Sep 25, 2026 6:57pm IST
Composer Anurag Saikia Exits ‘Mismatched’ Ahead of Final Season, Teases ‘Panchayat’ Return (EXCLUSIVE)
Composer Anurag Saikia is gearing up to bring audiences back to Phulera for the upcoming season of “Panchayat.” Known for shaping one of the most recognizable musical worlds in Indian streaming, Saikia aims to keep the show's signature sound familiar to loyal fans while allowing the score to evolve alongside its characters and story. At the same time, he is exploring traditional soundscapes with his track “Jalwa-E-Jaanaan” from the musical project “Maati.”
Speaking about returning to the world of “Panchayat,” exclusively to Variety India Saikia shares, “The most beautiful thing about ‘Panchayat’ is that you never really know where the story is going. It can surprise you, make you laugh and suddenly make you emotional.
So the music has to have that same unpredictability. We’ve tried to explore that while keeping the soul of ‘Panchayat’ intact. I can’t wait for people to hear what we’ve been cooking this season.”
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However, as one major streaming universe continues for the composer, another comes to a poignant close. After giving “Mismatched” defining hits like “Ishq Hai” and multiple versions of “Aise Kyun,” Saikia confirmed he will not return for the upcoming final season. “I’m not a part of this season,” Saikia reveales.
He adds, “My association with ‘Mismatched’ has been incredibly beautiful and emotional. From the Bossa Nova version of ‘Aise Kyun,’ to Rekhaji’s (Rekha Bhardwaj’s) version, and then ‘Ishq Hai’, I feel I’ve given this journey all my heart. It has been a very special chapter for me. But sometimes, you also have to know when to step back and let someone else take the journey forward. I chose to do that with a lot of love and gratitude, carrying only good memories with me.”
Beyond screen scores, Saikia’s creative vision is deeply tied to “Maati,” a project dedicated to bringing India’s traditional musical roots to contemporary audiences. Aout drawing consistently from his Assamese heritage, he says, “For me, returning to the soil means returning to something instinctive. Assam has shaped the way I listen to music and the way I understand emotion. No matter how far I travel musically, those sounds somehow find their way back into my work.”
This ethos also guides his approach to the Sufi-qawwali tradition in “Jalwa-E-Jaanaan,” where he balances deep historical reverence with a modern sensibility. He says, “I try not to overthink it. I respect the emotion and grammar of the form, but I also allow myself to hear it in my own language. For me, the soul should remain intact while the sound can evolve naturally.”
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