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Bullets, ballots and rock ’n’ roll

Hindustan Times | By, Mumbai
Mar 14, 2009 02:09 AM IST

Ballots and bullets are the new mantras for some rock bands in Mumbai, who are using contemporary issues such as elections and terror attacks to entice young audiences.

Drugs and sex are passé.

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Ballots and bullets are the new mantras for some rock bands in Mumbai, who are using contemporary issues such as elections and terror attacks to entice young audiences.

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MH-04, a Thane-based amateur rock band, for instance, has composed a song asking the city’s youngsters to vote.

“The song Are o Pappu, Are o Muniya, Khol ke Chakshu, Dekh le Duniya (Boys and girls, open your eyes and see the world), talks about the importance of voting and how youngsters can play a pivotal role in the process,” said Anand Bhaskar, the lead vocalist of the band, which is a motley mix of students and young professionals.

The recent terror attack in Mumbai, too, has also set the group’s creative juices flowing, giving birth to the song
Hey Ram.

“The tune used to play sub-consciously in my head in the wake of the several terror strikes through and the MNS’s (Maharashtra Navnirman Sena’s) assault against north Indians through the year. The lyrics fell in place post-the Mumbai strikes,” said Bhaskar.

Similarly, singers from the movie Rock On, Dominique Cerejo and Caralisa Monteiro will perform at Mount Carmel Church on April 4 in a massive initiative to get youngsters to vote on ballot day. Vishal Dadlani, composer and vocalist with popular rock band Pentagram, will give a pep talk to youngsters.

“Even if we are able to increase voters by 5 per cent more it would be worth an effort,” said Father Warner D’Souza, director of the initiative.

Also, 10 non-profit groups, such as Jaago Re, AGNI, Yuvasatta, Force 24/7, Vote India and Praja will set up stalls at the Mount Carmel Church on April 4 to coax youngsters to vote. Rock bands drawing inspiration from contemporary events is not new.

Post the 7/11 serial trains blasts in Mumbai, the Green Ozone rock band compiled into an album terror-inspired compositions by 10 bands across the India. Bands such as Still Waters from Gangtok, Fear the Free from Mumbai, Wax from Bangalore, Cyanide from Delhi, Silent Lucidity from Mumbai and Cassini’s Division from Kolkata took part in the initiative.

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  • ABOUT THE AUTHOR
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    Soubhik Mitra is an assistant editor with the Hindustan Times. The Mumbai boy has spent over a decade reporting on civic, environmental and political issues. His current stint is the longest where he writes on aviation and travel.

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