{{Short description|Indian rapper}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2025}} {{Use Indian English|date=July 2025}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Paal Dabba | birth_name = Anish | alias = Paal Dabba | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|2000|01|17}} | genre = Hip-hop, Pop | occupation = Musician, Songwriter, Dancer, Choreographer | label = Think Music India }}
'''Anish''' (born 17 January 2000), better known by his stage name '''Paal Dabba''', is an Indian rapper, singer, songwriter and choreographer<ref>{{Cite news |last=Iyengar |first=Mahalaxmi |date=2019-06-03 |title=From Chennai streets to World of Dance |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/dance/from-chennai-streets-to-world-of-dance/article27414750.ece |access-date=2024-08-24 |work=The Hindu}}</ref> from Chennai, Tamil Nadu. He is best known for his singles "170CM", "Galatta" (from ''Aavesham''), and "Kaathu Mela".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Paal Dabba – Future of Music |url=https://rollingstoneindia.com/future-of-music-2024/paal-dabba-future-of-music-2024/ |access-date=2024-08-23 |website=Rolling Stone India}}</ref>
== Early life == Anish was born in Pulianthope, Tamil Nadu and later shifted to Vyasarpadi. He was a professional dancer before transitioning to the music industry.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Iyengar |first=Mahalaxmi |date=2019-06-03 |title=From Chennai streets to World of Dance |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/dance/from-chennai-streets-to-world-of-dance/article27414750.ece |access-date=2024-08-24 |work=The Hindu}}</ref> As a member of the Bfab dance crew, he participated in various reality shows and won national competitions like Breezer Vivid Shuffle 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sudeep |first=Theres |title=Popular dance crew wins hiphop event |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/india/karnataka/bengaluru/popular-dance-crew-wins-hiphop-event-768897.html |access-date=2024-08-24 |website=Deccan Herald}}</ref> Later, he ventured into rapping, adopting the stage name "Paal Dabba", inspired by his love for cold milk.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ganesh |first=Sanjana |date=2024-05-15 |title=Tamil rapper Paal Dabba on his Chennai roots, camp costumes and cryptic clues in songs |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/music/tamil-rapper-paal-dabba-on-his-chennai-roots-camp-costumes-and-cryptic-clues-in-songs/article68174310.ece |access-date=2024-08-23 |work=The Hindu}}</ref>
== Career == Anish (Paal Dabba) started his career professionally in 2022 with his single "3SHA" while he was a part of Bfab Dance Crew.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNHtCxxSFTY |title=PAAL DABBA – 3SHA {{!}} (Official Music video) |date=2022-06-11 |last=Bfab Dance Crew |access-date=2024-08-23 |via=YouTube}}</ref> The track gained recognition. In 2023, he performed the song "His Name Is John" from the unreleased movie ''Dhruva Natchathiram''.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-07-19 |title='Dhruva Natchathiram': 'His Name Is John' song from Gautham Menon-Vikram's film out |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/dhruva-natchathiram-his-name-is-john-song-from-gautham-menon-vikrams-film-out/article67097152.ece |access-date=2024-08-23 |work=The Hindu}}</ref> The same year, he released "170CM" through Think Music Indie, which was featured in Apple's 'Work is worth it' campaign.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Apple launches 'Work is worth it' Mac campaign in India |url=https://www.fonearena.com/blog/426426/apple-work-is-worth-it-mac-campaign-india.html |access-date=2024-08-23 |website=FoneArena}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-06-10 |title=Apple India's latest campaign for Mac highlights tenacity of college students |url=https://campaignbriefasia.com/2024/06/10/apple-indias-latest-campaign-for-mac-highlights-tenacity-of-college-students/ |access-date=2024-08-23 |website=Campaign Brief Asia}}</ref> The track received critical acclaim.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-09-20 |title=Tamil Rapper Paal Dabba's New Music Video Is An Inspired, Pop Culture-Laced Acid Trip |url=https://homegrown.co.in/homegrown-creators/tamil-rapper-paal-dabbas-new-music-video-is-an-inspired-pop-culture-laced-acid-trip |access-date=2024-08-23 |website=Homegrown}}</ref>
In 2024, he sang "Galatta", featuring Sushin Shyam and Vinayak Sasikumar, from the Malayalam film ''Aavesham''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-03-12 |title=Second single 'Galatta' from Fahadh Faasil's Aavesham out |url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/malayalam/news/2024/Mar/12/second-single-galatta-from-fahadh-faasils-aavesham-out |access-date=2024-08-23 |website=Cinema Express}}</ref> The track received over 30 million streams, charting in the Top 100 in India & UAE on Spotify Charts.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sushin Shyam – Galatta – Spotify Chart History |url=https://kworb.net/spotify/track/28x6WpVq1ty4dPDeqK0zPO.html |access-date=2024-08-23 |website=Kworb}}</ref>
His release "Kaathu Mela" with OfRo came out in 2024 and went viral on Instagram. The track ranked in the Top 100 Spotify India Charts.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Paal Dabba – Spotify Chart History |url=https://chartstats.com/spotify/artist/0cQJg3qKYiogK9Qj1H0Qpx |access-date=2024-08-23 |website=ChartStats |archive-date=2024-08-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240823183621/https://chartstats.com/spotify/artist/0cQJg3qKYiogK9Qj1H0Qpx |url-status=dead}}</ref> The music video for the song was filmed on a police station set, highlighting the current state of law and order.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tagat |first=Anurag |date=2024-08-22 |title=Paal Dabba on Directing and Dancing His Way Through 'Kaathu Mela' |url=https://rollingstoneindia.com/paal-dabba-kaathu-mela-new-song-video/ |access-date=2024-08-23 |website=Rolling Stone India}}</ref>
He performed the promo song "Makkamishi" from the 2024 Tamil film ''Brother''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-07-18 |title=Brother first single promo OUT: Jayam Ravi shakes a leg to peppy beats of Makkamishi |url=https://www.pinkvilla.com/entertainment/south/brother-first-single-promo-out-jayam-ravi-shakes-a-leg-to-peppy-beats-of-makkamishi-makers-announce-release-date-1329572 |access-date=2024-08-23 |website=Pinkvilla}}</ref> Anish was featured in ''Rolling Stone India's'' "Future Top 25 Artists 2024" and in ''Prime Music's'' "Future Artists of the Generation"''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Future of Music 2024 |url=https://rollingstoneindia.com/future-of-music-2024 |access-date=2024-08-23 |website=Rolling Stone India}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-04-05 |title=Everything You Need to Know About Rolling Stone India's Future of Music Campaign |url=https://rollingstoneindia.com/everything-you-need-to-know-about-rolling-stone-indias-future-of-music/ |access-date=2024-08-23 |website=Rolling Stone India}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Amazon Music Reveals the Breakthrough Artists to Watch India 2024 |url=https://www.radioandmusic.com/entertainment/editorial/news/240113-amazon-music-reveals-the-breakthrough |access-date=2024-08-23 |website=Radio and Music}}</ref>''
== Discography == === Singles === {| class="wikitable sortable" |+ List of singles by Paal Dabba |- ! Year !! Song !! Language !! Composer !! Ref. |- | rowspan="2"|2022 || "3SHA" || rowspan="11" |Tamil || Saish Bharadwaj || <ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNHtCxxSFTY |title=PAAL DABBA – 3SHA (Official Music Video) |date=2022-06-11 |access-date=2024-08-23 |via=YouTube}}</ref> |- | "Ai" || phenomenalprod || |- | rowspan="2"|2023 || "170CM" || Flameboi || <ref>{{Cite web |title=Apple launches 'Work is worth it' Mac campaign in India |url=https://www.fonearena.com/blog/426426/apple-work-is-worth-it-mac-campaign-india.html |access-date=2024-08-23}}</ref> |- | "SAB" || Himself || |- | rowspan="5" |2024 || "Binge and Cringe" || Darbuka Siva || |- | "OCB" || Shiv Paul || |- | "Kaathu Mela" || ofRo || <ref>{{Cite web |last=Tagat |first=Anurag |date=2024-08-22 |title=Paal Dabba on Directing and Dancing His Way Through 'Kaathu Mela' |url=https://rollingstoneindia.com/paal-dabba-kaathu-mela-new-song-video/ |access-date=2024-08-23}}</ref> |- |"Torrie Wilson- Red Bull 64 Bars" |Sez on the Beat | |- |"D.A.T.N." with Brodha V |Brodha V |<ref>{{Cite web |last=Soji |first=Alwin Benjamin |date=February 8, 2025 |title=‘Hengaithe Maige’ by Brodha V is that one Kannada single that his fans have been eagerly waiting for! |url=https://www.indulgexpress.com/culture/music/2025/Feb/08/hengaithe-maige-by-brodha-v-is-that-one-kannada-single-that-his-fans-have-been-eagerly-waiting-for |access-date=December 29, 2025 |website=Indulgexpress}}</ref> |- | rowspan="3" |2025 |"X" |SHIV PAUL | |- |"Vibe" |Sickflip |<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tagat |first=Anurag |date=April 13, 2025 |title=Paal Dabba and Sickflip Match Dancefloor Energies on ‘Vibe’ |url=https://rollingstoneindia.com/paal-dabba-sickflip-vibe-song-video/ |access-date=December 29, 2025 |website=Rolling Stone India}}</ref> |- |"United by Hip Hop" with Reble, Vichaar and 99side |Hindi, Tamil, English |Adil | |- |2026 |Psilovibin |Tamil |Foxn | |}
=== Film songs === {| class="wikitable sortable" |+ List of film songs by Paal Dabba |- ! Year !! Song !! Film !! Language !! Composer !! Ref. |- | rowspan="2"|2023 || "His Name is John" || ''Dhruva Natchathiram'' || rowspan="2" |Tamil || Harris Jayaraj || <ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-07-19 |title='Dhruva Natchathiram': 'His Name Is John' song out |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/dhruva-natchathiram-his-name-is-john-song-from-gautham-menon-vikrams-film-out/article67097152.ece |access-date=2024-08-23 |work=The Hindu}}</ref> |- | "Kaattu Payapulla" || ''Let's Get Married'' || Ramesh Thamilmani || <ref>{{Cite web |title=Let's Get Married soundtrack |url=https://www.moviecrow.com/lets-get-married-songs |access-date=2024-08-23}}</ref> |- | rowspan="2"|2024 || "Galatta" || ''Aavesham'' || Malayalam || Sushin Shyam || <ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-03-12 |title=Second single 'Galatta' from Fahadh Faasil's Aavesham out |url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/malayalam/news/2024/Mar/12/second-single-galatta-from-fahadh-faasils-aavesham-out |access-date=2024-08-23}}</ref> |- || "Makkamishi" || ''Brother'' || rowspan="6" |Tamil || Harris Jayaraj || <ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-07-18 |title=Brother first single promo OUT: Jayam Ravi shakes a leg to Makkamishi |url=https://www.pinkvilla.com/entertainment/south/brother-first-single-promo-out-jayam-ravi-shakes-a-leg-to-peppy-beats-of-makkamishi-makers-announce-release-date-1329572 |access-date=2024-08-23}}</ref> |- | rowspan="4"|2025 || "God Bless U" || ''Good Bad Ugly'' || G. V. Prakash Kumar || <ref>{{Cite web |title=Good Bad Ugly first single out |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/flix/good-bad-ugly-first-single-anirudh |access-date=2024-08-23}}</ref> |- || "O Maara" || ''Thug Life'' || A. R. Rahman || <ref>{{Cite web |title=AR Rahman composes for Thug Life |url=https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/ar-rahman-thug-life-song-o-maara |access-date=2024-08-23}}</ref> |- || "Idi Mazhai" || ''3BHK'' || Amrit Ramnath || |- || "Oorum Blood" || ''Dude'' || rowspan="2" | Sai Abhyankkar || <ref>{{Cite web |title=Dude soundtrack announced |url=https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/dude/dude-songs.html |access-date=2024-08-23}}</ref> |- |2026 |"Raathu Raasan" |''Karuppu'' | |}
== Awards and nominations == {| class="wikitable sortable" |- style="background:#B0C4DE;" ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Award ! scope="col" | Category ! scope="col" | Work ! scope="col" | Result |- | 2024 | Behindwoods Gold Mic Music Awards | Independent Rap Singer – Tamil | — | Won<ref>{{Cite web |title=Behindwoods Gold Winners 2024 |url=https://www.behindwoods.com/behindwoods-gold-awards-2024.html |access-date=2024-08-23}}</ref> |}
== References == <references />
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Dabba, Paal}} Category:Tamil film poets Category:Indian rappers Category:Tamil rappers Category:Indian pop singers Category:Musicians from Chennai Category:2000 births Category:Living people Category:21st-century Indian rappers