The timeless tales of romance along the banks of the Ravi and Beas rivers are often narrated and reimagined through the iconic folk songs of Punjab. And soulful Sufi music, in all its lyrical glory, continues to flow in the land of mustard fields and abiding love.
However the songs of legendary singers like Surinder Kaur and Asha Singh Mastana, who rose to fame because of their melodious voices, gave way to new-age videos in the digital era. Even the subjects in the songs evolved: to flashy cars, daaru, glorification of gun-culture, bullets (called bult), drugs, and objectifying women.
However, there's a new theme that is showing up in Punjab's popular music-- Donald Trump. Punjabi singers are creating waves on social media after the US started deportation of the illegal immigrants, a majority of them from Punjab.
Hitting the limelight is Canada-based Cheema Y and Gur Sidhu, whose hilarious reels hit out at the Trump administration and glorifies Punjabis going illegally to the US through the Mexican border, called the “dunki route”.
The song that is viral was released at least six months before Trump's crackdown on illegal immigrants and the deportations back to India on US military aircraft which reached Amritsar international airport early last month.
The lyrics of the song goes: "Jattan de puttan nu rok sake na Trump (Trump can't stop the sons of Jats)" with video now adding on images of the aircraft landing at Amritsar with deportees. The video went instantly viral and has more than 54 million views.
When asked about his comment on the video, Punjabi actor-cum-singer Diljit Dosanjh laughed it off saying “Jisdi Chaldi Hai oh Chalauga. Trump choti moti cheez aa” (Those in power will get their way. Trump is not a small fray). “Jattan De Puttan Nu hun pata chal rha Trump kaun si" (Sons of Jats are now realizing who Trump is), he said on Instagram.
In Punjab, reactions to the Cheema Y and Gur Sidhu song is mixed. Many youth view the song as a fitting response to the US President, considering the deportations as a temporary phase. Eventually, the youth of Punjab, grappling with limited job opportunities and drug issues, will find a way to the US, Canada, or other countries in search of jobs and educational prospects.
But, a few as think otherwise.
“Punjabi TV and web channels have slammed glorification of illegal immigration. Why should singers be favouring the dunki route in these songs,“ asks Gurmeet, a Punjabi language teacher at Barnala.
Nevertheless, the deportation of the illegal immigrants is an emotional issue in Punjab. Till now, about 333 deportees have landed in Amritsar and as many as 126 of them are from Punjab.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has shown his concern over the development and asked the centre not to make the holy city of Amritsar a deportation centre.
A few other Punjabi singers have also released music videos and songs on similar lines and on how unscrupulous immigration agents are looting Punjabi families.
Sandeep Punjabi, a Punjabi singer, says: " songs are normally the reflection on the society and the issues—good and bad—that it is facing. The music industry and writers have always risen to the situation and become the voice of the people".
He quotes the example of singer Satinder Sartaj who is drawing huge appreciations for his songs and performances.
