A Pakistani band challenges Narendra Modi to a rap battle

What do a pigeon, a looming water crisis, a beef burger and Superman’s arch nemesis Lex Luthor have in common? All four feature in a song written and performed by Pakistani comic and singer Ali Gul Pir. The song Modi teri, performed in collaboration with the electronic dance music band SomeWhatSuper, challenges Prime Minister Narendra Modi to a rap battle.

The song, which also mentions actors Fawad Khan, Anupam Kher, singer Adnan Sami and playwright Javed Akhtar, is creating waves across the border in Pakistan. The satirical video also addresses the Indian prime minister’s political rhetoric.

The video has been viewed over 89,000 times and counting since it was released on YouTube on October 21, although the song was first released on October 9.

“In these times of tension, the track will make you laugh,” said Talha Dar, one half of SomeWhatSuper.

In the song, the state of Kashmir is depicted as a malnourished man, whose mouth is taped shut, sitting uncomfortably between Indian and Pakistani representatives. The Indian speaker is clothed in a saffron sleeveless jacket, and bears resemblance to Modi.

Somewhat catchy

The Lahori duo that forms SomeWhatSuper, Dar and Feroze Faisal, is known for a blend of eastern and electronic music. Their previous releases include upbeat singles like Bandook and Patang. Bandook, their debut song, remained at the top of music charts for over a year. Dar and Faisal are in their mid-twenties, and were born in Pakistan’s Punjab province.

“Culture and music across the world becomes an inspiration for us, if it is catchy, lively and speaks Pakistani,” Dar wrote in an email interview with Scroll.in.

“The seed that gave birth to SWS was in our heads from a very long time,” Dar added. “It was a result of our exposure to different genres of music from within and around Pakistan.”

Faisal said, “Generally, Pakistanis are not exposed to these genres, and even if they are, they don’t appreciate it much. We don’t think we make music for selective people according to which country they are in.”

Patari, Pakistan’s largest streaming platform, introduces Somewhat Super and their newest song as “a Lahore-based duo who are producing tracks fusing EDM with Urdu. The result is a brilliantly catchy sound with an amazing beat”.

SomeWhatSuper emerged around a year ago, right around the time Patari was launched. When Ahmer Naqvi, Patari’s Director of Content, first heard Faisal and Dar’s song on India and Pakistan, he was nervous.

“There is a lot of jingoism around these days and while art should always have the ability to satirise, given the timing, it does play into a very pro-establishment narrative,” he said.

In the past, rumours have associated the group’s songs with Bollywood rapper Badshah’s lyrics. Both Badshah’s Bandook and SWS’ debut song, Bandook, begin with the same lyrics.

“People use vocal samples,” said Dar. “We and Badshah (sic) just happened to use the same vocal samples. They are available online. Anyone can download it and make a track out of it.”

SWS’ lyrics are infused with Punjabi folk music and dialects. Faisal credits this with the duo’s Punjabi upbringing.

“The folk lyrics are the inspiration and Pakistaniat within us,” said Dar. “What’s better than making music in your mother tongue?”

The duo has received a lot of attention for their music from Indian fans, but has no plans to perform here in the near future.

Pakistan’s first internet star

The lyrics for SWS’ latest were penned by Pakistani stand up comic, Ali Gul Pir. Over the past few years, the 30-year-old has earned a reputation for talking about issues that are taboo in Pakistan, such as family planning, sex and corruption. Originally from Dadu, a town in the Sindh province, Pir attained his stardom following the release of Waderai Ka Beta in 2012 – a humorous take on the pretentious lifestyle of a feudal lord’s son. The song, which takes a dig at influential people who misuse their authority, catapulted the stand-up comic to instant fame.

Naqvi referred to Pir as one of the first true internet stars of Pakistan. “The song was used as a meme by everyone from TV channels to even political parties, with the Pakistan Peoples Party incorporating it into their promotions,” he said. “His subsequent releases never reached the same virality.”

YouTube recently relaunched in Pakistan after a gap of three years, much to Pir’s relief.

“YouTube is why artists like me are here,” he said. “No television channel, no radio station would play my music because it was too honest and did not have a hot chick in it. But I upload my work and have millions of people watch it and follow it. So YouTube is important because now every broke artist who has talent but no means can just upload a video and become successful.”

Pir, who holds a Bachelor’s degree in media sciences, said, “I make satire about everyone here, now it’s time to step outside my country.”

“I have dealt with the powerful and dangerous people of Pakistan who did not like my satire,” he added. “I can deal with bhakts [followers] from some other country who can’t take a joke either. Plus, at the end of the day, its comedy in music. We must learn to laugh.”

The political scenario between India and Pakistan is tense. The song comes amidst calls in India for boycotting Pakistani artists, and similar echoes in Pakistan regarding Indian films.

“Banning something only because it originates from another country, is just wrong, no matter who does it,” Pir said. “Art is a language of its own. As an artist I found a peaceful and productive way to express how I felt. Others can do the same. My song has no mention of the word India even, this is between Modi and me. I am sure some people do not like him in India as well.”

The comic said, “I think hate should be made fun of, it makes it less scary.”