Rafa Yeasmin is an Indian playback singer-songwriter from Malda, West Bengal, recognized for her versatility across Indian classical, contemporary, pop, rock and folk music. Born on February 16, 2009, she began her musical journey at an early age and later gained national recognition through television, live performances, and original music. In October 2025, she was appointed as the Cyber Safety Ambassador by the Malda District Police, representing a new generation of artists blending tradition with modern expression.
Rafa's Musical Journey
Rafa Yeasmin was born on February 16, 2009, in Malda, West Bengal, India, to Rajjak Hossain and Tania Yeasmin. Her association with music began at a remarkably young age, as she started formal training when she was just two and a half years old. From the beginning, her journey has been shaped by disciplined learning, consistent performance, and a deep emotional connection with music.
She received her early training in Indian Classical Music, Rabindra Sangeet, and Nazrul Geeti in Malda under the guidance of Tandra Chowdhury, Khama Kumar, and Krisno Dutt. As a child, Rafa actively participated in numerous local music competitions, steadily developing her confidence and stage presence. In 2019, she furthered her musical learning under Trisha Parui. Since 2020, she has been training in Indian Classical Music, Pop, Rock, Contemporary styles, and Film Music under Dhananjay Bhatt, while simultaneously pursuing Indian Classical Music education through the Shankar Mahadevan Academy.
Her early achievements at the national level came through the 42nd All India Talent Search and Merit Test Competition, organized by the Sarba Bharatiya Sangeet O Sanskriti Parishad. She emerged as a winner across multiple categories in both 2018 and 2019, earning gold medals in every category she participated in. She was awarded by her gold medals at Rabindranath TagoreIn 2018, she secured top positions in Singing, Art, and Recitation, and in 2019, she won in Indian Classical Music, Rabindra Sangeet, and Nazrul Geeti. In this year, her medals were awarded at Rabindranath Tagore’s Jorasanko Thakurbari, where she performed the song “Amar Hiyar Majhe”.
Yeasmin receiving the guitar from the judges on Super Singer Junior
Yeasmin singing with Shankar Mahadevan
on Taare Zameen Par
Rafa made her television debut in June 2019 with Star Jalsha’s Super Singer Junior, where she reached the Top 5. One of the most memorable moments from the show was her performance of the National Award-winning song “E Tumi Kemon Tumi” alongside Rupankar Bagchi. In 2020, she appeared on Star Plus’s Taare Zameen Par, finishing among the Top 11 and sharing the stage with artists such as Shankar Mahadevan, Jonita Gandhi and Tony Kakkar.
A major milestone in her career came in 2022 with her participation in Zee TV’s Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Li’l Champs, where she became the 5th runner-up. Her audition performance of “Senorita” gained widespread attention on social media, particularly for its operatic introduction and stylistic interpretation. The performance received high praise from the judges for its technical skill, musical maturity, and expressive depth. Commenting on her performance, Grammy Award-winning singer and composer Shankar Mahadevan said, “The representation you gave of Senorita, the interpretation you sang… this is one of the finest performances of Senorita that I have heard till now”. Singer Neeti Mohan praised her versatility, saying, “You are phenomenal… singing in another language, singing in Spanish, singing in so many octaves, singing softly, then singing in Hindi as well, taking it softly, singing in an open voice - fantastic, I am your fan”. Filmmaker and screenwriter Rohit Shetty also recognized her potential as a playback singer, telling her, “In you, the quality that makes someone a complete playback singer - you already have that in you, Rafa”.
In July 2026, a video of the performance, shared from Rafa’s social media profile, went viral again, particularly on Instagram, reaching audiences internationally. The video attracted comments, reposts, and engagement from viewers across several countries. Among those who interacted with the video were Grammy-nominated musician Anoushka Shankar, Academy Award-winning producer Guneet Monga Kapoor, comedian Samay Raina, cricketer Jemimah Rodrigues, actress Bhagyashree and Surbhi Jyoti. One of the most notable moments came when globally renowned artist Karan Aujla followed Rafa on Instagram and sent her his blessings, marking a memorable interaction amid the widespread international response to her performance. Several music and entertainment platforms including T-Series and JioSaavn also engaged with the video. The renewed viral attention led to coverage and features in magazines and news outlets across different countries, including The City Celeb.
Yeasmin receiving the gold medal from the judges on Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Li'l Champs 2022
Beyond television, Rafa Yeasmin has performed extensively at live concerts and public events across India, including cultural festivals, school and college programs, and large-scale stage shows. In 2025, she launched her first independent tour, “The FireFest Tour”. Rafa is known for her versatility as a live performer, moving effortlessly between different musical styles. Through soulful melodies and emotionally charged performances, she can create an intimate atmosphere and deeply move her audience, while her pop and dance numbers bring an energetic atmosphere that often gets audiences singing and dancing along. Her live performances are often noted for their vocal power, energy, and emotional delivery. Known for her genre-fluid approach, Rafa adapts her vocal texture and expression to suit the emotional needs of each song, a quality that has earned her recognition from audiences with titles such as “Melody Queen”, “Rockstar” and “Expression Queen”.
Yeasmin on the FireFest Tour in 2025
Alongside her live performances, Rafa has been developing her identity as an independent singer-songwriter through a growing catalogue of Bengali and Hindi music, spanning contemporary pop, rock and festive styles. Her first original release, “Jile Tu Yeh Zindagi”, marked the beginning of her journey as an independent recording artist. Her first Bengali original, “Joy Dugga Ma”, was written by renowned lyricist Priyo Chattopadhyay. Her subsequent releases include the festive “Eid Mubarak” and the contemporary track “Dil”. Several of her subsequent recordings have been developed in collaboration with renowned drummer and music producer Pradip Sarkar. Her music also reflects her interest in regional and cultural influences. “Kalar Banshi”, inspired by the heritage of Gour (Gauda), was composed by Amit Sur of the renowned folk-fusion band Dohar. In 2025, she made her playback singing debut with “Tak Dumadum”, featured in the film Biporite. In August 2026, Rafa performed the female version of the ghazal “Wo Dil Hi Kya”, originally performed by Ustad Ghulam Ali and Aamir Ghulam Ali, with lyrics by renowned poet and lyricist Qateel Shifai. In 2026, Rafa released “JUNOON”, a self-written and self-composed Hindi rock-pop fusion track blending contemporary pop and rock with hard-rock guitar and sitaar. Through her growing catalogue, she continues to develop her identity as a singer, songwriter and composer.
Official image from Yeasmin’s original song Kalar Banshi
Blending strong classical foundations with contemporary and rock musical influences, Rafa Yeasmin continues to evolve as an artist while pursuing her education, establishing herself as a promising voice in India’s modern music landscape.
In October 2025, the Malda District Police
appointed Rafa Yeasmin as their
Cyber Safety Ambassador