various rambling thoughts: The story of two virals

Here is a story of two virals.

Separated by a border, two very different videos went viral in the last two months of 2011. Both shared so much in common and were oh so different

Probably what goes viral depends on the current cultural temper of that country. What it considers as an echo of its voice, however subconscious or sublimal

One viral goes on to become a case study in IIMs and goes into the handbook of aspiring social media managers. Sung along by people who didn't care what the lyrics meant. Catapults the singer to national stardom, gains him a lunch with the prime minister….

The other one. One of the most courageous (some would say suicidal) acts in modern times taken in a stand for the freedom to speak the mind. Created and uploaded secretly on YouTube to avoid official censure and blackout. A song that openly mocked holy cows in a country where a state governor is assassinated by his bodyguard for speaking his views.

A song that ended with the words - “If you want a bullet in my head, like this video”.

That just about cans the lunch ideas with the PM doesn't it? In any case they got death threats, so no lunch, period.

The point is not about which is better or makes more sense. Both the terms - “Better” and “sense” are subjective. Completely upto personal preference. Though human nature being such that we subconsciously keep taking sides even when we say we don't - you, the one reading this and me, the one writing it, have already taken sides…

But this post is not about that. Its about what is that makes a “Kolaveri Di” by Dhanush go viral in India and a “Aalu Anday” by Beygairat Brigade (literally the “Dishonorable Brigade”, itself a pun) go viral in Pakistan. At the same time.

Is it about the state in which the two countries perceive themselves? Is it about the undercurrent of radicalism in the society? Would a Kolaveri Di have succeeded in Pakistan and a “Aalu Anday” in India?

Well, here’s my take. I think its about the state of the mind of the people listening to the song. As perceived by its own citizens, India and Pakistan are right now existing in two different sides of the scale. What we like and respond to depends on how we feel generally

India is talked in the world as a second (albeit very distant) runner to China in the development game. Economic growth slipping from 7.6% to 7.5% is a major point of discussion. Over the last decade, a westerner’s perception of an Indian today ranges from slightly

xenophobic (for taking away his job) to a grudging admiration for the country’s economic success, both of which we are proud of. Not much thanks to our politicians, India, for now, is doing well inspite of its incompetent political class. We are a complacent lot, inspite of the occasional Anna Hazare

Pakistan is a country facing an existential crisis. A strong liberal middle class, which has risen before in revolt toppling dictatorship, is being pushed aside by a Frankenstein terrorist group bent on creating a Sharia state. Discussions regarding Pakistan range from the scale of terrorism to aid recipient as a failed state

This is of course, putting it simplistically, but the fact is – the above shapes our perception of ourselves and in turn makes us receptive to different things, make us look differently at the same thing

Kolaveri di is a song of nonsense lyrics, made-up words to make the the whole thing rhyme. It is easy going and easy listening, the kind that wont deflect your attention from the road, a kind of a chamber music where you don't bother with the song as long as you can hear wisps of the tune.

Ballad of a heartbroken man who knows that there are other fish in

the pond, this is a ditty on a love affair not gone too well. Kinda fits into a general trend where watch ads urge you to “Move on”. The nonsense lyrics and the very catchy tune helps of course. Majority of songs coming out today don't bother with what the substance of the song means rather focusing on how to dress it up for the eyes and ears. So Kolaveri Di fitted in beautifully. As to why it went viral, well, its just one those things – right time right place. Ask Malcolm Gadwell.

“Aalu Anday” on the other hand is a stunning blow to a listening audience. No chamber music this. A song that literally takes you by the balls and does not let go till you have seen and heard everything that the three men in warpaints had to show. A highly foot-tapping song that makes you laugh at the audacity of it all.

A commentator had written about the absolute astonishment on the faces of the people in Pakistan hearing this for the first time.

Most people declared that the three men had a death wish. Of course they hadn't but they went through with it anyway. Because they wanted to say something and this was the best way they knew they could. This was the kind of song that Pakistan had thought they had forgotten to sing. Faiz Ahmed Faiz singing Rock, urging people to recognize their own resilience.

baighairat-brigade-aalu-anday-Youtube-543

This one went viral for the same reason as the images of black salute at the 1958 Olympics went viral. Because people wanted to be a part of the rebellion, however vicariously. The artist as the rebel. What is more attractive than that, especially at a time when speaking the truth can bring death. Which makes “Aalu Anday” even more an act of pure pure guts…

So endeth the story of two virals.

One the artist as entertainer, the other as rebel. One artist invited to PM’s lunch, the other invited to lit fests. One to move soon to the collection of chamber music, the other to a collective consciousness. One which is helping to sell merchandise, the other as a keepsake for people’s belief in themselves