Swanand Kirkire is all set to make his debut as creator with Bandwaale, which will begin streaming on Prime Video on Friday, February 13. Swanand, who has co-written the series in association with Ankur Tewari, is also playing one of the lead roles in the musical series. Ahead of the show’s release, the notable lyricist-actor spoke about the show, and why it feels like a natural extension for him as an artist.

In an official statement, Swanand said, “Creating my first series and also playing the lead in it has been both humbling and exhilarating. It’s a different responsibility when you’re shaping an entire world while also living inside it as a character. I’ve learned to trust the process, collaborate deeply, and let the story guide me.”

Speaking about the place of stories in his life, the lyricist added, “For a very long time, stories have lived with me, some through music, some through characters, and some quietly in my head. Bandwaale is a result of those stories finally finding a form that allows them to breathe over time. This feels like a natural extension of my creative journey.”

The trailer of Bandwaale was unveiled by the makers on Wednesday. Directed by Akshat Verma and Ankur Tewari, Bandwaale follows Mariam (Shalini), a young poet who begins anonymously sharing her writing online as she navigates questions of identity, freedom, and belonging. Her journey unfolds alongside Robo (Swanand) and DJ Psycho (Zahan), as the trio leans on music, humour, and shared ambition to imagine a life beyond their circumstances. 

The Prime Original series is produced by OML Entertainment. The series has original compositions by Yashraj Mukhate, marking his first long-form series as a composer and poems by Kausar Munir. Bandwaale also features Sanjana Dipu, Ashish Vidyarthi, and Anupama Kumar in pivotal roles.