ANJAANA: Bradford’s Bhangra pioneers prepare to celebrate 50 years as city icons honoured

Bradford is set to turn up the volume once again as one of its most influential musical exports prepares a landmark celebration – and the city is invited.

Fresh from being awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award at the UK Bhangra Awards in December, legendary group Anjaana will host a special public “Thank You” event later this month, marking five decades at the heart of British Asian music.

The award, presented on 20 December 2025, recognised not just a band, but a movement. For more than half a century, Anjaana has helped define the sound of British Bhangra – carrying the pulse of Punjab into West Yorkshire long before Bradford’s cultural influence was widely acknowledged.

A sound born in Bradford

Led by Satpal, who this year marks an extraordinary 50 years with the group, Anjaana emerged in the mid-1980s when the genre was still finding its British identity.

While industry attention focused on London, the band were quietly reshaping music history from Bradford’s Little Germany.

Their 1985 release Nachna Pia, featuring the late Kuldip Manak, became a cultural milestone – proving that world-class Bhangra could be created outside the capital, rooted in local experience yet global in reach.

But Anjaana’s legacy extends far beyond records and performances. Over the years, the group has consistently used its platform to support charitable causes – from grassroots Bradford fundraisers to international disaster relief efforts – earning respect not only as musicians, but as community leaders.

Industry insiders say that commitment to service is what sets Anjaana apart in a scene often driven by image rather than impact.

Not the final beat

Despite the “Lifetime Achievement” label, the band shows no sign of slowing down.

New music is already planned for 2026, reinforcing Bradford’s place on the global Bhangra map and introducing a new generation to a sound shaped by heritage, resilience and pride.

To mark the moment, Anjaana will host a celebratory evening for fans, friends and the wider community later this month.