Issue №023 October 5, 2026
THE BRIDGE
WEEKLY
The South Asian music & culture dispatch — from Sammy Chand
Announcing — The Bridge Awards 2026
Ten Awards.
One Year on the Board.
This year The Bridge ends with an award show. Ten awards, given out on the last episode of the year, drawn from twelve months of the board, the interviews and the records that defined 2026. Then the first episode of 2027 counts down the Top 20 of 2026.
The ten awards
01
Song of the Year
chart weeks, peak, staying power
02
Artist of the Year
the name that owned the board
03
The Bridge Award
the artist who carried the culture across borders, both directions
04
Debut of the Year
the highest-impact first arrival on the count
05
Conversation of the Year
the interview of the year
06
The Launchpad Award
the record that charted off a Bridge appearance
07
Producer of the Year
the architect behind the boards
08
Collaboration of the Year
the pairing that made the year bigger
09
Legacy Award
the veteran voice commanding the present
10
The Horizon Award
your boldest bet on the next twelve months
▸ The Bridge on iHeart RA Radio
Exclusive Interview — Tuesday, October 6 · 9 AM PT
Harjap Bhangal on The Bridge
Harjap Bhangal on The Bridge with Sammy Chand — Tuesday October 6, 9am PDT
Tuesday morning, Sammy sits down with Harjap Bhangal, the UK immigration attorney whose sharp perspective and entertaining delivery have made him one of the most watched voices in the diaspora. Neesh Riaz also joins the hour. 9 AM PT on RukusAvenueRadio.com and the iHeartRadio app.
▸ Listen Tuesday 9 AM PT — iHeart RA Radio
RA Radio on The Bridge — This Week’s Guests
Four Rukus Avenue Radio Hosts Join Sammy.
The Garage Mahal with Neesh Riaz — Tuesdays 8pm ET
TUE · 9 AM PT
Neesh Riaz
The Garage Mahal · Tuesdays 8 PM ET
   The Ruby Basi News Podcast — weekdays 9pm ET
WED · 9 AM PT
Ruby Basi
The Ruby Basi News Podcast · Weekdays 9 PM ET
 
Leaders Creating Rukus with Aashi Arora — Mondays 7pm ET
THU · 9 AM PT
Aashi Arora
Leaders Creating Rukus · Mondays 7 PM ET
   Who Does She Think She Is? with Sabeen Faheem — Thursdays 8am and 8pm ET
THU · 9 AM PT
Sabeen Faheem
Who Does She Think She Is? · Thursdays 8 AM & 8 PM ET
More on Rukus Avenue Radio
The Zameer Rizvi Show — Tuesdays 7am and 7pm ET
TUESDAYS
Zameer Rizvi
The Zameer Rizvi Show · 7 AM & 7 PM ET
   The Jugni Podcast with Prabhleen Kamboj — Tuesdays 10am and 10pm ET
TUESDAYS
Prabhleen Kamboj
The Jugni Podcast · 10 AM & 10 PM ET · This Tuesday: part two of her Simar interview
   Geet's Universe with DJ Geet — Thursdays 10am and 10pm ET
THURSDAYS
DJ Geet
Geet’s Universe · 10 AM & 10 PM ET
Plus Sunny Grewal’s Off the Stream (Mondays) — all on RukusAvenueRadio.com and the iHeartRadio app.
Inside the Music — The Bridge Data Desk
Finally, Finally.
Numbers no one else has, because no one else has the board: computed from The Bridge’s weekly Top 20, June 12 through October 4.
The top five — this week’s summit
Finally — Priya Ragu
№1
№1 · ▲1 · THIRD WEEK ON THE BOARD
Finally
Priya Ragu
Pablo — Hania Aamir
№2 · ▲4
Pablo
Hania Aamir
   Assay Passay — Talwiinder
№3 · ▲1
Assay Passay
Talwiinder
   Ashke — Karan Aujla, Merci Beats (Aujla SZN 1)
№4 · NEW
Ashke
Karan Aujla, Merci Beats
   Ghostface Killah — Sidhu Moose Wala
№5 · NEW
Ghostface Killah
Sidhu Moose Wala
Finally, №1. Priya Ragu’s Finally debuted at №4 off a discovery slot three weeks ago, climbed to №2, and takes the crown this weekend. Hania Aamir’s Pablo, the other debut from that same week, jumps four to №2 — the two launchpad records now hold the top two spots. Talwiinder’s Assay Passay moves up one to №3 in its second week.
Two straight into the summit. Karan Aujla and Merci Beats’ Ashke, from Aujla SZN 1, enters at №4, and Sidhu Moose Wala’s Ghostface Killah arrives at №5. Further down, Simiran Kaur Dhadli and Zealo’s Asla Najaij opens at №9 and Tu Hi Disda (Arijit Singh, Nikhita Gandhi, Pritam) at №12. Burrah’s Lakeerein and Raga and SAMBATA’s Got Lucky are the week’s biggest climbers, up seven apiece.
One week on top. Bandhe Zulfon Pe drops six from №1 to №7, the shortest reign of the season. Every record from №13 down moved lower: Yeh Duniya falls ten to №17 two weeks after its own №1, Suno Zra slides nine out of the top five, and Treat Me Special drops twelve to №20. Four exit: Centre of Peace, Dil De Mohalle, Do Guna Zindagi and Rebel.
The Board — This Weekend’s Top 20 · EP 619
Finally Takes №1. Four New Names, Two Straight Into the Top Five.
01▲1FinallyPriya Ragu
02▲4PabloHania Aamir
03▲1Assay PassayTalwiinder
04NEWAshkeKaran Aujla, Merci Beats
05NEWGhostface KillahSidhu Moose Wala
06▼3Knock KnockJxggi
07▼6Bandhe Zulfon PeZeeshan Ali, Dr ANK
08▲7LakeereinBurrah
09NEWAsla NajaijSimiran Kaur Dhadli, Zealo
10▲7Got LuckyRaga, SAMBATA
11—Jaadu Kaisa HaiRaghav and Arjun
12NEWTu Hi DisdaArijit Singh, Nikhita Gandhi, Pritam
13▼3NuksaanAfsana Khan, Salim & Sulaiman
14▼9Suno ZraAvvy Ballagan
15▼6Ho Jayenge GhumRaghav and Arjun
16▼2DevilDiljit Dosanjh
17▼10Yeh DuniyaCurtain Blue
18▼5Like ThatYung Sammy, Fijiana
19▼7Tere Jatt DeWatan Sahi, Jasmeen Akhtar
20▼12Treat Me SpecialRawme Hooda, MC Square
Movement vs. the September 25–27 board. Four records exit — Centre of Peace, Dil De Mohalle, Do Guna Zindagi, Rebel — and four arrive, two inside the top five.
Rukus Avenue Radio — 24/7
The first 24/7 South Asian station on iHeartRadio.
Music, culture and conversation, live from everywhere. The Bridge every weekday at 9 AM PT, the Top 20 Countdown all weekend, and RA Radio’s own hosts in between.
▸ Listen live The Bridge on iHeart
The Bridge Community Spotlight — Saturday, October 17
Smoke & Mirrors — JiVA’s fourth annual gala
Smoke & Mirrors — JiVA Mental Health 4th annual gala fundraiser, Saturday October 17, 2026, Above the Block, Los Angeles
JiVA Mental Health’s fourth annual gala. JiVA is a nonprofit working to dismantle mental health stigma and expand access to culturally responsive care, with a focus on South Asian communities. Dinner, open bar, a live illusion show, a charity auction and dancing; ticket revenue funds JiVA’s care and programming. Two weeks out. Last year sold out, so reserve now.
Saturday, October 17 · 5:30 PM
Above the Block · Los Angeles
▸ Tickets
This Week on The Bridge · Daily 9 AM PT
MON Off the Stream with Sunny & Shay Sammy Chand in conversation with Sunny Grewal RA Radio host — Sunny on his first birthday without his mother. Airs as this letter arrives.
TUE Exclusive interview: Harjap Bhangal — UK immigration attorney and broadcaster, with Neesh Riaz. 9 AM PT.
WED The Ruby Basi News Podcast Sammy Chand in conversation with Ruby Basi RA Radio host.
THU Who Does She Think She Is? with Sabeen Faheem Sammy Chand in conversation with Sabeen Faheem RA Radio host, joined by Aashi Arora.
F–SUN The Weekly Top 20 Countdown — Finally takes №1, Pablo climbs to №2, and Ashke and Ghostface Killah debut inside the top five.
Listen
The Bridge airs weekdays at 9AM PT on iHeartRadio, in every US market. The Top 20 Countdown runs all weekend.
Follow @sammychand · @rukusavenue · @rukusavenueradio
Tips and corrections: sammy@rukusavenue.com
— Sammy
The Bridge with Sammy Chand — Syndicated daily via Premiere Networks / iHeartRadio — @sammychand · @rukusavenue · sammy@rukusavenue.com
Rukus Avenue Music Group · 9909 Topanga Canyon Blvd, Chatsworth CA 91311-3602
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