In India, every election has a background score: the clinks of the parties in the fray, with shrill voices, imitation melodies and forceful rhythms. But in West Bengal this time, it’s the sharp letters that draw the crowds from TMC, BJP and CPI (M).
Among the various jingles that have created quite a stir this voting season are TMC’s “Khela hobe (The game begins) “;” Khelar mathe lorai hobe (The battle will be fought on the playground) “by BJP and” Pishi jao (Aunty, go) “; and” Tumpa, toke niye Brigade jabo (Tumpa, I’ll take you to the Brigade) of CPI (M) and “Laal pherao, haal pherao (Returns red, returns stability)”.
With the eight-phase elections beginning on March 27, the rap “Khela hobe”, written by TMC state spokesperson and youth wing general secretary Debangshu Bhattacharya, was one of the first to make a splash.
The letter highlights state government programs like Kanyashree, which offers money to female students, and Swasthya Sathi, a health plan. He also challenges the BJP, criticizing the BJP “for poaching party leaders” and the “price hike”, and raises issues such as “communalism” and the Hathras incident in which a Dalit woman was murdered after having allegedly gang-raped.
“You are disintegrating the country in the name of Ram … but you should know that Ram adores Durga,” the lyrics say.
According to Bhattacharya, the key words “Khela hobe” were coined from Rabindranath Tagore’s song, “Moder jemon khela, temoni je kaaj (We work as we play)”.
TMC state spokesperson Debangshu Bhattacharya works with the crowd with his rap Khela hobe. (Express photo)
“The soil of Bengal is not identified with the motto ‘Jai Shri Ram’. So, I felt that Trinamool needs its own ‘Jai Shri Ram’. Furthermore, there was a need to boost the morale of party workers after Suvendu Adhikari (the former TMC minister who joined the BJP in December) resigned and started poaching other members. The slogan has defeated Adhikari’s purpose. Now even the Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) himself is countering the slogan, ”he said.
During a rally at the Brigade Parade Ground on March 7, Modi had said, “Khela khatam, vikas shuru (Game over, development begins).”
It’s not just about different versions of the song, the words are also being used by TMC leaders in their speeches. During a recent rally, party leader Anubrata Mondol said: “Khela hobe. Bhoyonkor khela hobe. Ei mati te khela hobe. (The game is on. It will be a dangerous game. But the game is on and this will be the playground) “.
Those lines elicited a strong response from the BJP. “Those who threaten to touch the ‘bhoyonkor khela’ will have plenty of time after the polls to sit in their halls and play ludo with their grandchildren,” said former MLA and chief party spokesman Shamik Bhattacharya.
But of course, the BJP is not far behind either. The festival’s “Pishi jao” is a parody of the late 19th century Italian popular protest song “Bella Ciao.” The lyrics target the ruling dispensation, blaming it for the lack of industries, employment and security for women. The song ridicules the state health plan as a scam, alleging “corruption” in cash compensation and drawing attention to violence.
“The members of our group have composed the songs. Campaigns are run in different ways and generally in sync with new trends. Something is spontaneously written, then the opponent creates a counter, and this continues… (This time) people are writing their own poems and songs and posting on social media. If people come up with more creative compositions, we will publish them officially, ”said Bhattacharya, the spokesperson.
The CPI (M) credits its “talented young party workers” with “Tumpa, toke niye Brigade jabo” and “Laal pherao”. While the first song is a parody of the popular Bengali song, “Tumpa shona”, the second is based on the Bollywood track, “Lungi dance” by Shah Rukh Khan, starring ‘Chennai Express’.
Both songs have been written by Rahul Paul, an active party worker. “The final product is a collective effort of several people. I wrote the first parody before the Party Brigade rally on February 28th. As it gained ground, I thought about experimenting with a second track and came up with ‘Laal pherao,’ ”said Paul.
According to him, there are several “revolutionary songs of the left”, but the party has tried to bet on contemporary music. Former state Information and Culture Minister Anjan Bera said public acceptance shows they agree with the letter. “It is not just the melody, but the content that has attracted listeners,” said the leader of CPI (M).
Congress, meanwhile, has yet to step off the blocks. “I have written a voting jingle, which has been sent to the Elections Commission office for approval. As soon as we get the go-ahead, our party will officially release it, ”said Abhisek Banerjee, head of social media for the West Bengal Pradesh Congressional Committee.
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