The Story Behind “Competition” — From Noida Sessions to a Chandigarh

Some songs are created in a few sessions, while others slowly grow through months of planning, recording, collaboration, and visual development. For O$KAR, also known as OSKAR and Arun Pandey, “Competition” became one of those projects where every stage developed into a story of its own.

Featuring Himanshu Verma as the singer and O$KAR on rap, “Competition” began taking shape in 2022. The project started during an extended stay in Noida, moved through recording and production at BeatMix Studios, expanded into an ambitious music video shot in Chandigarh, and eventually reached its launch on July 15, 2023 — a date that also happens to be O$KAR's birthday.

The Beginning of “Competition” in 2022

The journey of “Competition” began in 2022, when O$KAR spent around three months in Noida.

This period was not simply about visiting a studio and recording a track. A large part of the song's planning and creative development happened during these months. Ideas were discussed, the direction of the music was shaped, and the team gradually worked toward defining what “Competition” should become.

The songwriting itself was a collaboration.

O$KAR and Himanshu Verma wrote the lyrics of “Competition” together. Himanshu Verma performed the sung vocals, while O$KAR delivered the rap. Having both artists involved in writing the song helped bring the vocal and rap sections together as parts of the same creative idea rather than treating the rap as something added later.

For O$KAR, those three months in Noida became the foundation for everything that followed.

Recording at BeatMix Studios, Noida

The audio production took place around Gaur City, Noida, at BeatMix Studios.

The work there went beyond recording the vocals. The recording, mixing, and mastering of “Competition” were all completed during the Noida phase at BeatMix Studios.

This gave the team time to concentrate on the sound before moving toward the visual side of the project.

The song was produced by DRC and Arun Pandey (O$KAR), adding another role for O$KAR beyond writing and performing his rap. His involvement extended into the production of the track itself.

By the time the audio was ready, “Competition” had already brought together several creative roles: Himanshu Verma on vocals, O$KAR on rap, O$KAR and Himanshu Verma as lyricists, and DRC and Arun Pandey (O$KAR) as producers.

But completing the audio was only one part of the plan.

The next challenge was turning the song into a music video.

Building the Team Behind the Music Video

As “Competition” developed, Hitesh Dewangan and DRC showed interest in the song, and the project began moving toward a larger visual production.

Planning started for a music video that could match the ambition behind the track.

For the shoot, Hitesh Dewangan and Sarab Maan took on the direction. Chandigarh was selected for the production, with the video planned inside a film-city environment.

The idea that had started months earlier during O$KAR's stay in Noida was now becoming a much larger project involving artists, directors, models, cinematographers, and a full production crew.

March 2, 2023 — The Chandigarh Shoot

One of the biggest milestones in the journey arrived on March 2, 2023, when the “Competition” music video was shot in Chandigarh.

The production took place inside a film city, providing the team with a large environment for the different setups planned for the video.

In front of the camera, O$KAR and DRC performed in the music video. Their performances became a central part of the visual presentation of “Competition.”

The video also featured foreign models, while a sizeable crew worked behind the scenes to execute the production.

This was not a quick shoot.

Filming continued from daytime into the night, making March 2 a long production day for everyone involved. Different setups had to be completed as the day progressed, requiring coordination between the performers, directors, camera department, models, and the rest of the crew.

For O$KAR, it was the moment when months of planning and studio work finally became something visual.

Working With an Experienced Crew

Another memorable part of the “Competition” shoot was the level of experience behind the camera.

The project's Director of Photography (DOP) had previously worked with major names in Indian entertainment, including Guru Randhawa and Kapil Sharma.

That experience contributed to a production environment that felt significantly larger than simply filming a basic performance video.

With Hitesh Dewangan and Sarab Maan directing, O$KAR and DRC performing on camera, foreign models participating in the visual setups, and an experienced technical crew working behind the scenes, the Chandigarh shoot became one of the most substantial stages of the entire project.

By the time filming wrapped at night on March 2, 2023, another major chapter in the “Competition” journey had been completed.

From Chandigarh to the Official Release

After the music video shoot, the project moved toward its release.

“Competition” was launched through Nischay Records, the label/channel that later became Gem Tunes Punjabi.

Instead of simply releasing the track online and moving on, a proper launch celebration was planned.

The chosen date was July 15, 2023.

For O$KAR, that date already had a personal meaning.

July 15, 2023 — A Song Launch and a Birthday

July 15 is Arun Pandey (O$KAR)'s birthday.

That turned the launch of “Competition” into two celebrations happening on the same day.

A launch party was organized for the song, and many people attended the occasion. After everything that had gone into creating the project, the event became an opportunity to finally celebrate the finished work.

By that point, the journey had stretched from 2022 into 2023.

There had been around three months in Noida dedicated to planning and developing the project. The song had been written collaboratively by O$KAR and Himanshu Verma, recorded, mixed, and mastered at BeatMix Studios, and produced by DRC and O$KAR.

Then came the move from audio to visuals.

A production team was assembled, Chandigarh became the destination, and on March 2 the crew completed a demanding day-to-night film-city shoot featuring O$KAR and DRC on camera.

Several months later, on July 15, 2023, all of those stages finally led to the launch celebration.

Having the release celebration take place on O$KAR's birthday made an already important project even more personal.

Why “Competition” Is an Important Chapter for O$KAR

Looking back, “Competition” represents much more than one song in O$KAR's catalogue.

It represents a complete creative process in which he was involved at multiple levels.

He wasn't only the rapper appearing on the track. O$KAR co-wrote the lyrics with Himanshu Verma, performed the rap, co-produced the song with DRC, and performed in the music video alongside DRC.

That makes the story behind “Competition” a useful reflection of O$KAR's broader approach to music — being involved not only in performance, but also in writing, production, planning, and the visual presentation of a release.

The project also brought together a wider team.

Himanshu Verma contributed as singer and co-lyricist. DRC worked with O$KAR on production and also performed in the music video. Hitesh Dewangan and Sarab Maan directed during the Chandigarh shoot, while BeatMix Studios became the home of the recording, mixing, and mastering process.

From a three-month creative period in Noida to the March 2, 2023 Chandigarh film-city shoot and finally the July 15, 2023 launch, “Competition” became a project defined by collaboration, planning, and persistence.

For O$KAR, those details are what make the song memorable.

The finished track and music video are what audiences eventually see, but behind them is a much longer story — months of ideas, studio sessions, production decisions, travel, a demanding shoot, a large crew, and finally a launch that happened to fall on O$KAR's own birthday.

That is the story behind “Competition.”

Competition — Project Credits

Singer: Himanshu Verma
Rap: O$KAR (Arun Pandey)
Lyrics: O$KAR & Himanshu Verma
Produced by: DRC & Arun Pandey (O$KAR)
Music Video Performers: O$KAR & DRC
Directed by: Hitesh Dewangan & Sarab Maan
Recording, Mixing & Mastering: BeatMix Studios, Gaur City, Noida
Music Video Shoot: March 2, 2023 — Chandigarh
Release / Launch: July 15, 2023
Released through: Nischay Records