The Score Magazine - Archive Feb-Mar 2017 issue! | Page 39

SHREYA BOSE Protest Music. A STARTER FOR THE CURIOUS Motorcycle Shayaries: Less elegant but possibly just as effective, Rajasthani rap-rock duo, Motorcycle Shayaries focus their anger on the violent state of the country. Their exceptionally violent verbosity demands frequent, fervent and somewhat shameful attention : Sex nahi hamari sanskriti Hamari sanskriti to rape hai... Ham asal khoon ke pyaase hain Shakahari hain naam ke (Holi Hai) Imphal Talkies and The Howlers: If we knew what it was like to live in Manipur, our hearts would break. If you listen to the words of the Imphal Talkies, it would come as close to the same feeling. For example, Blood Soaked streets That's my ground That's where i play around Sound of gunshots That's my song That's my lulla- lullaby (Lullaby) The band offers an undiluted understanding of the travails that the North Eastern states, especially Manipur continue to endure, and wounds made deeper by the fact that much of India remains almost entirely unaware of what it is that drives these men to pen words and play sounds gutted with pain. Bollywood: Bollywood isn’t known for making protest a big part of its commercial roster. While scenes of outrage are common on the screen, they often serve as a plot device. Not as the linchpin of the narrative. However, you don’t need to dig far to find music that will speak to you if you have known or understood injustice. Case in point : Ranaji ( Gulal ), Mehengayi Maar Gayi ( Peepli Live), Khoon Chala ( Rang De Basanti) and Janta Rocks ( Satyagraha ). As always, consider this a nudge in the direction that gets you to Google “protest music in Bollywood”. The Ska Vengers: They conflate and merge dub, punk, jazz and rap with Cuban and Latin influences. They kicked off “ska” into an expansive listenership in India. They created a list of songs that will possibly encourage you to shake a leg or if you are shy, atleast a shoulder. In addition, they make some of those songs about censorship of the media ( Badda ) and about the Indian freedom fighter Shaheed Udham Singh, who was branded a terrorist and executed for the assassination of Michael O’Dwyer, the British Lieutenant Governor of Punjab at the time of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre ( Frank Brazil ). They also performed in front of 2000 inmates in South Asia’s largest jail, Tihar, in 2012. JJI Exile Brothers: Three men in Mcleodganj wield a few traditional Tibetan instruments like the Tibetan guitar, Tibetan flute and the yungching (a stringed bow instrument) as well as a couple of guitars. Then they proceed to make music that reverberates with tales of a struggle than countless Tibetans have immersed themselves in – freedom. There are also exhortations to experience more love, and share more peace. Relevant, poignant messages that have been a fixture through history but executed in a fashion unique to the pains of a particular people with their particular story of brutality. Are there more? Innumerably so. Does the above list offer a complete representation of the diverse palates of sound that this country has created in response to times of human suffering? Not even close. But they are proof that while the charts and the radio stations and the Youtube recommendations might be pushing forth odes to superficiality and indifference, an alternative, less visited, less paid for, less shared, less bought but possibly more related-to strain of songmanship exists. If you wish to return to the purpose of music that defines it as an instrument of catharsis and confession, you’ll do well to hear the song of those the good life has forgotten. The Score Magazine www.thescoremagazine.com 37