Allah waliyan di jugni
Jasmine Singh
Feed the word Jugni to the search engine Google and you see, at an amazing speed, it reverts with the names of singers along with a detailed description about the word. And most recently, it shows another link that leads you to a piece of news which says that debutant director Shefali Bhushan has managed to get two of the biggest names in Bollywood music industry - AR Rahman and Vishal Bhardwaj - on board to sing one track each in the film Jugni, which is based on the journey of a music director.
With almost 26 versions of the most-sought after track Jugni available, and with the track being a personal favourite of old and new singers, especially from Punjab, we find out what makes this Jugni still so important that it somehow finds a place in a Bollywood film or in the ‘song I would love to sing’ list of every singer!
As wide as it gets
The age narrative device used in Punjabi folk music is basically a word that means female firefly, and in folk music it stands for the poet writer who uses Jugni as an innocent observer to make incisive, often humorous yet deep observations. “Jugni is basically the spirit of life or essence of life, which is why every singer wants to present it in his or her style,” shares singer Nishawn Bhullar, who talks about the Jugni who is fighting against corruption in politics and society in his national award-winning film Nabar.
Pakistani folk singer Alam Lohar’s son Arif Lohar has kept the tradition alive, by making Jungi walk the lonely streets of glamour, struggling to keep her sanctity intact in the film Cocktail. “Jugni, which is generally sung in rudimentary folk, doesn’t always rhyme, but it is a fact that Jugni’s non-malicious commentary manages to target everything that is happening around, so singers use it to describe any present scenario. Also, it is a legacy passed on from generations.”
Across the board
From Pakistani singers to Asa Singh Mastaana, Gurmeet Bawa, Kuldeep Manak, Gurdas Maan and most recently Rabbi Shergill, Lember Hussainpuri and Bilal Saeed, many singers have attempted Jugni in their own style. IP Singh, lead vocalist of the band Faridkot, feels Jugni can say it all for any singer. “If you happen to see the early Jugni writings, you would find a strong spiritual element in it. Also, many poets and philosophers have Jugni as a device, to put across many social, political or philosophical things. You can imagine the depth, which is why every singer attempts to give Jugni a new form.”
A new cut
Jugni, the rebellious metaphor, indeed has hit the music scene in a big way. For Punjabi folk singer Gurdas Maan, Jugni is beyond barriers, it can see things others cannot; it is fearless, it can take up things hands on and any singer would want to use a strong metaphor in their song. Also, the daring attitude of Jugni lends the singer’s voice a high pitch; Jugni actually works like magic.”
Jugni, the concept, is still popular with the music industry. Gurdeep Mehndi, Daler Mehndi’s son, gives Jugni an absolutely new lease of life when he created a fresh version of it in the popular show Sound Trek on Fox Life. Rabbi Shergill’s song refers to the anger brewing in Kashmir and the uprising there against unemployment. “The defiance, the boldness and the gutsy streak makes Jugni popular, still rolling,” adds IP.
jasmine@tribunemail.com
