Tarun Chugh
Apropos to its vibrant and rich culture, Punjab has a great and long standing tradition of poetry, music and dance reflecting its varied cultural heritage. The ethos of Punjabi culture is chivalry and valor. The land of Punjab has cradled the Sufis like Baba Farid, Bulle Shah and many such saints and sages. It is a land where Heer-Ranjha, Sohni-Mahiwal, Mirza-Sahiba and Sassi-Punhoon have manifested themselves and became the legends of soulful love and sacrifice. Their legends have given the underlying themes of music folklore and poetry of Punjabi. The Patiala Gharana of Punjab is one of the renowned gharanas of vocal Hindustani classical music which is a traditional centre of music learning in India. It is a land where Shiv Kumar Batalavi echoed the pain of his emotions in his catharsis. In late 80’s, the tradition of Punjabi music was carried on by the likes of Gurdas Mann, Hans Raj Hans, Surinder Shinda, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, K Deep, Jagmohan Kaur, Surinder Kaur, Amar Singh Chamkila who are known by their enchanted exposition of Punjabi folk lore.
However, simultaneously during the 80’s a parallel current of music-stream emerged which was a fusion of the western culture and Punjabi folklore. In quest of reconnecting their emotions with their roots, Punjabi youth who had settled as NRI in Western Europe, USA and Canada synergized the beats of the west and blended it with the lyrics of Punjabi language what came to be known as Punjabi Pop music.
The word ‘Pop’ is a short form or slang of the word ‘popular’; thus pop music is synonymous of the popular music. Punjabi Pop-Music is the most popular pop music in India. It is popular not only in Bollywood but in many other regions like South East Asia and Asian Subcontinent and even in Hollywood. Such was the influence of Punjabi pop-music that Punjab emerged as a home to India’s biggest non-film music industry. There is hardly any hit Bollywood movie without one or two songs of Punjabi Pop.
The fast and impactful growth of Punjabi Pop music was the result of many factors like Punjab having a long-standing tradition of music and live performance, fusion of Punjabi culture with the other cultures where immigrant Punjabi settled and rich support of Punjabi Diaspora overseas which is a big market. The distinctive features of Punjabi-Pop are fusion between club, hip-hop, and Punjabi musical styles. It is known for its vibrant, energetic and fast beats wherein lyrics and themes remain Punjabi.
However, a section of this parallel stream of music has given birth to a new trend which is quiet disturbing. This trend has invoked the values and themes which are against the very Punjabi culture which they claim to reflect. A section of Punjabi music is distorting the otherwise rich culture of Punjab.
Though this is only a section of Punjabi Pop music, this section is increasing in number and in its impact on the populace particularly the vulnerable youth. The theme of their lyrics is distorting, deforming and degrading the true Punjabi culture.
Main themes of this distorted version of Punjabi culture.
– One of the underlying themes of these songs is Alcoholism and Drug-ism. The lyrics justify and openly entice the youth to have alcohol. They hail taking drugs and show-off that the real He-man takes drug. The major lyrics revolve around the words like is Daru, Weed, Nasha, Chitta, Vodka ( Char Bottle Vodka kaam Mera Roj Ka), Whisky, Ahata, Shots, Chitta, Daru Di Gaddi, Thekha etc.
– The other theme is showing macho power where weapons, use of weapons, firing, killing the rivals etc are glorified. These lyrics revolve around AK 47, Fires, Shooting, Donali, Hatiyar, Glock, Pistol, Rifles etc,. Violence is hailed, glorified and justified. The use of illegal weapons and boasting about various FIRs registered against the hero and showing the criminal behavior as a sign of a real man wherein his possession of weapons is glorified.
– One of the other themes is the use of muscle and political power and its show-off. There is a complete disdain for authority and legal-judicial power and rule of law. Here, the theme of Gangster-ism is hailed. The life of gangster is eulogized. The theme that the power of the hero is more than the administration like DC, SSP and other functionaries. Here, even the Judiciary is also shown in poor plight. Kacharhi, Writs, Vakils, Jails, Gangste-life etc are used as themes.
– The other major theme is objectification of women where women are compared and subjected as objects. The major words used is Chinkni, Afeem, Patakha etc,.
– The other theme is living ultra-rich, high end and super luxurious lifestyle is glorified. The theme revolve around is costly foreign brands like Gucchi, Armani, Prada, Gas, Gap etc. It also uses words and themes like high end cars, rich estate, Hummer, Audi etc,.
– Impacts:
– Music and singers not only reflect the cultural contours of any society, they also set these contours. As per one study by IIM Ahmedabad, it is observed that youngsters who listen to such songs have a negative attitude towards women and a high propensity to engage in drug use and violence. The lyrics used in these songs are so filthy and obscene that they cannot even be called Art, held the study. Such music profoundly influences teenagers’ drug abuse behaviour. The vulnerable teenagers and youth start accepting drug-ism as being ‘cool’ and acceptable norm of the society.
– Some songs intend to ridicule, mock and undermine the established authorities like police and the judiciary. It breeds and spreads a culture of criminality and tendency to glorify violence. It is not uncommon in that some of the youths get carried away and carrying a pistol with them openly is a new trend.
– In 2019, 4 teenagers died in a car crash while making a video and listening to the song ‘High end Gadiya, Dehd soh the Chaidya (driving high-end car at a speed of 150 kms) and were directly influenced by the song and its singer.
– It is not only distorting the real culture of Punjab, but projecting a bad culture in the spree of getting more likes and view on social-media.
– A few of the singers have been booked by police for inciting violence and bragging weapons. In 2019, the Hon’able Punjab and Haryana High Court noted that glorification of alcohol, drugs and violence in songs affects children and has given rise to gangster culture in Punjab.
This distortion by a few yet impactful singers must be checked by the civil-society and the government alike so as the youth of Punjab may get a true idea of the real culture of Punjab.
(The author is National General Secretary, BJP)
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