Curated playlists to put you in the mood for poll day

Dreams of peaceWhen I was a collegian we were into our 50th year of Independence and so was Ireland As a fan of the band U2 I responded a lot to the music and cinema from the culture they have a similar approach to colonialism For me democracy and elections became about peaceMy playlist New Yearrsquos Day or Sunday bloody Sunday by U2 are my picks The other song is Civil war by Guns n Roses It opens with a quote from former US president Abraham LincolnMy watchlist Tamas by Govind Nihalani is a mustwatch for its insight on divisiveness and distrust If you are looking for a play Final Solution explores the complexity of the self over the larger picture Another standout is Udhwasta Dharamsala by GP Deshpande It talks about taking a stance againstauthorityQuasar Thakore Padamsee theatre makerAn era of antiestablishmentI grew up in a time when almost all musicians were antiestablishment It has changed over the years to becoming patriotic or jingoistic Political voices in music are much lesser today One of my inspirations was Bob Dylan who was the perfect example While not a great singer Dylan was an incredible writer It was all about the words and the thought Thatrsquos how we can bring about changeA scene from Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro Pic CourtesyyouTubeMy playlist You can list every song by Bob Dylan One cannot go wrong with him The other tracks that reflect social change for me are Imagine by John Lennon and The Times They Are AChanginrsquo by DylanMy watchlist The film I love is Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro a perfect political satire that has stood the test of time It sheds light on how business interests and politics conspire Another film is Wag The Dog featuring Robert De Niro another satire on the American politics of perceptionDhruv Ghanekar composerChildren of WoodstockBack then there were a lot of tunes and artistes back then whose music art and works focused on social change The Woodstock Movement triggered a lot of songs that inspired us Their themes filtered into my thoughtsMy playlist I would put John Lennonrsquos Imagine at the top It is a song that continues to inspire our idea of an ideal society of peace For an option I would recommend anything from Bob Dylanrsquos repertoireBob DylanMy watchlist I actually find movies and shows today to be more politically aware I recently watched a movie on Martin Luther King MLKFBI That was a good oneZubin Balaporia musicianLack of political musicI have to confess there is a lack of sharp political music in our country We have not yet reached that level I was myself quite apathetic towards politics My own music feels a little distant I am trying and hoping to change thatMy playlist Eyes Wide Open by Gotye which is a surprisingly sharp comment The latest one is the Blackbiird cover by Beyonceacute in her album Cowboy Carter The original song by The Beatles had deep ties to the Civil Rights MovementMy watchlist I am currently on XMen rsquo97 series It might feel cartoonish but it is a fantastic take on civil rights freedom of speech and individualityThe other wonderful show Irsquod recommend is Shogun It is set in the early 15th century Japan but offers detailed insight into human rights in vicious political situationsTejas Menon vocalistSongs of changegtgt Bandeh by Indian Oceangtgt Chitta by Prabh Deepgtgt The Warli Revolt by Swadesigtgt Ikebana by Alifgtgt Get up Stand up by Bob Marley and The Wailersgtgt Streets of Philadelphia by Bruce SpringsteenWatch for social changeGhashiram Kotwal by Vijay TendulkarLog on to YouTubeAndha Yug by Dharmvir BharatiLog on to Hindi Gharana on SpotifyAn Enemy Of The People 1980 by BBCLog on to YouTubeSinhasan by Jabbar PatelLog on to YouTubeSwadesLog on to Netflix