Hyderabad’s NoraeBox brings Korea-style private pod karaoke to the city

Sisters and business partners Pooja Chavali and Sri Gowri Chavali | Photo Credit: SIDDHANT THAKUR “You too can sing,” smiles Pooja Chavali as I step into NoraeBox, a private pod karaoke studio in Hyderabad’s Sainikpuri. Pooja and her sister, Sri Gowri Chavali, launched the space in May this year to offer a more relaxed alternative to scheduled karaoke nights at restaurants and open-mic sessions.“Unlike cafes or other venues where people may feel judged or intimidated singing in front of strangers, here they can let loose and have fun in their own private space,” says Pooja.Inspired from Korea A group of friends enjoying a karaoke session at NoraeBox in Hyderabad | Photo Credit: SIDDHANT THAKUR NoraeBox takes its name from noraebang, the Korean word for karaoke. The concept, too, is inspired by South Korea, where Pooja completed her master’s in international trade and spent part of her monthly stipend on karaoke sessions.“We call it NoraeBox because you sing inside a box-like room,” she says.Layered lighting Neon interior design | Photo Credit: SIDDHANT THAKUR Spread across 1,700 sq ft, the studio has five private karaoke rooms that can accommodate groups of three, eight and 15. Soft purple walls and neon lighting give the space a dreamy feel. In just three months, nearly 1,000 people have walked through its doors. The sisters have hosted birthday celebrations, family get-togethers, bridal parties and even a marriage proposal. Singing in private karaoke rooms | Photo Credit: SIDDHANT THAKUR Each room is equipped with a sofa, a television and a karaoke system that displays scrolling lyrics. Guests can choose from more than 1,400 songs in Telugu, Hindi, English, Korean and Punjabi, with Tamil tracks set to be added soon.“Many K-drama and K-pop fans in Hyderabad sing Korean songs without even looking at the lyrics,” says Pooja. “We wanted to create a space that celebrates that culture and encourages their interest in Korean music.”Way to unwind Three friends select their favourite track from a curated playlist | Photo Credit: SIDDHANT THAKUR For Sri Gowri, an introvert who enjoys her own company, karaoke has become a way to unwind. A recent B Tech graduate in computer science, she built the studio’s website and the software that powers its karaoke library.“Pooja introduced me to karaoke when I visited Korea on a semester exchange programme,” she says.Curated experience Sisters sing their heart out | Photo Credit: SIDDHANT THAKUR The custom-built software, Pooja explains, sets NoraeBox apart from YouTube-based karaoke tracks. “It lets us offer a curated, Spotify-like karaoke experience, while the private rooms give people the freedom to sing as loudly as they want without worrying about disturbing anyone.”Despite managing the studio full-time, the sisters never leave without their own 30-minute karaoke session. Sri Gowri’s favourites include Taylor Swift’s My Boy Only Breaks His Favorite Toys and How Did It End? Puja gravitates towards Adele, Taylor Swift and Arijit Singh’s Tum Hi Ho from Aashiqui 2.Looking ahead, the sisters plan to expand to other parts of the city and introduce a snack counter, keeping NoraeBox an alcohol-free space where people can sing, snack and spend time together.NoraeBox is open from 3 pm to 8 pm on weekdays (₹340 per person) and 3 pm to 11 pm on weekends (₹390 per person). Contact: 87903 16759 Published - August 18, 2026 11:38 am IST