Folk artistes don't get due credit says Sundeep Bhutoria

Culturist SundeepBhutoria speaks out on the unacceptable version of Rajasthani song AnjanKiSeeti and the plight of Rajasthani folk artistes.
The new version of the popular Rajasthani song Anjan Ki Seeti, from the soon-to-be-released Khoobsurat, has created a lot of buzz, but it has also raised eyebrows because of the reworked lyrics. Social activist and culturist Sundeep Bhutoria, who has been working with Rajasthani artistes to create awareness about folk arts, was similarly surprised to hear this version, written by Ikraam Rajasthani.
"First of all, I would like to bring this fact to notice that neither the song nor its present tune is folk. The song was originally written by Ikraam's father Master Allauddin in 1950 on a folk tune. Later, the father-son duo re-wrote it, changed the music and recorded it for a music company in 1970. The popularity of the 70s' version and the tune of the song became so popular that everybody believed it to be a folk song," says Bhutoria, who is a little upset with the way the newer version, re-written to suit the modern-day listeners, is making waves.
"Lyrics have been replaced by tacky words like `bum', which are demeaning and unacceptable. I have been wondering why a scholar like him used words like `bum' in the song just for sensationalism," he says, adding, "I had a word with him and I was surprised to learn when he categorically told me that he has not used such words. He himself is in shock to hear the final version, which was released a few days ago. According to Ikraam, the original song that he handed over to the music director Sneha Khanwalkar had no mention of such words. Now everybody is blaming Ikraam for stooping to such levels to gain cheap popularity . I have assured him of full support and I also request the artiste fraternity to support him to stop this."
Bhutoria adds that Rajasthani folk artistes are anyway not being given due credit for their work. He says, "Since music makes up a significant part of Bollywood, filmmakers can go to any extent to sell it in the market and mint money . Take the instance of Rajasthani folk songs, which have been extensively used in Hindi films, but folk artistes are not given due credit. Due to which, they have to compromise with the situation and accept whatever is given to them. That is the reason Ikraam wrote the song for just `25,000. This is not enough. Hearing bhajans on hit numbers like Sheila and Munni adds to our disappointment. It is very disheartening to see that nobody raises their voice against such practices of plagiarism and obscenity in lyrics."
Listen to Rajasthani Music on Gaana.com WATCH: Sundeep Bhutoria at New York Hindi Conference