02 March,2009 11:53 AM IST | | Kumar Saurav
Health Minister is caught in no-galis-barred duel with underground rapster. Round 1 goes to maker of Sutta song sequel
After roses, Union Health Minister Ambumani Ramadoss is being gifted songs. But the minister may not want to sing along.
Ramadoss, who has roped in clean guy John Abraham to add punch to his anti-tobacco campaign, is facing flak from a pro-smoking underground songmaker, grunge composer Badmash, the creator of the iconic "Sutta" song.
Badmash is ready with a rap sequel of the "Sutta" score, the unofficial anthem of campus smokers across India. Only this time, he has peppered it liberally with the choicest of gaalis.
And going by its online popularity, the Sutta seems to be scoring quite a few brownie points.
The new "BC Sutta Rap" is being circulated on several Internet portals and is already a hit with the lot that swears by the ash. The 3.23-minute video has till now been downloaded 1,381 times and visitors have lauded it with a four-star rating.
Like all underground sub-cultures, it's the "Sutta" song's anti-establishment sentiment that has made it so popular. The sequel only pushes the envelope further. "Let me decide what is right for me. No one is clean enough to dictate what I should and shouldn't do," said Ankit Kumar, software professional.
"Youngsters want to question the establishment and decide for themselves what's ethical and what's immoral. The success of underground songs like 'Sutta,' '' Mein D'''a' and 'Honey Singh' lies here," said DJ Mickey.
Psychologists feel it's underground music's originality of expression and proximity to real-life experience that attract the youth. "Sutta became a smokers' anthem because it reminded one of college and the time when elders objected to youngsters lighting up," said psychologist Smita Pandey.
Another lewd number by the same composer topping grunge music charts is the triple-X version of "Emosional Attyachar" - a spoof on the hit song from the movie Dev D. This no-abuses-barred composition is doing whirlwind rounds of mobile phones and ipods.
Curiously, while the expletives of underground music may hurt the sensibilities of many, youngsters are attracted to its rebelliously sinful high. As popular Indian songs failed to capture the angst of the defiant youth, underground compositions filled the gap, fast merging with mainstream music.
"Both listeners and composers prefer underground songs over commercial music. Since these songs are created for a specific group, the listeners are not disappointed. Also, the tracks are so popular that the composer is creatively satisfied," said VJ9, the music spinner behind another underground creation "Bollywood History".
Underground music has almost acquired a cult status and several discotheques and clubs in the Capital organise special nights wherein they play music that's not distributed through any legal channel. "Even though I wouldn't prefer to play such music but since people demand it, I do. The lyrics are so appealing that one can't resist the temptation of listening to them again and again," said DJ Barkha Kaul. Another DJ wishing anonymity said that she had to stop playing underground songs to stay away from moral policing.
So even though you may not get to hear the "Sutta Rap" on MTV, it's freely available online.
