Meet 4 Women Singers Uplifting Bhojpuri Folk Music

The recently held convocation of Banaras Hindu University was marked by something unusual. The talk of the town was not the gold medalists, degree holders or awardees, rather it was viral videos of graduating students dancing to vulgar Bhojpuri songs. Social media erupted in flames with millions watching the clips and pouring in criticism for the abhorrent behaviour that was put on display on the varsity’s campus. The incident has put the spotlight back on the Bhojpuri language which is now almost synonymous with obscenity. 

The Rich History of Bhojpuri Language 

The impression that one gets today about the language is in sharp contrast with what it actually entails. From playwright and poet Bhikhari Thakur and Vidhyapati to Mahendra Misir and Sharda Sinha, the history of Bhojpuri has been very rich. While Thakur came down heavily on the evils of contemporary society via his writings, Vidhyapati was way ahead of his time. His poetry was widely influential in centuries to come, in the Hindustani as well as Bengali and other Eastern literary traditions. Similarly, while Mahendar Misir, the Bhojpuri poet popularly known as "purbiya samrat”, wrote thousands of Purbi songs, Sharda Sinha popularised Chath songs- a festival synonymous to the state of Bihar. 

However, the last living legend- Sinha, with her demise, left a void behind. Nevertheless, there are few who are trying to fill that gap through their efforts and dedication to take forward the rich legacy of Bhojpuri. 

Maithili Thakur: The Flagbearer 

At a time when sleazy and crass songs from the region are topping the music charts, Maithili Thakur has emerged as a strong pillar parallel to the now unpleasant Bhojpuri music industry. She was born in the Mithila region of Bihar, in a village called Benipatti which is situated in Madhubani district, to a Maithil musician and music teacher Ramesh Thakur and Bharti Thakur.

Maithili is a trained singer in Indian classical music and folk music. She performs original songs, covers and traditional folk music in multiple Indian languages. With a massive social media following, she rose to fame during the COVID era. Her video songs, including bhajans and Bollywood song covers, have garnered millions of views. 

"I have been fortunate to have been supported and loved by my followers throughout my journey. However, everything starts at home. I wish people will acknowledge the women around them, and support them in achieving their dreams,” she says. 

Maithili recently received the Cultural Ambassador of the Year title at the National Creators Award from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. PM Modi had heaped praises on her ahead of the consecration ceremony of the Ram temple in Ayodhya for her song on ‘Maa Shabri’ - the woman who offered half-eaten fruit to Lord Ram during his exile according to Ramayana. 

Maithili is also the State icon of Bihar, as appointed by the Election Commission. “The recognition by the government and audiences gives me more impetus to spread Bihar's folk music across continents and generate awareness about the importance of folk music,” she said.

Deepali Sahay: The ‘Classic’ Trendsetter  

If you like to scroll through Instagram reels or YouTube shorts, it’s likely that you would have come across ‘Bhojpuri Classics with Deepali Sahay’, a series which has gained popularity over time in the hearts and minds of people who hail from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. 

Deepali Sahay is a singer, actor and director who has now become synonymous with someone who not only sings her heart out when it comes to folk Bhojpuri songs but also explains the traditions, rituals and lyrics that go into the making of such songs. Sahay through her soulful renditions gives a new lease of life to songs which are old and forgotten or are on the verge of being faded away from our memories. 

Sahay who says she’s inspired by Kishore Kumar and aspires to be like him, credits her stepping into the music industry to her mother. “I was taught ‘ae maalik tere bande hum’ bhajan in school. It was my mother who noticed the magic in me while I was rehearsing that bhajan at home. I wanted to become an IPS officer. My grandfather was a DSP. But then I got selected in Indian Idol when I was in class 12. It was a blessing as my passion went on to become my profession,” she said. 

Sahay discovered her passion for folk music at the age of 25. It was during Satrangi, a musical travel show she hosted for Netflix, that her love for folk traditions deepened. The show, spanning 13 states, explored the diverse folk music traditions of India. However, Bihar was notably absent from the list of states featured in the series.

“After travelling across these states and immersing myself in their music, I realised the glaring omission—Bihar’s rich folk music deserved its own spotlight,” she explained. “It was shocking to see Bihar missing from the lineup, even in the second season of the show.”

Sahay credits folk legend Sharda Sinha as her inspiration to venture into this genre. “Her voice had an incredible magnetism. It moved me to delve deeper into folk music,” she shared. “I felt it was important for the younger generation to connect with their cultural roots. Our new initiative aims to highlight the unexplored, beautiful side of Bhojpuri music that many may not know about. The love and appreciation from people have been overwhelming.” 

Sahay expressed gratitude to her parents and in-laws who have always been supportive of her projects. “My husband Aishwarya Nigam and I are in the same profession. He’s one of the finest voices I’ve heard," she added. 

Neha Singh Rathore: The Fierce Fighter 

Born in 1997 in Bihar’s Kaimur district, Neha Singh Rathore became the face who questioned the governments and held people in power accountable during elections. Her powerful renditions of “Ka Ba” songs released around the assembly elections in Bihar, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh Delhi, and the general elections of 2024 took the internet by storm. Rathore says that she’s “fighting to restore the honour of Bhojpuri that has been ripped off by the sleazy movie songs.” 

She is known for not sparing even the so-called towering personalities of the Bhojpuri film and music industry whom she blames for reducing the language to a reprehensible level. "People who have defamed Bhojpuri and have sung songs like 'Lahanga Utha Deb Remote Se' and 'Fatafat Khol Ke Dekhav' now sit in the Parliament as members of the treasury benches. Parliament can not be turned into an orchestra or DJ. It is a respectable place. It is not a stage show," she said. 

Rathore, who also started 'Bhojpuri Bachao Andolan' over five years ago, says that she’s writing songs that were sung by her mother and grandmother. “To make Bhojpuri prosperous, I am writing clean songs. So, I am working towards it,” she added. 

Rathore’s folk rendition activism has also landed her in trouble time and again. She was earlier served a notice by the Kanpur Police for allegedly inciting hatred through her song video. The singer was facing action over the second part of the song ‘UP Mein Ka Ba'. While this part questioned the government over the death of two women in a bulldozer drive in Kanpur Dehat, the first part touched upon the mismanagement during the COVID crisis. 

As part of her efforts to preserve the language in the age of cheap and crass film songs, she has strived to focus on social issues like unemployment, corruption, encounters, demolitions, dowry and politics through her song videos. 

Priyanka Singh: The Melody Queen

Priyanka Singh, 34, is a Bhojpuri playback singer who made her singing debut on the reality show Sur Sangram Season 1, then broadcast on Mahua Channel. Having sung over two thousand songs in Bhojpuri, Hindi and Assamese, Singh is often applauded for her choice of conventional, emotional and quality songs over filthy and obnoxious ones. 

She has won many awards in her arena and has also gone on to perform at various state events. However, her last performance at her hometown in Bihar’s Gopalganj didn’t go well with her. In April 2023, she met with an unpleasant experience on stage while her performance was underway at Thawe Mahotsav- organised by the state’s tourism department. 

Not only was her performance stopped midway, but when she tried to register her protest in front of the audience, her mic was also snatched away. The videos of the incident went viral sparking massive outrage against the Bihar government. Members of the music industry rallied in her support. "I am not dying to sing. They invited me to perform. Therefore, they cannot disrespect me like this. The district administration was very wrong in their approach and behaviour. I had a very bad experience at that event,” she said. 

Whether being put in such testing times or rising to the glory of sweeping award nights, Singh knows how to navigate her life between the ups and downs. In this process, she’s also trying to figure out what the future of the Bhojpuri music industry will look like and for that matter, she leaves it to her work- as they say- the work speaks for itself. 

The Demand for Constitutional Recognition 

The demand to grant “official language” status to Bhojpuri, arguably the most widely spoken dialect in Bihar, is not new. However, the call for its inclusion resurfaces and gains momentum periodically. Currently, the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution recognizes 22 official languages. Of these, 14 were originally included at the time of its adoption, and eight were added subsequently.

According to the Ministry of Home Affairs website, there are ongoing demands to include 38 more languages in the Eighth Schedule. Bhojpuri is among the languages being considered for this recognition.

The efforts to preserve and uplift the dignity of Bhojpuri language and culture have gained momentum. Leading this cultural revival are women folk singers from the region, who are working tirelessly to rescue the language from a sea of vulgarity.

The younger generation is becoming more discerning and aware of authenticity and talent. This shift in perception has played a significant role in the rise of a new wave of accomplished folk singers, who are now gaining widespread recognition and taking the internet by storm.

Sumit Singh is a freelance journalist based in Delhi. Personal views expressed by the author are their own.