These are times that cry out for the satirist, that brave soul who lampoons the knaves and oafs of society and their hypocritical ways. Sadly, societies that fully embrace these essential visionaries are rare; rather, they are marginalised, ridiculed, ostracised and as recent events in France have shown, even murdered.
Satire is not alien to South Asian culture. As early as a thousand years ago (and probably much earlier) writers/compilers of the story collection, Kathasaritsagar were decrying the lecherous antics of Brahmin pandits, the greed of rich traders and the self-preserving cowardice of rajas. In more recent times, the poems of Akbar Allahabadi and Ghalib as well as Manto’s stories have popped the bubbly delusions of the powerful, while making the rest of us chuckle.
In contemporary India, how have the dream makers of Bollywood incorporated satire into their work and especially the soundtracks of their films? Let’s check out a few examples.
Iktara Bole Tun Tun
Yaadgar (1970)
This Manoj Kumar vehicle summed up some of the frustration of the initial post-Independence generation. Iktara Bole, which was the take away hit of the film, is a deceptively powerful example of satire. A catchy tune with a melodious riff, (the pairing of “tun tun/sun sun” is as unthreatening as a nursery rhyme) draws you in, with no greater expectation than a good time. And the chorus of freakish village idiots that make the leading lady and audience giggle, underscores the fun.
But behind this alluring veneer the song itself is able to cover the waterfront of ills facing modern India. Beginning with the poor’s predilection for huge families and the government’s “tick the box” approach to family planning (‘”Har saal calendar chap diya/pariwar niyojan saaf kiya”), the song progresses on to mock modern fashion and the effeminate ’70s male. The tone changes dramatically (and prophetically) to create a dark connection between global destruction, nuclear arms and climate change, when a radio announcement interrupts the song. The rest of the song hits out at weakening social religious mores and of course corrupt and venal politicians who have betrayed the vision of Gandhi, Shastri and Nehru.
Janata ki Jai Bolo
Kissa Kursi Ka (1977)
Seven years on, and the Nehru family, so idealised in Yaadgar have imposed an Emergency on the country, clamped down on dissent and derailed democracy! The satire at this turn in the road is bolder and less forgiving. Kissa Kursi Ka marks the zenith in satirical Indian cinema and the overbearing response of the system to it. The movie, which directly pointed the finger at the government’s lust for power at the expense of the people and democracy, was banned. Government ministers and Sanjay Gandhi himself were later accused of personally burning the master prints. As is so often the case, the response to satire creates yet more fodder for the satirist.
This clip, in which Asha, Mahender Kapoor and Jagjit Singh do the vocalising, opens with classical figures dancing around a luxurious ‘kursi’ (throne) while leading a khadi-clothed (and marginalised to the edge of the set) chorus of ordinary people in singing hollow praises to the masses. The piece is brilliantly conceived, juxtaposing various folk and classical dance styles from across India with biting commentary on the political environment. In one sequence, when a dancer asks the people’s chorus, “Who is the enemy of the people?” and they shout ‘our leaders’, he corrects them. “‘No. It is the rat!” Like all good satire, this clip never grows stale. Has anything really changed in 40 years?
Mind It (Tamil Bhangra)
Quick Gun Murugan (2009)
Quick Gun Murugan was dismissed by critics and movie fans as a silly waste of time. There was nothing worth deliberating over in this outrageously ridiculous Tamil/Hindi/Punjabi vegetarian cowboy comedy. Yet take a look at this clip, listen to the lyrics and snippets of dialogue and reconsider. The song (indeed, the entire soundtrack and film) is a hilarious send-up of so many sacred cows (including the Sacred Cow herself) that the mind boggles: cowboy films, cowboys, Bollywood-ised cowboy films, heroes, vegetarianism, Hinglish, Hinduism (in multiple ways) and the bhangra.
In my humble opinion, Quick Gun Murugan is one of the most interesting films to come out of the Indian mainstream in years. It is like taking an overnight trip in a coach driven by a mad driver, filled with passengers wearing clown masks and the tape machine stuck on repeat at high volume. (The makers of the film need to sue PSY for a slice of his massive profits from Gangnam Style. Check out the clip from 2:44 and tell me otherwise.)
Jhooth Boliya
Jolly LLB (2013)
If there is one enduring subject for the Indian satirist it is the corruption of the powerful. In this clip from the award-winning film, Jolly LLB, the bhangra beat drives a fast-paced condemnation of the ways in which money talks, walks, gets the girl and steals justice. Aside from its social message the clip is wonderful for a number of reasons. The harmonium playing is divinely inspired, taking on the position of a Hammond B3 as a lead instrument, and in the dance sequence that begins at 1:29, references the famous gangster dance-off from Michael Jackson’s Beat It! This is the sort of satire we need more of!
Auon De
Saare Jahan se Mahenga (2013)
We close with yet another smashing musical treat in which the aam aadmi (common man) bemoans the rising cost of living and inaffordability of every necessary item and pleasure in life. The musicality and creativity of this song (indeed, of all of this weeks clips) is utterly delicious. What better way to shame the bastards who control the money, power and system, then to laugh at them and literally, dance on their pretensions! Satire, we can rest assured is alive and well in Bollywood!
Satire is not alien to South Asian culture. As early as a thousand years ago (and probably much earlier) writers/compilers of the story collection, Kathasaritsagar were decrying the lecherous antics of Brahmin pandits, the greed of rich traders and the self-preserving cowardice of rajas. In more recent times, the poems of Akbar Allahabadi and Ghalib as well as Manto’s stories have popped the bubbly delusions of the powerful, while making the rest of us chuckle.
In contemporary India, how have the dream makers of Bollywood incorporated satire into their work and especially the soundtracks of their films? Let’s check out a few examples.
Iktara Bole Tun Tun
Yaadgar (1970)
This Manoj Kumar vehicle summed up some of the frustration of the initial post-Independence generation. Iktara Bole, which was the take away hit of the film, is a deceptively powerful example of satire. A catchy tune with a melodious riff, (the pairing of “tun tun/sun sun” is as unthreatening as a nursery rhyme) draws you in, with no greater expectation than a good time. And the chorus of freakish village idiots that make the leading lady and audience giggle, underscores the fun.
But behind this alluring veneer the song itself is able to cover the waterfront of ills facing modern India. Beginning with the poor’s predilection for huge families and the government’s “tick the box” approach to family planning (‘”Har saal calendar chap diya/pariwar niyojan saaf kiya”), the song progresses on to mock modern fashion and the effeminate ’70s male. The tone changes dramatically (and prophetically) to create a dark connection between global destruction, nuclear arms and climate change, when a radio announcement interrupts the song. The rest of the song hits out at weakening social religious mores and of course corrupt and venal politicians who have betrayed the vision of Gandhi, Shastri and Nehru.
Janata ki Jai Bolo
Kissa Kursi Ka (1977)
Seven years on, and the Nehru family, so idealised in Yaadgar have imposed an Emergency on the country, clamped down on dissent and derailed democracy! The satire at this turn in the road is bolder and less forgiving. Kissa Kursi Ka marks the zenith in satirical Indian cinema and the overbearing response of the system to it. The movie, which directly pointed the finger at the government’s lust for power at the expense of the people and democracy, was banned. Government ministers and Sanjay Gandhi himself were later accused of personally burning the master prints. As is so often the case, the response to satire creates yet more fodder for the satirist.
This clip, in which Asha, Mahender Kapoor and Jagjit Singh do the vocalising, opens with classical figures dancing around a luxurious ‘kursi’ (throne) while leading a khadi-clothed (and marginalised to the edge of the set) chorus of ordinary people in singing hollow praises to the masses. The piece is brilliantly conceived, juxtaposing various folk and classical dance styles from across India with biting commentary on the political environment. In one sequence, when a dancer asks the people’s chorus, “Who is the enemy of the people?” and they shout ‘our leaders’, he corrects them. “‘No. It is the rat!” Like all good satire, this clip never grows stale. Has anything really changed in 40 years?
Mind It (Tamil Bhangra)
Quick Gun Murugan (2009)
Quick Gun Murugan was dismissed by critics and movie fans as a silly waste of time. There was nothing worth deliberating over in this outrageously ridiculous Tamil/Hindi/Punjabi vegetarian cowboy comedy. Yet take a look at this clip, listen to the lyrics and snippets of dialogue and reconsider. The song (indeed, the entire soundtrack and film) is a hilarious send-up of so many sacred cows (including the Sacred Cow herself) that the mind boggles: cowboy films, cowboys, Bollywood-ised cowboy films, heroes, vegetarianism, Hinglish, Hinduism (in multiple ways) and the bhangra.
In my humble opinion, Quick Gun Murugan is one of the most interesting films to come out of the Indian mainstream in years. It is like taking an overnight trip in a coach driven by a mad driver, filled with passengers wearing clown masks and the tape machine stuck on repeat at high volume. (The makers of the film need to sue PSY for a slice of his massive profits from Gangnam Style. Check out the clip from 2:44 and tell me otherwise.)
Jhooth Boliya
Jolly LLB (2013)
If there is one enduring subject for the Indian satirist it is the corruption of the powerful. In this clip from the award-winning film, Jolly LLB, the bhangra beat drives a fast-paced condemnation of the ways in which money talks, walks, gets the girl and steals justice. Aside from its social message the clip is wonderful for a number of reasons. The harmonium playing is divinely inspired, taking on the position of a Hammond B3 as a lead instrument, and in the dance sequence that begins at 1:29, references the famous gangster dance-off from Michael Jackson’s Beat It! This is the sort of satire we need more of!
Auon De
Saare Jahan se Mahenga (2013)
We close with yet another smashing musical treat in which the aam aadmi (common man) bemoans the rising cost of living and inaffordability of every necessary item and pleasure in life. The musicality and creativity of this song (indeed, of all of this weeks clips) is utterly delicious. What better way to shame the bastards who control the money, power and system, then to laugh at them and literally, dance on their pretensions! Satire, we can rest assured is alive and well in Bollywood!
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