edits in 2016 as material for their own DJ performances. At the time, they saw an opportunity to reintroduce older Hindi film songs to club audiences through contemporary electronic production.
According to the duo, a performance at the 2017 edition of Magnetic Fields helped demonstrate the appetite for those reinterpretations.
“When we played the edits at our first set at Magnetic Fields in 2017, the crowd reaction showed we’d tapped into something the scene had left behind but people still loved,” they said.
Over the following years, MadStarBase developed a distinct style that blended Bollywood source material with influences from hip-hop, bass music, reggae, funk and electronic club culture. Their edits circulated widely online and became staples in DJ sets both in India and internationally.
One of their most widely recognised reworks, a remix of Mehbooba Mehbooba, accumulated millions of views across multiple uploads despite repeated copyright takedowns. A version of the track currently has more than 25 million views on YouTube.
Their work has also attracted support from artists and DJs including Diplo, Flowdan, DJ Craze, Manara and Nina Las Vegas. The duo has performed at events including Boiler Room and London’s Dialled In festival, while also representing India’s independent electronic music scene at India House during the Paris Olympics in 2024.
The Saregama partnership follows an earlier deal with Universal Music in 2024 and reflects a broader shift in how labels are engaging with remix culture. Tracks that once existed in legal grey areas are increasingly being licensed and commercialised as rights holders recognise the value of reinterpretations that introduce catalogue music to new audiences.
While MadStarBase continue to release edits and remixes, the duo say their focus is increasingly shifting towards projects rooted in Indian artistic traditions and original creative collaborations.
Among those is Sakhi, a dance-theatre production with Keelaka Dance Company exploring the relationship between Sita and Draupadi. The project combines electronic music, hip-hop and R&B influences with Bharatanatyam traditions.
“What we’re really excited about right now is going deeper into Indian artistry and culture. Not just sampling it or using it as a vibe, but actually building with it,” said Anant Ahuja.
“That’s the kind of project we want to keep doing, where two worlds are actually talking to each other, not just sitting next to each other,” added Neal Sekhri.
The remaining releases in the Saregama series will arrive weekly throughout June.
