Some voices take years to find an audience. Suneel Lodhi’s voice had been waiting for one.
Visually impaired since birth and from a humble family, Lodhi turned to music at an early age. For years, he sang traditional Bundeli folk songs and devotional bhajans at local events, village gatherings and even on trains, carrying little more than his tambura and his music.
His performances may have been familiar to people in his local community, but his voice remained largely unknown beyond it.
Until the internet pressed play.
A Bhajan That Went Beyond Bundelkhand
Lodhi’s traditional Hanuman bhajan, “More Sankat Ke Kataiya,” became an unexpected digital hit after it was featured on the Bundeli Duniya platform.
The song crossed 29 million views, bringing a much wider audience to Lodhi’s powerful and deeply devotional voice.
For someone who had spent years performing in relatively small spaces, the response was a turning point.
It also caught the attention of music producer Pankaj VRK, who recognised something special in Lodhi’s voice. His discovery would eventually take Lodhi from singing at local gatherings to recording in a professional studio in Mumbai.
He Didn’t Even Know It Was for a Film
Lodhi’s first experience in a Mumbai recording studio came with a surprising twist.
He recorded a song without initially realising that his voice was being considered for a major feature film.
That song would eventually become “Maine Tere Hi Bharose”, featured in Hanuman Ansh, directed by Vishal Chaturvedi.
Released on August 7, 2026, the film has introduced Lodhi’s raw, devotional voice to audiences across India.
And there is something particularly fitting about the journey.
A singer who spent years performing devotional music in trains and villages has now lent his voice to a film centred around one of India’s most revered devotional figures.
When a Local Voice Becomes a National One
Lodhi’s story isn’t simply about going viral.
It is about how talent can exist far away from the traditional places where the industry looks for it.
For years, his music lived in trains, villages and local gatherings. There were no big stages or Bollywood studios attached to his name. His audience was largely limited to the people who happened to hear him perform.
Then came a recording, a viral bhajan and a producer who heard the potential in his voice.
The jump from a train compartment to a film soundtrack might sound unlikely. But Lodhi’s journey shows exactly why the digital world can sometimes change the trajectory of an artist overnight.
From a Tambura to the Big Screen
There is also something striking about how little his music needed to make an impact.
Lodhi’s performances were rooted in traditional Bundeli music and bhajans, rather than elaborate production or celebrity backing. His voice carried the emotion, while the simplicity of his performances became part of their charm.
That authenticity is perhaps what connected with listeners online.
Today, millions have heard a voice that was once largely known only in local circles. His journey from singing bhajans on trains to becoming part of a Bollywood film is a reminder that the next great voice doesn’t always come from a recording academy, a reality show or a famous music family.
Sometimes, it comes from somewhere completely unexpected.
And sometimes, all it takes is one song for the world to finally listen.