There’s no doubt about that Bollywood are not only a source of entertainment, they are also incredibly influential sources of behaviour and culture.
And where there is Bollywood, there are songs. Yes, we’ve got a lot of fun songs that everyone loves shaking a leg to, but listen carefully and you’ll realise these prove how casually sexist we really are. The fact that these songs were deemed appropriate for public consumption is proof that we’ve normalised stalking and sexism.
There are plenty of songs that we know verbatim, that we dance to, that we sing at functions are weddings – without the awareness that we’re promoting patriarchy, sexism, misogyny and normalising stalking. Don’t believe us?
We’ll let these literal translation of popular hit songs do the talking then:
Haseena Maan Jayegi:
Kab tak roothegi, cheekhegi, chillaaye gi?
Dil kehta hai ek din haseena maan jayegi.
Literal translation:
How long will you cry, shout, scream?
My heart says that one day the beautiful girl will agree.
Moral of the story: Basically, if you stalk a girl long enough, she’ll stop complaining and will agree to everything to say. Cause that’s how love works!
Razia gundo mein phas gayi:
Razia gundo mein phas gayi.
Isko na sone denge, kisi ka na hone denge,
Kahin ka na chhodenge isse.
Aahein bhi na bharne denge,
Uff bhi na karne denge.
Literal translation:
Razia is now trapped among the goons
We will not let her sleep, will not her be with anyone else,
We will humiliate her.
We won’t let her breathe, won’t even let her sigh.
Moral of the story: Stalking and humiliating a woman will obviously turn her on. Seduction 101, courtesy Bollywood.
Tu hai meri Kiran:
Tu kisi aur ki ho na jana
Kuch bhi kar jaaonga main deewana
Tu haan kar, ya naa kar
Tu hai meri… Kiran
Literal Translation:
Don’t you dare be with someone else,
I’m a lover, I can go to any extent.
I don’t care whether you say yes or no,
You’re mine, Kiran.
Moral of the story: If you love someone, threatening them to do something is totally cool. That’s what a real aashiq does.
Keh du tumhein:
Socha hai ki tumhe rasta bhulaye
Suni jagah pe kahin chhede daraye
Literal Translation:
I’m thinking that I should trick you and take you somewhere
Take you to a deserted place and scare/flirt with you!
Moral of the story: If you like someone and she isn’t responding, just take her to a deserted place and scare her, she’ll totally fall in love!
Gandi baat:
Raja beta banke maine jab sharafat dikhayi
Tune bola ‘hatt mawaali’ bhaav nahi diya re
Thandi aahein bhar li bohot
Acchi baatein kar li bohot
Ab karunga tere saath… Gandi baat…
Literal translation:
When I behaved like a good boy and showed you my innocence,
You said ‘Go away goon’, didn’t give me any importance
I’m done with doing good things now
I’m gonna do something bad…
Moral of the story: Stalking, harassing, belittling and threatening all in one paragraph? Perfect!
Chal pyaar karegi?
“Chal pyaar karegi?” “Haan ji haan ji.”
“Mere saath chalegi?” “Na ji na ji.”
“Tu haan kar ya na kar, teri marzi. soniye.
Hum tujh ko utha kar le jayenge.”
Literal translation:
Will you fall in love? Yes
Will you go with me? No
You can say yes or no, that’s up to you.
But I’m gonna pick you up and take you with me anyway!
Moral of the story: With this song, Bollywood teaches you that women are objects and must go with the man who falls in love with her. In case you didn’t know that already.
Apun Bola
Yeh uska style hoinga, hontho pe na dil me han hoinga
Aaj nahee toh kal bolegee, ai tu tension kai ko leta hai re
Literal Translation:
That’s just her style, she’s saying no but in her heart, she says yes.
She’ll come to terms with it in a day or two, chill.
Moral of the story: If a girl says no, she totally means yes. Keep stalking her till she gives in. Wow Bollywood.
Tu mere agal bagal hai
Khali peeli khali peeli rokne ka nai,
Tera peecha karoon toh tokne ka nai,
Hai tujh pe right mera, tu hai delight mera,
Tera rasta jo rokoon, chaukne ka nai.
Literal translation:
Don’t stop me for no reason.
If I stalk you, don’t interrupt me.
If have a right on you, you’re my delight.
So when I stop you on the road, don’t be shocked.
Moral of the story: This song literally screams– If you live in India, you will get stalked. Deal with it.
WHO APPROVED THIS?
Badri ki dulhania
UP mein din dahade
Window aur chath pe taade
Hum dekhe aankhen faade re
Tujhko bana kar ke
Le jayenge Badri ki dulhania
Literal translation:
I’m gonna stare at you in broad daylight
I’m gonna make you my wife and take you away.
Moral of the story: Ladies, it’s okay if a guy ogles you as long as he wants to make you his wife.
I love you bol daal
Arre Monu, ladki log ka naatak tere ko kya maaloom.
Kaiko mach mach kar raili hai, maa kasam apni bhi thodi si hat raili hai.
Naatak baatak chhod seedha haan bol de.
Literal Translation:
What do you know about girl’s dramas
Why are you arguing? I swear I’m losing my cool now.
Leave drama and just say yes straight away.
Moral of the story: Yep, you better say yes before he loses his cool and does something. This isn’t harassment at all. It’s cool.
This piece of art from Dostana (1980):
Bahut khubsoorat jawan ek ladki sadak par akeli chali ja rahi thee
fakat naam ko usne pehne thhe kapde, ajanta ki murat nazaar aa rahi thi.
koi diljala us se takra gaya, mere doston tum karo faislaa
khata kiski hai, kisko de sazaa?
Hua haadsaa jo woh kaise na hota, ke banke qayamat woh nikli thee gharse
Koi man manchala muft mara gaya, mere doston tum karo faisla
khata kiski hai , kisko de hum sazaa?
Literal translation:
…WHY?
Moral of the story: The song literally says it’s not the guy’s fault for ‘the haadsa’ because the girl looked really pretty. WTF?
