Egging on the nation
Aaloo Anday may not top the list of delectable dishes for a Pakistani, but the flavour certainly has an international appeal to it. Wonder why a simple dish like potatoes and eggs has global recognition? This is title of the hit single produced by the Lahore-based rock band Beygairat Brigade (Honourless Brigade). The three-member band lashes out at the Pakistani govt, extremism, religious radical views and criminals who have been glorified in the name of Islam.
The viral is hugely popular on social networking sites—It has crossed over 3.5 lakh views on YouTube, and the band has fan pages on Facebook and Twitter too. They have been reckoned as an Internet sensation, for taking digs at the state of affairs in their country. The band name is a satirical take on the country's nationalists called the Ghairat Brigade or the Honour Brigade, by the local media. The song goes on to describe how criminals like Ajmal Kasab (the only surviving terrorist of the Mumbai terror attacks) and Mumtaz Qadri (gunman who killed Punjab’s Governor Salman Taseer) are heralded as national heroes. On the other hand, the Pakistani Nobel Prize winning physicist Abdus Salam has been shunned because he belongs to a minority sect. The satirical points are clearly highlighted by posters and signs; If you want to put a bullet in my head, like this video and Tehrik-e-Insaaf=Good-looking Jammat-e-Islami (Islamic fundamentalist) are just a handful of placards in the video. Stand-up comedian Praveen Kumar says, “Anything conveyed through humour and wit stays longer in public memory. Now, an Indian band must take inspiration and write a song on how Manmohan Singh must start talking or how Mayawati must stop talking!”
The general consensus is that music and lyrics convey a very powerful message. Siddhartha Menon, band manager of Bhayanak Maut says, “Our band has always been politically incorrect. Our next album talks about how the Christian community is treated in Mumbai. I respect the Beygairat Brigade for taking a stance and writing about the dismal state of affairs. Music can convey, with a lot of soul, what’s rotten in society.” Guitarist Dhruv Kumar of Live Banned says, “Unless you have a strong point that affects several people, it is worth writing about. It shouldn’t become a medium of rants.”
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