Songs and Addiction

For quite some time music industry in India is shifting its loyalties to addictive substances. Though there have been instances of music based on addictive substances long ago too “Dum maro Dum”, “Thodi si jo pee li hai” but these were one off instances of HIGH songs. The current trend on the other hand seems to be where a film might not get released if there is no song promoting getting HIGH. Seems like after underworld film industry has got a new sponsor LIQUOR and DRUG cartels. It’s not that the government run de-addiction campaigns are very successful and the industry is losing it core base, but probably they want the government to increase its revenue so they want people to get addicted so that more taxes are collected.

But it seems the cigarette and guthkha industry have not been providing enough money that’s why there are warnings that cigarettes and tobacco causes cancer as if all the other addictive substances are good for health. While there is a ban on selling tobacco products near education institutions there is no ban on playing songs like “Haan main alcoholic hoon”, or “Sooraj dooba hai yaaron do ghoont nashe ke maaaro” or Slighly old but still party favorite ”wo sharaabi kya sharaabi jo nashi main na rahe”. Truth is that these songs are life line of every party. The youth of this country is bound to be influenced by songs like “ Chaar botal Vodka” and “Daddy se chura ke.. woah Goa jaake karti  Haash”.

What is the ultimate aim if it’s to get a generation of drunk drug addicts that probably is the one that will be achieved? Who cares about the next generation when lots of money can be made? When you ask the artist (I wonder if I should call them artist) their answer is simple we make what people demand. Well it’s not what people demand it’s what you push down their throat by constantly playing them on FM channels. People demand foot tapping music for the party they really don’t care about the lyrics. Why can’t you put better lyrics with the same music? If you want you can take help for Super cassette industries and T-series they are experts in making religious songs from item numbers so that they can keep people awake the whole jagran night.

Okay so let’s be rational we don’t want the bhajans to be played in our disco techs but it will be better if the lyrics are not promoting addiction. And for God’s sake leave nursery rhymes and lullabies out. It’s really disgusting to hear daroo version of “ Jonny Jonny “ and “ La la Lori “. I don’t want my six month old to learn rhymes this way.