Music in Chhattisgarhi rents the air in Nuapada

Bhubaneswar: Owing to the considerable influence of Chhattisgarhi language and culture on Nuapada and Komna blocks of Nuapada district, political parties are trying to woo the electorate with Chhattisgarhi music.
The three major political parties — BJP, BJD and Congress — have hired singers from the neighbouring state for their campaign music.

The songs have creative slogans and speak about the promises and manifestoes of the parties. These songs are being recorded in studios in Khariar and Raipur.

Owner of a music studio in Khariar Bichitra Yadav said all parties have given him contract to record music. “Unlike 2014, this election recorded music is being given priority by all parties. Since local singers cannot follow Chhattisgarhi accent, we hire singers from the neighbouring state,” said Yadav.

He said they compose lyrics that are a mix of local and Chhattisgarhi dialects so that it becomes appealing to the voters. “The music is of two-minute duration and it is repeated. For recording chorus like ‘zindabad’, we hire local talent,” Yadav added.

Besides music, posters, banners and slogans have also been written in Chhattisgarhi. A BJP poster reads, “Des bachao chro se, Modi layo joro se”. Then there is a Congress’ poster, which has eight important aspects of the manifesto, including providing Rs 2,600 MSP for a quintal of paddy.

Ghasiram Majhi, Congress nominee for Nuapada assembly segment said, “We make posters in both Hindi and Odia because people here can speak and read both. In the interior pockets, people also speak Chhattisgarhi. The musical tapes have been made according.”

However, in the neighbouring Khariar block, the posters have been written only in Odia and the music is in Sambalpuri.

There are 63 panchayats and 202 villages in Nuapada and Komna blocks bordering Chhattisgarh. People of western Odisha depend upon Raipur for trade activities. There is robust train and road connectivity between Raipur and western Odisha towns.