Hindi syllabus, Punjabi notes

Jasmine Singh

It wouldn’t be too long before you get an invite for a live Punjabi singer’s music show in Antarctica! If this seems like an extremely far-fetched assumption right now, we bring you nearer to something more believable — like Punjabi hit songs becoming a part of almost every second Bollywood film. 

The recent development is the hit Punjabi number Suit, sung by Guru Randhawa, making it to the much-talked-about filmHindi Medium, which stars Irrfan Khan in the lead role. Guru Randhawa has just come back from Georgia, where this song was choreographed on him, Irrfan and the leading lady, Saba Qamar. The film is produced by Bhushan Kumar of T-series and Maddock Films.

Punjabi numbers in Hindi films is a big trend as of now. Well, hear it from those who stand to gain in this.

Suit yourself

“Imagine getting to feature in a track opposite the internationally-acclaimed actor Irrfan Khan,” Guru Randhawa is excited. His already hit song Suit is now part of the film. “In the movie, Irrfan Khan has a suit shop at Chandani Chowk, so my song Tainu Suit Suit Karda just goes with the film and the scene,” adds Guru. 

Changing lines

While Bollywood films pick and choose from the already popular Punjabi songs, these songs are rehashed a bit to suit the demand of the Hindi films. For instance, Punjabi singer Hardy Sandhu’s song Soch, which was used in Akshay Kumar starrer Airlift, was used with some changes in the lyrics. Guru Randhawa doesn’t find anything wrong with it, “Hindi films have their own demands; their film songs go according to the scene and the film of course.” Guru too had to change the lyrics of his song slightly to suit the demand of the scene in the film. 

Whose gain?

So, do the Punjabi singers stand to gain? Punjabi singer Hardy Sandhu doesn’t mince words. “The only time a Punjabi singer gains in this deal is when he or she gets to feature in the song’s video.” Also, Hardy has no issues if the lyrics of the song are changed, “As long as they are changed nicely.”

It might not be a win-win situation for these singers, but they cannot rule out the brownie points they earn. Remember, Yo Yo Honey Singh and Gippy Grewal’s popular track Angreji Beat Tey in Cocktail or Jaz Dhami’s High Heels from the Hindi film Ki and Ka, and also the refurbished versions like Soch or Tung Tung Baaje? “Punjabi songs are very catchy, in fact, Punjabi music has been used as the base for many Hindi film songs,” music director Naved says. Naved doesn’t see this as a trend; he calls it a demand and supply situation. “Bollywood loves Punjabi songs and the Punjabi singers get a national platform.” 

Getting bigger

More exposure, being seen and heard on a bigger platform, more work in Bollywood...this sure sounds like a deal for Punjabi singers! “Indeed,” nods yet another famous Punjabi singer Kaur B, who sang Mitran De for Hindi movie Irada.

“If a Punjabi singer’s song is picked for a Bollywood film, this signifies creative growth and of course it leads to personal growth of the artiste,” she adds. But not to forget, it is the Punjabi singers’ tie-ups with popular music record labels and the deals they’ve signed, which help with Bollywood projects. Whichever route is followed, Punjabi songs are now a hit in Bollywood films, and our singers are having a great time in this La La land!

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