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Band Baaja and (no) business!
The ongoing coronavirus crisis has shrunk the lavish wedding affair into an intimate affair. The stars of the weddings — dhols, bands, bhaggi and lightwallahs — are no longer in business since the pandemic forced lockdown all across the country.
These service providers, mostly depend on business during ‘sahalag’ (auspicious dates) season, are completely broken and shattered due to zero income. With only limited dates remaining in the season they are staring at ‘dry’ months ahead in the absence of ‘sahalag’ till November.
Vivek Kumar of Hero Soni Band had last earned on March 12. “Since then around 35-40 bookings have been cancelled. Some have been postponed while many marriages have already taken place without bandbaaja. Now, till November 26 we don’t have any booking. It’s very tough to keep our musicians cheerful as we need to keep helping them
Shreya Mukherjee
Raftaar — who was a dance teacher in Delhi, before he became a rapper — is concerned about how the Covid-19 pandemic is affecting kids’ mental health. And so, he has decided to reach out to young talent via social media, besides collaborating with them for his upcoming tracks. even without any source of income from anywhere. ‘Bahut, buri halat hai aur majdoor bhi nahi hain,’ (it’s a bad scenario and labourers are also not available),” he said.
According to Rajkumar of Soni Band from July 1 till November 25 there are no marriage dates. The ‘sahalag’ will start with ‘Devuthan Ekadashi’ (Tulsi vivah) on November 25 and then there are few dates in December.
The band master questions the policy of 30-50 attendees’ permission for wedding. “With baraatis and gharaatis how will we (band and light) fit in the functions? People are doing small indoor functions at temples, gurudwaras or indoor halls. Marriages are happening but without band-baaja,” he adds.
“Some of the bookings that have cancelled are asking for refund but we are in no
He tells us, “It’s important to keep these young minds engaged and happy. My social media pages are filled with their interesting comments and feedback. The kids also send in interesting artworks that I’ll incorporate in my upcoming music videos.”
Planning to work on his collaboration music videos at home, Raftaar, 31, shares, “I want to provide these talented kids a platform. They want to position to give them back. We have told them either adjust the money in future booking or we will return after earning something after doing some business. We are spending our savings on bearing expenses of staff. I have four shops but none have business,” shares Rajkumar.
The dhols, which were the highlight of all the weddings are also without business. Dholmaster Paridheen lives in Jai Prakash Nagar in Alambagh which has some 25-odd dhol players in the prove themselves, and a few might also sing for me.”
And while he wants to focus on making the best of the lockdown situation, the rise in domestic violence cases, people flouting norms and attacks on heath workers disturb the rapper. “Even kids are saying, ‘Baahar mat jao, corona hai’, but some adults are taking undue advantage of the lockdown relaxations. If you see your father breaking red lights, or your mother telling you (to look the other way) when someone is in trouble, what you will grow up to be?” he asks.
Though many artistes have come out with songs around the pandemic, Raftaar plans to make a track only when all of this ends. “That’s when we’d need to stay positive and be stronger. A lot of things will change and affect us badly,” he ends. vicinity. “Sahalg hai par koi bhula hi nahi raha hai. Kisi ke paas kaam nahi hai. Log ek-do dholwalon se log shaadi kar le rahe hai par hum logon ke paas wo bhi nahi hai (despite dates people are not calling us. People are organising marriages with 1-2 dhols but we don’t have even that much work).”
Even with small team and low budget many are ready to work in weddings as they get good ‘tip’ which too is not possible as of now!
The ‘sahalag’ will start with ‘Devuthan Ekadashi’ (Tulsi vivah) on November 25 and then there are few dates in December
BAND MASTER