Bollywood music has long existed beyond cinema. Songs become part of everyday life, crossing generations and outliving the films that introduced them. But bringing that vast catalogue of music to a festival stage requires a format that can accommodate different eras, genres and audiences. The Bollywood Music Project (BMP), launched in 2016, built its identity around that idea, creating a platform where playback singers, composers, bands and independent performers could share the same bill.

A decade later, BMP returns to Mumbai on October 24, 2026, at Jio World Garden for its tenth-anniversary edition. The programme features more than 20 artists across two stages, bringing together established names from Bollywood film music alongside acts drawing on rock, folk, Sufi and contemporary sounds.

The festival's approach recognises that Bollywood music is not a single genre. Its repertoire stretches from romantic ballads and dance anthems to orchestral compositions and rock-influenced tracks. These songs also carry associations with particular films, performers and periods, giving audiences reasons to connect with the music beyond its original cinematic setting.

BMP's lineup reflects that breadth. Himesh Reshammiya headlines the anniversary edition, joined by Shilpa Rao and Hariharan, who is set to perform with his son, Akshay Hariharan. Composer Anu Malik also features, alongside Roop Kumar Rathod and Sunali Rathod, Neeraj Shridhar, Babul Supriyo, Shahid Mallya, Vaishali Samant, Abhay Jodhpurkar and Jaan Kumar Sanu. Anmol Malik and Ada Malik are also part of the programme.

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Euphoria brings a different strand of India's popular music history to the festival. The Hindi rock band emerged from an independent music scene that developed alongside the film industry, illustrating how the boundaries between Bollywood, non-film music and live performance can overlap. The second stage expands that mix with Kutle Khan Project, Anjana, Akshat Hariharan, Anirudh Suswaram, Bombay Bandook, Retro2Metro, Junaid Ahmed, The Qurious Band and Aseem. Surprise artists are also expected to join the announced lineup.

What distinguishes the festival format is the opportunity to bring these different musical identities into one programme. Rather than focusing on a single artist, genre or period, BMP places performers associated with different generations alongside one another. For audiences, that can mean moving between familiar playback voices, band performances and musical styles that sit outside conventional film soundtracks.

Over ten years, BMP has established a recurring space for experiencing Bollywood film music as live entertainment in its own right. Its continued presence reflects the appeal of a catalogue that audiences already know, while the festival format gives those songs another context through performance, arrangement and shared listening.

The anniversary also invites a closer look at the claim that BMP has rewritten the live music playbook. Its multi-genre programming and focus on film music offer a distinct proposition.

Ten years on, BMP returns to the relationship at the heart of its concept: music that first reached audiences through cinema can take on a different life on stage. By bringing familiar voices, independent acts and multiple generations together, the festival continues to explore how Bollywood music connects with audiences beyond the screen.

The 2026 edition is an initiative by EVA Live, with Capital Group as strategic partner and GIGX as community partner. Tickets are available through District by Zomato.