Punjab in Bollywood

Punjab in Bollywood

Punjabi pop artist Guru Randhawa has been taking the music industry by storm with his unique music and lyrics. The singer-song writer whose song Ban Ja Tu Meri Rani from Tumhari Sulu has become a hit, talks about his journey, and Punjabi songs

Guru Randhawa is not the usual Punjabi pop singer — his songs do not glorify alcohol, drugs, parties, they are not sexist, nor do they show girls dancing around him in skimpy clothes. Unless you have been living under a rock or completely detest Punjabi pop music, you must have heard or perhaps hummed his songs in the last two years. The guy made the Indian ‘Suit’ (salwar kameez) look so cool that the song achieved cult status both in the independent music scene and Bollywood music (his song Suit Suit was used in Hindi Medium). He is once again receiving rave reviews for his new song  Ban Ja Tu Meri Rani from Tumhari Sulu starring Vidya Balan, which will hit  theatres on November 17. The song which is already popular among listeners, has also received massive hits on YouTube. The music created by the 26-year-old hailing from Gurdaspur, is like a breath of  fresh air to the Punjabi pop music — he creates magic with slow yet peppy numbers and the raps resonate well across different age groups. With songs like High Rated Gabru (150 million hits on YouTube), Fashion Patola, Suit Suit, and so on, the musician has come a long way. From night clubs and pubs to house parties, his songs are everywhere.

How did music happen to you?
I have always been very clear about pursuing music and god made it work for me. I have devoted my heart and soul to music. The songs that you hear now were actually written during my school days. They didn’t get any recognition back then. Initially, people thought that my songs would not grab the attention of listeners but I didn’t give up. It’s all about efforts and putting your heart into it. This year has been very successful and a happy one for me. All my songs have been well-received and appreciated by my audience. Bollywood is definitely a step that I am excited about. I have to make my way in the industry.

What goes on your mind while writing a song for a film?
Although I have not written any song specifically for Bollywood till date, my singles have became so popular that they have been selected for Bollywood movies. I have recently sung for a film starring actor Vidya Balan (Tumhari Sulu), and have a couple of more projects in the pipeline.

What is that one factor that makes your songs resonate with the audience?
I always try to keep my songs very simple with a catchy composition. I compose music taking inspiration from everyday life so that my audience can truly enjoy the essence of the music. For example, Fashion Patola shows how independent, strong girls nowadays have their own style statements to flaunt instead of  following the stereotypical norm. This simplicity in the songs make them easily accessible and relatable.

You’ve collaborated with a lot of other artists for many of your numbers. What is your take-away from such collaborations?
I feel all artists are music lovers, and anything that enhances music is very much welcomed. In the end, we cannot limit or restrict the music being composed and presented.

From Kala Chashma to Tare Gin Gin, Suit Suit etc, Punjabi folk music seems to have floored the Bollywood audience always. What’s your take?
Punjabi singers are very popular abroad because of their dialect, music, and the lyrics. The lyrics and the meaning behind their songs bring out an emotional and realistic touch. Suit Suit was already a hit with over 100 million views/omments and multi hundred thousand downloads on online websites, before it was used in Hindi Medium. But yes, bringing the song to Bollywood added more charm to it and people from all over could relate to it.

While creating songs for a film, what changes do you make to the beats, lyrics, rhythm etc?
It is more or less the same and I don’t usually change them. The song lyrics and tune remain the same. When it is used for a movie, the director, producers, actors etc share their valuable inputs. Bollywood is a nice platform, however, I love independent music, which paved my way into Bollywood. That is more respectful for me.
 
In this age of technology and social media, how do you think music has changed? How are platforms like YouTube and SoundCloud helping artists?
In the age of technology and social media, anyone who is talented  can simply put out their video on social media and get noticed. I believe that with the rise of social media, people who have talent can easily reach millions. At the end of the day, all the mediums generate revenue and the number of downloads for a song does matter for an artist. It brings in a bright future and a great career.

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