When ‘Aisi Taisi Democracy’ meets its neighbour, ‘Aisi Taisi Hypocrisy’

Filled the sentimental values, both songs aptly focus on the root causes that exploit the faults in Indo-Pak relations

It’s been seven decades since the Partition of Indian sub-continent in 1947, but the governments on both sides are still struggling to manage peace between the two so-called rival nations. The recent complicated dialogue process between India and Pakistan may have been revoked in the middle of the reciprocal accusations as officials argued over the core base of talk-itinerary.

However, the public opinion of both nations contains the spirit of peace – and this will remain until reconciliation, tranquillity and good neighbourliness prevails in their respective motherlands.

On August 15^th, India’s Independence Day, Indian rock band, Indian Ocean presented a satirical song called Mere Saamne Wali Sarhad Pe that depicted the Indo-Pak glitches. It is a rendition of Kishore Kumar’s classic romantic song Mere Samne Wali Khirki Mein, from the movie Padosan (1968) starring Sunil Dutt and Saira Bano.

The two-minute song flawlessly reveals the public message with a tinge of sarcasm in a single video, by the Indian’s political satire show Aisi Taisi Democracy. The song is filled with harsh realities, and has gone viral on all social media platforms.

The satirical version – featuring Rahul Ram, social-satirist Sanjay Rajoura and writer-cum-lyricist Varun Grover – endorses the notion that mutual harmony and deep friendship should replace past disputes between the two nations.

The intense lyrics explain the duplicities, double standards, religious pressures, suppressions and the real face of the democratic structure on both sides. It accentuates that people of both nations are suffering from common problems, due to similar reasons. For instance:

“Wahan mullay YouTube ban karein, Yahan pandit kissing se ghabraye”

(Islamic clerics ban Youtube there, Hindu pandits are scared of kissing here)

 “Democracy sadh rahi jailon mein, Aur sarkaro mein katil hai”

(Democracy is rotting in jail, while the authorities are the true culprits)

“Bas doh family ki chaandi hai, Wahan Bhutto hai, Yahan Gandhi hai”

(Only two families are flourishing, the Bhutto’s and the Gandhi’s)

The song skilfully rationalises and exposes different aspects behind the 68-years-old antagonism between India and Pakistan.

Across the border, a Pakistani army officer, Muhammad Hassan Miraj, has written a heart-felt satire piece based on the same song as a response, but he made amendments to the title– Aisi Taisi Hypocrisy.



The singer is Mujtaba Ali, while Kamran and Ali played the background guitar. The four-minute video produced by Khawar Azhar and directed by Gul Durrani has also gone viral on social media and is immensely appreciated by the Aisi Taisi Democracy members on social media.



Miraj has also beautifully highlighted the utmost significance of peace between the two neighbours. The blunt lyrics illustrate the thought process of the blame game, manipulations of hardliners and never-ending negative propagandas.

The initial lyrics take a jibe at India’s arrogance, persistent scepticism and Bollywood’s perpetual Pakistan-bashing, by labelling it as a terrorist.

“Seventy years honay ko hain, kuch ukhra ukhra rehta hai”

(It has been seventy years, yet we remain worn-out)

And,

“ Us ki sab filmoon, gaanoon mein mujhay dehashatgard dekhate hain”

(They portray me as a terrorist in every movie and song)

The next couple of lines clearly indicate ‘the tit for tat policy’ of both governments; how India is using Dubai, while Pakistan is tilting towards China. The core concerns related to RSS, BJP and mullahs are also touched in a light but witty manner.

However, the most interesting part are the lyrics related to promoting peace amongst the young generation of India and Pakistan, as they deserve a better future. Hence, the song candidly emphasises that it’s neither Bhutto nor Gandhi, it is purely our own ‘funda’ (motto) and only we, the common people, can resolve it,

“Gali deyna ab chhor bhi do, beytho kuch kaam ki baat karein,

Kab tak banduhq banayen gey, ab bachon ko kuch gyaan bhi dein,

Na Bhutto ka na Gandhi ka, yeh tera mera funda hai.”

(Stop giving us the bullet; rather, let’s have a productive talk,

For how long will we build weapons, let’s preach our children better,

It’s neither Bhutto’s nor Gandhi’s, it’s our own motto.)

Miraj’s poetry humorously taunted his Indian counterparts with gentle sarcasm on visa policies and ban of movies,

“Veezay, filmein aur aashaein, topi karwana chor bhi do.”  

(Visas, movies and misleading hopes, stop making such excuses.)

The last line satirically revealed the main reason behind the decades of Indo-Pak animosity by articulately naming foreigners as well as the media sensationalism on both sides of the border.

“Asal mein yeh sab kuch goron ka, kuch arbon ka, kuch breaking news ka dhanda hai.”

(In reality, this is the doing of American, Arabs and the media.)

Filled the sentimental values, both songs amazingly focus on the root causes that exploit the fault lines in Indo-Pak relations. The challenges, dilemmas and distrust prevailing between the two states can only be addressed by dialogues.

These fascinating lyrics are an example of how Indians and Pakistanis feel about each other and perceive these tense situations.  Such awe-inspiring efforts are intended to eliminate the hatred amongst the two neighbouring countries.

Simply put, these thought provoking songs are entertaining, and also the voice of both the nations.

Aisi Taisi Democracy: Mere Saamne Wali Sarhad Pe: Five out of five

Aisi Taisi Hypocrisy: Five out of five