Folk songs in Hindi films far removed from culture: Poet

Neena Sharma

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Tribune News Service

Dehradun, February 18

Eminent Hindi writer and humour poet Ashok Chakradhar bemoans the worrisome trend of importing folk songs into Hindi films that are far removed from the cultural milieu and tradition.

“Folk as a tradition is quite old. It has a hoary past and a throbbing present. Our ancestors composed songs while working in the fields. It is not only about sur and taal. It is the pulsating beat of very being. But sadly songs that one gets to hear these days betray the context and cultural ethos,” says Chakradhar while speaking with The Tribune. He was here to participate in the Dehradun Literature Fest.

Chakradhar says the profusion of folk instruments such as ektara and sarangi tries to give legitimacy to the folk nature of these songs. “At times, in these songs, the overriding factor is the sound of the folk instruments, peppered with a few catchy lines from folk songs. The experience is unreal. Take the case of the songs in the popular Hindi film ‘Dangal’. The sound and words are all too familiar to the folk genre but the experience is all too scary. Instead of arousing tender feelings, it arouses fear,” adds the poet.

About television and its impact on singers, Chakradhar says it has helped in opening up avenues for budding singers. “In fact, it is the new nursery for singers. If you have the right temperament and talent, the sky is the limit for you. But at times, I feel sad at the manner in which little children are forced to adopt certain mannerism, this is indeed forced upon them and should be discouraged,” he adds.

Chakradhar, a votary of promotion of Hindi language, says it should be promoted without the slightest hint of forced imposition. “A language can only become popular if people take it up at their own free will, but nevertheless steps are required for its promotion,” he adds.