The Halla Bol music video pokes fun at Bollywood stars such as Salman Khan, Aamir Khan and rapper Yo Yo Honey Singh and politicians like Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal. PHOTO: FILE
“Why do we need these false idols? Why are we worshiping actors and politicians? Why have we becomes puppets to them?” says Sen. Sounding agitated, Sen felt he could not stay quiet about what was going on in the society any longer. “If we need idols, why can’t they be teachers, scientists and journalists, who can actually contribute to the society?”
Although the song has a funky feel to it and the lyrics penned by Sen and Deekshant Sahrawat are quite thought-provoking. Tu kon hai, Tera naam kya, Kya zaat hai yeh bata, Zara zor se hi boliyo, Yahan naram koi nahi sunta. According to Sen, “Today, you have to make noise to get heard. If you’re soft-spoken, your voice will not be heard.” Therefore, the song is meant to be the cry of a common man. “The idea is to evolve. The theme of love is the most common in Indian music. We have sung various love songs but now I felt it was time to change. We needed to reflect on the society and say, this is what we have become. Let’s change it,” explains Sen.
The music video pokes fun at Bollywood stars such as Salman Khan, Aamir Khan and rapper Yo Yo Honey Singh and politicians such as Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal. Nevertheless, it faced criticism on Twitter with many users calling Euphoria’s latest release a ‘cheap trick’ for bluntly mocking celebrities. In response to this outrage, Sen adds, “Look, the point is to get heard. In this society, you have to make noise to do that. The whole idea was to make everyone rethink what they’re up to. However, what breaks Sen’s heart is the fact that the music industry is being overshadowed by Bollywood music. “The music industry has been taken over by film music industry,” claims Sen, adding, he has been disappointed by the industry’s progression. “If you are a musician or a singer, you have to be a playback singer. It’s all film music now. There is no music industry left.”
Having released their album Item a few years ago and chart-buster singles such as Maeri and Ana Meri Gali, Sen is not one to foray into film music. “Musicians have always been at the forefront of social change,” Sen states, emphasising that this phenomenon holds true in the subcontinent, where such artists are crossing borders to spread peace and love through their music.
If given the opportunity, Sen is fervent to perform in Pakistan again. “I am just waiting for the call. We have always received love from our Pakistani fans,” he shares. In 2015, Sen did lend his vocals to the Pakistani band Mizmaar’s single, Yeh Dil. He, alongside his band, also performed in Pakistan in 2008.
Recalling a concert Euphoria performed alongside Strings in 2014, Sen mentions, “There were 10,000 people all on their feet, cheering us. No one cared if you came from Pakistan or India. Strings and Euphoria received a lot of love from everyone alike.”
Asked how the band has managed to stick together for almost three decades, while numerous other bands have dissolved, Sen says, “It’s the people. They have given us a lot of love.” The long-time Euphoria fans would know how the band’s music has evolved. Halla Bol marks a new showing by the band. The music video’s near one million views on Youtube proves that even after so many years, Euphoria’s sound continues to resonate with their fans.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 3rd, 2016.
Like Life & Style on Facebook, follow @ETLifeandStyle on Twitter for the latest in fashion, gossip and entertainment.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ