Keeping with the popularity of songs in regional language, singer-rapper-writer Fazilpuria launched his new song “Party” at the Capital’s Town House Café recently. Present at the event were Punjabi pop stars Raftaar, Millind Gaba, Guru Randhawa and DJ Shadow who along with the singer interacted with the media sharing their views about Haryanvi pop and the changing culture of Punjabi music.
When asked about clichéd songs on party theme been churned out, the singers present collectively termed as content peopled demanded. Raftaar, the rapper/singer commented: “I made a song with MTV called ‘Allah ve’. Would you bang that one in a club or lounge?....So people need these kind of songs.” Millind Gaba said “we deliver what people want.” Moving on the tagging of Punjabi and Haryanvi songs as “misogynistic”, Fazilpuria denying it said: “It’s just the perception of people that makes it sound like that. Nothing is made to sound double meaning or women bashing.”
In a humorous vein, Raftaar turned the question the other way round and said, “we challenge feminists to make songs against us. We won’t mind it.”
On Haryanvi emerging as a medium for pop numbers, Fazilpuria averred that the intention was to take Haryana forward which has been doing well in sports and music, through music. “It’s our way to promote our language and culture. My real name is Rahul but I use Fazilpuria as my artist name to promote my village Fazilpur.”
When asked about the changing face of Punjabi music, Raftaar said that “the essence of classic Punjabi music is still there. Only the zones and horizons have expanded.” He added that collaboration with music of Haryana or Bollywood helps in reaching out to a larger audience.
Pointing to regional becoming popular overseas, while Raftaar said, “we do most of our shows overseas,” Millind felt it proved that “Punjabi people are everywhere in the world.”
