Together in spirit and tune

Neha Saini

The lockdown has had a varied effect on all. For most, it was time for their 15 minutes of culinary fame, others it was a chance to explore the crooner within and share them with the world. With a potential viewership in millions, who were locked in and hooked on to the internet, the music scene in lockdown had quite a few mentions to Covid-19 situation. Several Amritsar-based artistes too came out with their own versions of the coronavirus-inspired music.

Recently, the Punjab government launched its Mission Fateh song, a special music video featuring Bollywood A-listers, including Amitabh Bachchan, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Randeep Hooda and others. It also had stars from Punjabi entrainment industry like Gippy Grewal, Ammy Virk, sportspersons, including Harbhajan Singh and the song has been sung by Harbhajan Singh. Before that, Punjab CM had tweeted a video made by the Amritsar administration showing the holy city and its landmark places under lockdown in a motivational song. The song was sung by Hargun Kaur from Amritsar.

City-based music composer Harinder Sohal too has collaborated for a song by Rajkumar Verka, who is the MLA from Amritsar west and vice-chairperson of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes. The song, titled Stay at Home, is penned by Verka and composed by Sohal, who has worked in several Punjabi films. He and his daughter Manpreet Sohal have sung the song. The six-minute song that features Verka was released while curfew was imposed in Punjab due to the Covid-19 outbreak. Urging people to follow the curfew and lockdown advisory and showing solidarity with the frontline warriors, it got several hits online. “The Covid-19 crisis has had a big impact on people and I have always expressed my views and solidarity through music. The song was made as a motivation for residents to observe social distancing and remain indoors to stop the spread of coronavirus. It is a way of informing people about the steps being taken by the government for them during the crisis. But, it is also telling people not to fear or panic,” said Verka.

Harinder Sohal said that the song was shot entirely by him while following social distancing norms. “While the lockdown was imposed, it was hard to not get affected by the situation. Despite the government-imposed isolation and distancing, I decided to create awareness and spread the message of being together in this crisis through my music. The song was appreciated and its purpose achieved,” he said.

Singer Vipul Mehta, winner of Indian Idol 5, too, has come up with his own perspective on the lockdown and its impact by releasing a prayer song. The singer, who spent the lockdown at his family home in Amritsar, released the song on his online channel. “It’s a prayer titled Pukaar that reflects my perspective of the Covid-19 situation. It’s a simple song that talks about being one in the eyes of almighty and being together in this crisis. The global pandemic and the lockdown have taught us the value of life and the power of collective prayer. The unpredictability created by this situation will definitely teach us to go beyond the definition of religion, caste and nationality and rebuild as a more humane society,” said Vipul. He has produced and shot the song himself as he remained indoors. “It was a challenge but also a learning experience for me. We have to readjust ourselves to the new norms post Covid-19 and music is what connects us all universally.”