Rewrite that sexist gaana

Sexist Bollywood songs have ruled the roost for years and continue to be churned out even today. Songs such as Jaadu Teri Nazar from Darr (1993), to Tu Cheez Badi Hai Mast Mast from Mohra (1994), Tera Hero Idhar Hai from Main Tera Hero (2014), where the man is rather aggressively vying for the woman’s attention, are only a few examples that have validated the non-consensual advances of an Indian man.

“Women in the slums will vouch for this fact,” says Snehal Velkar, programme coordinator at Akshara Foundation, an NGO working towards women’s rights. After conducting a series of pilot tests and surveys across the slums in Mumbai, Akshara Foundation learnt that men often eve-teased women by singing aloud these songs. Snehal and her colleagues realised it was time to sensitise men about consent and consensus. “These songs imply that women have no say when the man is wooing them. Songs like Shahid Kapoor’s starrer, Khaali Peeli Rokne Ka Nai and Akshay Kumar’s Tu Cheez Badi Hai Mast Mast are most commonly used to make women uncomfortable, I know of an instance where a young man ended a love-letter with Tu Hai Meri Kiran to impress the woman,” cites Snehal.

The NGO decided to make a conscious effort to tackle this problem. The organisation has launched a campaign, Gaana Rewrite, which is accepting invites from anyone and everyone to rewrite sexist songs in a manner that celebrates consent and equality. The contest, which is accepting invites till January 15, requires participants to recreate a popular Bollywood song that will “assert gender equality”. The song can be in either Hinglish or Devanagari, with a maximum of four in a team. “The whole idea is to pick some songs that can be rewritten to cull out sexism. This is a great chance to turn a sexist song into something that you can sing along too without cringing” she explains, adding, “I am sure participants will be spoilt for choice because there are too many songs that border on harassment.”

The recurring theme in Bollywood, with the man winning over a woman after continuous persuasion isn’t helping a woman’s cause, states Snehal. “These songs talk about ownership. For instance, Tu Haa Kar, Ya Naa Kar, Tu Hai Meri Kiran, show’s complete disregard for woman’s consent. This thought seeps into young men who think that a woman’s ‘no’ can be changed for a ‘yes’,” she explains, adding that Malaika Arora’s Munni Badnaam Hui from Dabangg was one song that manages to get her goat to this day. “I believe that this song pinches a woman’s dignity,” she remarks.

Snehal adds that sexism is often masked by catchy beats, which is why these songs continue to be an accepted chartbuster. “These lyrics may hold misogynist messages, but at times, the music makes it socially acceptable. But what cannot be ignored is that these songs shame a woman’s sexuality. I think it’s high time we address this sexism and define what harassment is,” she explains.  

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