Audience divide shapes song trends

India does have a problem with vulgar lyrics because I do see this prevalent in Bhojpuri music, which is very focused on objectifying women and double-meaning songs. The videos, choreography, and lyrics are absolutely crass, but it works in a particular belt out there, with people appreciating it. So there are two kinds of audiences in India: one is the very sanskari and 

modern audience, where they find things very cheesy and cheap or whatever, while the other ones find this absolutely palatable. And that’s the reason why also there is an entire market of item songs, the kinds which are probably played at clubs or even dance bars. That’s the reason why these kinds of songs are made, or they even see the light of day, because there is an audience for it. The producer also puts money behind them because he knows that these kinds of songs will probably fly. Nobody would make a song if it’s not going to work.

As far as artistic freedom being trampled upon is concerned, I would say that it is being taken for granted, in the sense that just because you’re an artist, you can land up writing anything. Now that’s not the case; it’s very subjective. Like if you see in the West as well, a lot of rap songs, for example WAP by Cardi B, are fun to listen to in a club, but it’s material that is not suitable for kids and is extremely adult-oriented. A lot of popular rap and some pop songs are also extremely sexualised in the West. In terms of Badshah and Nora Fatehi’s song, I think it’s not necessarily an individual artist who needs to be blamed, penalising them and making 

them a scapegoat, but as a whole, the industry and the entire country must put a regulation on this. Thomson Andrews, playback singer and composer.

(Thomson has been in Bollywood for the past 18 years, having worked with everyone from A R Rahman to Pritam.)