A Blot in the name of Bhadralok"ism"

I just cant help myself. I am in love with this song...so since last few days if I am listening anything..it is nothing but this. And then suddenly something strikes me this evening while coming back home..(and of course the thought process triggered while listening the same in background). Whats so special about this catchy one... Is it really that worth. Look at my age, maturity, social status....and does it anywhere match with that? It has "road chaap" words like "Talli, Whiskey, Soda, Munda, Mushtanda, Kake and what not". It has no lyrics, Full of suggestive and double entendre...but still I have gone complete "talli and fultush" over it. Is it just the theme, the music, the beats or is it the way it has been produced and the final outcome which to me sounds awesome (I have not seen the video, so cant comment on that part or say looks awesome and I doubt it will). I am sure I am not alone in its fanclub...but if I look at my band of brothers whom all I expect to see. I know the answer very well...and the producers of this item number know it well too for it has been targetted to that class. I also know that there might be many people like me who probably love it but will be quite reluctant to admit it..after all it belongs to that certain "class" and then who is not afraid of being judged by what we say, listen and what we like....so I dont blame.

Can I proudly recommend it to someone.."You know..you must listen to it..its a great listening pleasure". I cant. It does not use literary Hindi or Urdu stuff in it. It has no philosophical theme. It has no musical value. It will be erased from our memory after few weeks...It does not emanate sophistication..It is meant for a certain audience. It is certainly not for the regular main stream..that middle /elite class...For the society me and you belong to.

The more and more I think of it...more I fell into this self realization process. It is not only this song..look at the theme/topic of my Blog. I have and I do read regularly so many blogs by others. All of them carry weight..the substance. They make you think something. They discuss highly intellectual stuffs sometimes, philosophical, spiritual things. Even if they discuss Poetry/Movies/Songs/Books that will for sure belong to something which you will feel PROUD to recommend. It leaves you with a feeling of an accomplishment. And then I look at my years old poor Absolut Timepass...which discusses Chitrahaar, An actress' biography, compilation from youtube, of for that matter funnyordie website (really funny, I labelled that as techie stuff..for a change!) and last but not the least a "shit processing center named after George Bush". ..Oh God..Is it me? I guess it is.

After all it is nothing new. Reminds me of one old incident...when I was probably 12/13 years old. We were planning to attend one of my cousins marriage in Calcutta. Those days..Calcutta was not that cosmopolitan (read Hindi aware). So we three brothers from the core Hindiland, were always treated with "respect" and cheered by the younger generation (as we were fluent in Hindi..ie spoken language of "Bollywood") but much with "Sarcasm" with the older generation as we cant even recite Tagore (to show respect lets say "Thakur" to show some originality). Anyways...as is generally common during a bong family function...songs/recitals were very much in place and expected from all brothers/sis of the new bride on the marriage night..called "basar ratri". It is pity to see the newly weds who are already exhausted and stressed out are FORCED to remain awake till wee hours and tolerate these family cultural show. So that being year 1983/1984 I was keen to show my talent too...that too in chaste hindi..and with the latest two hits. I still remember those songs...they had very simple lyrics, chartbusters of that time,and of course easy to sing. So I literally pen it down painstakingly listening from the radio over many broadcasts, memorize and rehearse it many times and even do a dress rehearsal with the my two younger brothers as audience. Things look perfect. And then on the d-day when my turn was up, I performed. I performed well I guess, as got few clapping from my fresh new bro-in-law. Songs I had "intelligently" chosen were both marriage based suiting the occasion, were "Shayad Meri Shadi Ka Khyaal from Souten"..and then my backup song (rather "one more...one more please" item) was "Gangaram Kunwara Rah Gaya from JeevanDhara". Looking at half of the audience was already asleep, and though there was no "one more plz request" I shamelessly sang the second one too...after all I had put an incredible effort preoaring for my moment of fame.

Next day over Morning Tea/Biscuits in the marriage pandal..I do see a serious discussion going on with my Father in the center and lots of elderly relatives in and around him, lecturing him. Could not stop but sneaked in, only to find my previous nights performance was being discussed...and they were appalled to see how could an intelligent young "bengali" boy is going downhill..who sings cheap hindi film songs instead of Abritti (poem recitals) or rabindro sangeet. The hatred was not for "hindi" rather the sublime subject and theme and utter mediocrity of my selection of songs. Even a hindi version of "Hemanto" or "Manna" would have been perfect but a song discussing a proposal over tea invitation and few animals going on a marriage procession "barat" that was too much to digest. Now the target himself being there, attention shifts from my Father (who may have already done a bad thing by moving out of Bengal) to me and I am given a full lecture on the Pride/Culture/History of great Bengal folks and how must I change my likings. Well that was the day..I realized Point Blank that I cant belong to Bhadralok category ever....rather I might be a blot to that.

PS: Thanks to Blogs...I am free to share my opinions "freedom of expression" here.......saying kudos and cheering for Main Talli Ho Gayee's music composer now "in" and "famous" Mr Annu Malik. Now that needs Guts...isnt it!