Why are most Bollywood songs problematic?

Tw - sexism and misogyny

You and I have been caught grooving to Bollywood songs. Who doesn’t? With its upbeat
melody, iconic dance hits and catchy lyrics. But if you really look into the lyrics it is a
different story altogether. A lot of the songs promote objectifying of women, stalking and
harassment and extremely filthy lyrics. These lyrics contribute to rape culture and the
toxic beauty standards of our country. Most of these songs have 100million + views, kids
are seen dancing to these songs. Is this what we want to teach the youth of this country?
Although times have changed, singers and rappers like baadshah and yo yo honey
Singh continue making this type of music. However, these songs are the pride and joy of
our country, hence promoting these “ideals” to a huge audience.

Probably the worst is baadshah’s ‘ghenda phool’ his viral song, that hit the top charts for
more than 2 weeks. It stinks of the caustic masculinity that has ravaged women time and
again. In interviews, he tries to justify his lyrics by saying he compliments women’s
bodies and apparently supports the body positive movement. A lew of his lyrics go:

‘Sansein Jaye Atak Atak,

Aata Majhi Satak’

It gets hard to breathe

I lose control of my mind

Pagal hua tere peeche

Jaise dimaag mein keeda
Lage meethi jaise shakkar shakkar
Aaja chala le chakkar chakkar
Baaki ke launde bakar bakar
I am the baddest m*therf ... yeah!

Translation :
I am crazy after you
I have a bug in my brain taking control of my mind
You look sweet as sugar
Let me take you for a ride
All the other men simply talk about you
But he was worst of them all.
From comparing women to food, lighting up all men’s eyes with desire as she walks
in, using derogatory and demeaning lyrics and talking about her hips and
commenting about her as everyone's eyes light up with desire,
This lyric completely destroys the concept of consent and may incite sexual
violence in India. It implies that men are wild animals who cannot keep in control of
their senses when a quote-unquote ‘irresistible woman walks in. hyper sexualising
her, by comparing her body to butter and chicken tandoori. it gets worse as you
progress through the song.
It implies that it is ‘trendy’ and apparently ‘swag’ to go after women and catcall them.
Songs like these capitalise on women’s bodies.
Baadshah claims that this song was to be a redefining moment in his career however
this song sounds like most older songs, with misogynistic slurs, sexualising and
describing her through the ‘male gaze.

@reeva_ved