This article has been written by Ms. Amrutha Selvam, an LLB student at Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala.

Introduction

In March 2020, Indian rapper Badshah released a song called “Genda Phool” on YouTube. The song quickly went viral and has since amassed over 456 million views. The song features Indian singer Payal Dev and it is produced by Badshah himself, The lyrics of the song are in Hindi and the melody is a combination of a traditional Bengali folk song and modern beats. However, the song has also been met with controversy and criticism due to its use of a Bengali folksong and the alleged cultural appropriation of the lyrics and melody. This article will analyze the controversy surrounding “Genda Phool” and cultural appropriation at the center of the debate.

It is important to note that cultural appropriation is not a new phenomenon, it has been happening for centuries and it’s not limited to the music industry. It occurs when an individual or group takes elements of one culture and uses them without understanding or respecting the culture from which they come. In the music industry, cultural appropriation often occurs when an artist from one culture uses elements of another culture for commercial gain without giving credit or compensation to the original artist. The case of “Genda Phool” is an example of this type of cultural appropriation. The song is accused of appropriating the melody and lyrics of “Boro Loker Biti Lo” without giving credit or compensation to the original artist. This has led to criticism and sparked a conversation about the importance of respecting and valuing other cultures in the music industry.

This article will delve into the background of the song, the original song and the controversy that surrounds it, the cultural appropriation at the center of the debate, the lack of credit and compensation given to the original artist, and the misuse of Bengali culture for commercial gain, and the conclusion will be drawn from the analysis of the case.

Background on “Genda Phool”

“Genda Phool” is a Hindi-language song that was released by Indian rapper Badshah on YouTube in March 2020. The song features Indian singer Payal Dev and it is produced by Badshah himself. The song quickly gained popularity and has since amassed over 456 million views on YouTube. The lyrics of the song are in Hindi and the melody is a combination of a traditional Bengali folk song and modern beats. The song is about love and the lyrics use metaphors of a marigold flower, which is known as “genda phool” in Hindi, to describe the feelings of the narrator. The song has been praised for its catchy beats and catchy lyrics.

However, the song has also been met with controversy and criticism due to its use of a Bengali folksong and the alleged cultural appropriation of the lyrics and melody. The song is accused of appropriating the melody and lyrics of “Boro Loker Biti Lo” a Bengali folk song composed by Lalon Fokir and performed by various artists over the years. Lalon Fokir is a 19th-century Bengali Baul folk singer, songwriter, and philosopher, his songs are still popular in Bengal. Many people believe that the melody and lyrics of “Genda Phool” are very similar to “Boro Loker Biti Lo” and that Badshah and Payal Dev did not give credit or compensation to the original artist.

This controversy has led to criticism and sparked a conversation about the importance of respecting and valuing other cultures in the music industry. Some have argued that a song is a form of cultural appropriation because it uses elements of Bengali culture without understanding or respecting the culture from which they come. Additionally, some have criticized the use of the Bengali folk song for commercial gain without giving credit or compensation to the original artist. Some Bengali artists and music lovers have also criticized the song for misrepresenting Bengali culture and for promoting a stereotype of Bengali women as submissive and passive.

The controversy surrounding “Genda Phool” has prompted many to call for more awareness and education about cultural appropriation in the music industry. It has also led to calls for more representation of marginalized cultures and for greater sensitivity toward the use of other cultures in the music industry. As the song was a hit and people were not aware of the original song, this incident opened a conversation about the importance of giving credit and compensation to the original artist and the need to respect and value other cultures in the music industry.

The Original Song: “Boro Loker Biti Lo”

The melody used in “Genda Phool” is borrowed from a traditional Bengali folk song called “Boro Loker Biti Lo”. The song is written by Ratan Kahar, a folk artist from West Bengal, India. The song is a traditional folk song passed down through generations and is considered an important part of Bengali culture. “Boro Loker Biti Lo” has been covered by many artists over the years and it is considered a popular song in West Bengal.

The Controversy

The controversy surrounding “Genda Phool” centers around the alleged cultural appropriation of the melody and lyrics of “Boro Loker Biti Lo”, a Bengali folk song composed by Lalon Fokir and performed by various artists over the years. Many people believe that the melody and lyrics of “Genda Phool” are very similar to “Boro Loker Biti Lo” and that Badshah and Payal Dev did not give credit or compensation to the original artist. This has led to criticism and sparked a conversation about the importance of respecting and valuing other cultures in the music industry.

The controversy began shortly after the release of “Genda Phool” when Bengali music lovers and artists began to notice the similarities between the song and “Boro Loker Biti Lo”. They pointed out that the melody and lyrics of “Genda Phool” were almost identical to those of the Bengali folk song. They also criticized Badshah and Payal Dev for not giving credit or compensation to the original artist, Lalon Fokir. This led to a widespread backlash against the song and its creators on social media and in the Bengali music community.

The controversy intensified when Bengali singer Rupam Islam, who had performed “Boro Loker Biti Lo” in the past, released a statement on social media accusing Badshah and Payal Dev of plagiarizing the song. He also criticized them for not giving credit or compensation to the original artist and for promoting a stereotype of Bengali women as submissive and passive. This led to more criticism and calls for accountability from the music industry and the public.

Many Bengali artists and music lovers have also criticized the song for misrepresenting Bengali culture and for promoting a stereotype of Bengali women as submissive and passive. Some have pointed out that the lyrics of “Genda Phool” use a metaphor of a marigold flower, which is known as “genda phool” in Hindi, to describe the feelings of the narrator, but it does not give any credit to the Bengali culture.

The controversy surrounding “Genda Phool” has prompted many to call for more awareness and education about cultural appropriation in the music industry. It has also led to calls for more representation of marginalized cultures and for greater sensitivity toward the use of other cultures in the music industry. Some have called for the music industry to take greater responsibility for ensuring that credit and compensation is given to the original artist, and to be more mindful of the ways in which their music may perpetuate stereotypes and misrepresent other cultures.

As a result of the controversy, Badshah and Payal Dev have faced backlash and criticism from Bengali music lovers and artists, as well as calls for accountability from the music industry and the public. The incident has opened a conversation about the importance of giving credit and compensation to the original artist, and the need to respect and value other cultures in the music industry. It also highlights the need for greater awareness and education about cultural appropriation in the music industry.

Cultural Appropriation

Cultural appropriation is the act of taking elements of one culture and using them without understanding or respecting the culture from which they come. In the case of “Genda Phool”, the song is accused of appropriating the melody and lyrics of “Boro Loker Biti Lo” without giving credit or compensation to the original artist. This is considered cultural appropriation because the song is using a traditional Bengali folk song for commercial gain without giving proper credit or compensation to the original artist.

Similar cases of cultural appropriation in the music industry have been seen in the past. One notable example is the case of the song “Uptown Funk” by Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars, which was accused of copying the melody and lyrics of “More Bounce to the Ounce” by Zapp. The case was settled out of court with Zapp’s estate being credited as a co-writer on the song and receiving a portion of the song’s royalties. Another example is the case of the song “Blurred Lines” by Robin Thicke, Pharrell Williams, and T.I., which was accused of copying the melody and lyrics of “Got to Give it Up” by Marvin Gaye. The case ended in a court ruling in favor of Gaye’s estate, with the songwriters being ordered to pay millions in damages.

Lack of credit and compensation

One of the main criticisms of “Genda Phool” is the lack of credit and compensation given to the original artist. The song uses the melody and lyrics of “Boro Loker Biti Lo” without giving proper credit to the original artist. This is considered a violation of copyright and it is also seen as disrespectful to the original artist and the culture from which the song comes.

Another criticism of “Genda Phool” is the misuse of Bengali culture for commercial gain. The song is accused of using Bengali culture for commercial gain without understanding or respecting the culture from which it comes. This is considered disrespectful to the culture and the people who hold it dear.

Conclusion

The controversy surrounding “Genda Phool” highlights the issue of cultural appropriation in the music industry. The song is accused of appropriating the melody and lyrics of “Boro Loker Biti Lo” without giving credit or compensation to the original artist. This is considered cultural appropriation because the song is using a traditional Bengali folk song for commercial gain without giving proper credit or compensation to the original artist. 

REFERENCE 

• https://www.india.com/entertainment/badshah-opens-up-on-genda-phool-controversy-says-wants-record-song-with-ratan-kahar-3996831/amp/
• https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/music/everything-to-know-about-badshah-genda-phool-controversy-ratan-kahar-6346801/lite/

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