On a Song - Not on a Song

image credit - Sekho.in

Odisha has been in the throes of cultural churning since a few weeks now. While the religious controversy with regard to Nabakalebara of Lord Jagannath refuses to die down, a new musical controversy pertaining to rendition of two songs by Sona Mohapatra and Rituraj Mohanty on MTV Coke Studio has stirred a hornet’s nest. The songs in question are the remix of a 1970’s cult number ‘Rangabati’ and the unofficial state anthem ‘Bande Utkala Janani’. With cases slapped for copyright violation, social media outrage and defend game in full flow, this issue has created camps with staunch views on an otherwise melodious affair.

The bone of contention regarding this now with thousands of YouTube hits (2 million hits in 21 days as on 27/7/15 as tweeted by @sonamohapatra) song largely involves five issues:

Firstly, the original composers of the Rangabati song, lyricist Mitrabhanu Gauntia and composer Prabhudatta Pradhan have alleged copyright violation. The Copyright (Amended) Bill, 2010 made special provision for rights to authors of work used in sound recordings. The bill states that the right to loyalties rests with the creator and can be assigned to their heirs or copyright societies.

Singer Sona Mohapatra in an interview claimed that since the song is a folk song, there is no question of copyright violation. The composition of Indian folk music has always been ‘anonymous’ and has inspired or have been usurped, depending on which side of the spectrum you stand, by composers who have commercialized them. It is grey area since music has depended on inspirations and adaptations, conscious or unconscious. It is interesting to note here that composer of the new Rangabati, Ram Sampath, won a fairy tale suit of Rs 2 crore against Rakesh Roshan for violation of copyright. However at the end of the day, now that the matter is sub judice, it will be for the courts to decide whether there is an actual copyright violation.

Secondly, a section of people, particularly of Western Odisha, from where the song originates have taken exception to a host of mispronunciation by Sona Mohapatra which significantly alters the meaning of sections of the song. The original song in Sambalpuri language is a love song and use of words like ‘Ranga’ repetitively, aimed at aesthetic appeal, which in actuality refers to transgender, makes a mincemeat of the original narrative. There cannot be two thoughts on this that the people who understand and value the language will be offended and that the artists should have made effort to get the rendition and meaning right.

Thirdly, the issue of the mixing of ‘Bande Utkala Janani’ towards the end of Rangabati rendition. The song was composed by Lakhsmikanta Mohapatra in 1912 and has been the unofficial state anthem, being sung in functions of the State and the state Assembly. This piece of the song sung by Rawstar winner Rituraj Mohanty has come under criticism as it has deviated from the original composition.  There is a demand by sections of society, notably the opposition parties, to make the song as State Anthem and make its disrespect punishable. Till the moment that happens, it should be perfectly fine to sing it in any manner until it evokes disrespect.

Fourthly, the politics. Nothing comes better than a good controversy to bank on. The Rangabati outrage has become fodder for political parties who wish to claim their allegiance to the often neglected and poverty stricken Western Odisha. Political parties of all hues have jumped into the wagon of protesting against the song which has incidentally been greatly liked and accepted by many, especially a huge chunk of Odia, who feel the song received its due on a large platform. Just like the disdain that people of Odisha have grown concerning political angle and action in the Nabakalebara controversy, this trick by political parties, will attract the same emotion.

Fifthly, all this hue and cry over the song has brought into focus the dilapidated state of music in Odisha. It is not that this rendition of Rangabati is the first instance of tampering with the original. Several hundred versions exist including ones popular in Telugu, including scores which are distasteful and music videos of which are vulgar. Songs in Sambalpuri language are very popular in the state but of late they have been outright obscene and which has been incidentally objected by Jitendra Haripal, the original singer of the famed Rangabati. So much so that the cheapness that is peddled in the name of music stands to undo decades of great musical work by Odia artists. The fact is, measured censorship is warranted to halt this unfortunate trend.

Rangabati is undoubtedly the most popular song in Odisha when it comes to celebrations. Weddings are effectively incomplete without it being played by the band while people shake a leg to it. The song, via BBC and Voice of America has seen unparalleled popularity. It has always been in focus, and more so in recent times, perhaps owing to the social media expansion. When it was announced that it would be featured on MTV Coke Studio, the excitement of an average Odia and a music aficionado was tremendous. However the turn of events made the experience sour for some yet enjoyable for others. Artistic liberty and freedom has always offended some, which should be perfectly fine in a liberal society; but with care, caution and walking by the rules of the land and that of ethics and morality, the experience can be richer and more meaningful.

PS: I absolutely liked the rendition and the buzz it created. Debates, in a healthy fashion, are always good, be there agreement or disagreement.

The Taxi Talks

When riding a cab, I usually put my phone away, and strike a conversation with the driver. More often than not they strike a good conversation. Once you adjust yourself to their frequency the range of topics and their insight is always baffling. Over the past weekend while visiting Bangalore, I happened to take Ola and Uber twice each. Some of the interesting and important issues that the drivers, all 4 star and above rated, conversed:

Language: The Ola cab driver asked me if I knew Kannada. In my rudimentary Kannada I replied that I knew a little of it. That was it. Appreciative of people making effort to learn the language he expressed his great anger over residents of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, barring Hyderabad, who according to him do not try to speak other common language.

He then went on to describe how in Chennai there is discrimination against those cars bearing KA registration number. Right from obtaining permit at Bangalore, the harassment continues till Chennai. 

Being a Samaritan: The Ola driver narrated how on several occasions he went to houses of passengers to give them back their belongings if they leave it in his car. This was in response to my raising the matter telling how we lost 2 umbrellas in an Ola and no one bothered to follow it up despite calling the drive and the call center.

But he have had bitter experiences when despite his traveling long distance to return valuables, the passenger refused to pay him extra for that part of the ride. Now he doesn't see an incentive in becoming a good Samaritan yet drops the belongings at Ola office.

Car Loan: The other day getting on to a relatively new car when I inquired about it the driver narrated how a small time driver faces harassment while procuring a vehicle of his own. The guy said he got the vehicle costing about 4.7 lakh by paying a downpayment of 1.5 lakh and the rest from Tata finance. Now the problem according to him is, Tata insurance, unlike bank doesn't tolerate delay in payment of EMI and sends goons to threaten or in worst case take away the car. 

Naturally I asked him why couldn't he get a loan from a national bank. The reason he said was that he hailed from Kolar. The bank over there wanted him to bring documents stating that he is purchasing a car. he was denied that document from the showroom in Bangalore, all this leading to his paying an extra 50 thousand as interest money in 3 years.

Reliance: A certain buzz was in Bangalore about Reliance entering cab business; how they claimed a rate of Rs 4 per KM and huge incentives for drivers. That, both the drivers claimed, would change how things currently are in Bangalore. While an auto charges 13 Rs per KM, they weren't sure how the maths would work for Reliance, but they weren't worried about the Maths. For them important thing was that it would help pay the loan back sooner.

Talking to drivers is a very very interesting task. The variety of people they meet, the various places they visit (a common theme always is they proudly telling how far and wide they have driven to), the strata of society they belong to, makes for really interesting topics being discussed. While there are those 'silent types', roughly 80% of drivers I have traveled with are good at making conversation. So, next time, if the driver is game, strike a conversation. A few minutes of not fiddling with the phone can enrich your understanding of issues and people. After all aren't conversations what we are losing to our smartphones?

A Delicious Read

Informative and educative. Two words that describe Chef Saransh Goila’s wonderful book ‘India On My Platter’. Coming from a popular TV show this book generated quite some buzz and rightly so. The journey of 20,000 kilometers that Saransh Goila took discovering India’s food is a commendable exercise. That he brings both recipes and information about both food and the places he visits makes the book an enjoyable read.

The book begins with the author describing in brief the backdrop of this long food journey. After which it is more of a diary where day and place make the chapter heading. Beginning from northern India he has headed to the west then the south and via east, central India, east and north-east India and back to his source, his home in Delhi, on a Diwali night.

India provides for much diversity and as the author has rightly pointed out that a visible change in culture, language, food habits is seen ‘every 100 kilometers’. For me the book works because it provides for interesting details. It is not just a travelogue or a recipe book but the best of both. 

If one wishes to make a journey by road, one can use Saransh Goila’s book as a travel guide. Few information there comes in handy like how the likelihood of getting stuck in traffic on way to Leh is high and thus the ‘Maggi’ shop (wondering what the shop serves after Maggi ban; quite a few Maggi mentions in the book too) at the beginning provides succour. The routes and distances mentioned is minor but very necessary pieces of information. A bit more on pricing/cost would have further helped the readers.

Recipes are provided in couple of ways in the book. On one hand there is detailed recipe, as we are used to seeing and reading them, of what the Chef made in is journey and on the other hand few of them can be found in the descriptive part of the book, like the ‘aate ka halwa’ in a gurudwara. 

The interest of those who are keen on historical aspect of a place is also catered to in the book. However the veracity of a few appeared questionable an example of which is where he describes that a white thread is an uniform for cooks at Krishna Math in Udupi whereas fact is only Brahmins cook the food and the thread is not an attire but a part of them. One miss that I personally did not like was lack of food mention about my home state Odisha despite the author going to Bhubaneswar and mentioning about the dance Odissi.

History of food as described is very educative; like the fundamental difference between a Hyderabadi and Lucknowi biriyani or how elaborate a Kashmiri platter and mannerism is or how spices are kept to a minimum in north-east. For a true foodie, these are information to be cherished. 

Apart then these information the vignettes on shopping comes in handy. There can be observed a hint of spirituality, coming of age feeling in certain parts of the book and that helps connect. On a downside the editing could have been crisper; the narration style is not uniform. ‘Talk to the reader’ approach works for most part if not all. 

Overall, India On My Platter is a wonderful read, for the sheer variety that this lovely country offers and which Saransh Goila has captured beautifully. For the sheer arduous task that he has undertaken, which finds its place in record books now, he needs to be commended. Easy reading, doubling up as travel guide along with a recipe book, handy vignettes, makes the it a delightful and tasteful read.