Photo: ATTN MUMBAI- For the first time ..... SWANG  Cultural Group will perform live their protest song, on VIOELNCE AGAINST WOMEN  'Maa nee meri .."not to MISS join us at BANDSTAND AMPHITHEATRE, BANDRA, 530PM onwards 14Th feb

Swaang, a motley group of actors, writers, music directors, musicians and producers working in the Mumbai film industry, was formed five years ago. The collective now has to its credit about 15 songs, some of which use the work of revolutionary poets like Paash and Gorakh Pandey. The band takes it name from a folk form of theatre prevalent in northern India that uses songs and dialogues. The band mixes narration (poetry) and music and hence the name Swaang. They first entered the spotlight after the release of Maa Nee Meri on SoundCloud and then YouTube last December.

 

They say-

Ours is a world where art is in thrall to the logic of markets. Any sensational, shock-value laden “product” that trades in existing stereotypes will be successful. This is a perverse culture that renders the role of the artist in a society obsolete by turning the artist into a vendor. Art must never be empty, instant entertainment. Because art, by looking beyond the obvious, can channel collective angst into a more constructive expression that can create a positive change.This is why the artist has a responsibility to oppose regressive works parading as popular culture. And thus, in the context of a land where violence against women is endemic, art that celebrates sexism and misogyny and glorifies masculinity in its most brutal form is regressive and ought to be questioned.

Song : Bekaar Kutte
Lyrics : Faiz Ahmed Faiz
Music : Rohit Sharma

 

Yeh galiyon key aavaara bekaar kuttey
Ke bakhsha gaya jin ko zoq-e-gadaai
Zamaney ki phitkaar sarmaaya un ka
Jahaan bhar ki dhutkaar in ki kamaai

Na aaram shab ko, na rahat saveyrey
Ghalaazat mein ghar, naaliyon main baseyrey
Jo bigrein to ik doosray say lara do
Zara ek roti ka tukra dikha do
Yeh har ek ki thokerain khaney waley
Yeh faaqon say uktaa kay mar janey waley

Yeh mazloom makhlooq gar sar uthaey
To insaan sab sarkashi bhool jaey
Yeh chaahain to duniya ko apna bana lein
Yeh aaqaaon ki haddiyaan tak chaba lein

Koi in to ehsaas-e-zillat dila dey
Koi in ki soee hui dum hila dey

A translation…

these vagrant, aimless streets dogs
the flair for beggary has been conferred upon them
their net asset is being scorned by their times
rebukes of the entire world their earnings

No rest in the evening nor reprieve at dawn
housed in filth, dwellings in drains
if they agitate, pit one against the other
show them a piece of roti
putting up with getting kicked by all
they tire of being starved and die

If this oppressed species were to arise
humans would forget all domineering
they can own the world if they’d only wish
they can chew up even the bones of the masters

Somebody stir them to feel their mortification
somebody move their sleeping tail

 

Translation by –  Ghazala

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