‘Mera gaana kaise nahin bajaya?’ DJing is a risky profession in UP

Little did 32-year-old Bareilly DJ Arun Kumar Valimiki know what was in store for him when he refused to play a song from the movie Bullett Raja at a birthday party at Sidhauli village in Bareilly district on Monday. Arun was apparently shot dead when he refused to play the song Tamanchey Pe Disco, as requested by the offender. However, DJs in UP aren’t too surprised, as they say that they’re used to rowdy behaviour at private parties, and even at well-known clubs and discotheques.A few DJs from the state share their experiences with us.
Tamanchey pe disco
After a drink people in UP think that console unka hai. I recently played at a popular discotheque at a corporate event where a middle-aged man misbehaved with me and tried breaking my console when I refused to play the song of his choice. His take was, ‘Paise diya hain, bajayega kaise nahi.’ Also, yahaan pe logon ka favourite song is Tamanchey Pe Disco as it is one song when people get a chance to show off their arms and ammunition. — DJ Preet
Better safe than sorry
More than the politicians in UP, unke chintus zyaada ruckus create karte hain at parties after drinking. Parties in UP are all about power play than music play. People here need to understand that DJs have their own list of songs to play. Also, aaj kal people ask us to dedicate songs to their loved ones. At lounges and discotheques, the bouncers are quite useless as they are more of waiters. DJing is a risky profession today, especially if one is playing in UP. I personally don’t play in small towns in UP after I was shot at at a party in Shahjahanpur, a couple of years ago. Also, I charge a hefty amount for a party in UP since I bring my own bouncer for security. It’s better to be safe than sorry. — DJ Chino
Treated like slaves
When DJs are playing in a club, they can easily ignore requests as there is proper security for DJs. But when we play at a private party, we have to play the songs requested by people. I do that most of the time since wahan pe humari koi bhi security nahi hoti. UP mein bahubali culture is still existing. Yahan har doosre aadmi ke pass gun hai. DJs in UP are treated like slaves, but then we can’t do much about it. — DJ Sam
At gun point
I still remember when I was playing at a private party in Lucknow long time back, a middle-aged man asked me to play the Kanta Laga remix, which I had already played five times in an hour. But I still played the track on his request in order to avoid a scene. But then he asked me to play it on the loop, which I refused. He then went at a distance and fired at me. I was saved by inches. Goli mere kaan ke pass se ho ke chali gayi. I was so scared at that time that I finally played the song 20 times. In UP it is quite common for people to take out their guns and threaten DJs. — DJ Moni
Instant gratification
I have travelled to different parts of the state for DJing and I even play in the metros. However, the scene is worst in UP when it comes to DJing. I was once asked to play a Punjabi track at gun point in Shahjahanpur. The man got even more furious when I took some time in playing that particular song as it took me some time to look for it. But he thought I had refused to play it. Finally, the hosts came to my rescue and I was saved. — DJ Raj
DJ Matlab sound wala?
A lot of people have fired in the air when I have refused to play the song of their choice in the past. DJs in UP are looked down upon. No one considers us artists, in fact, most of the people treat us like a sound wala. People confuse us for an electrician. And for the record, youngsters here are the last ones to misbehave. Generally, it is either the politicians or the property dealers who misbehave with us. — DJ John
I can see you, but you can't
People in UP are quite fond of cheap Bhojpuri numbers. Misbehaviour happens at almost all the parties where alcohol is served. I have personally faced humiliation at many parties for not playing Bhojpuri numbers. People have abused me after getting drunk on several occasions. UP mein DJ ko sabse zyada gaali padti hai. However, the scene is not at all the same in bigger cities. For example, I have played in Pune and Bengaluru as well. There the DJs console is far away from the dance floor where people can’t seem him though he can see everyone. I think that’s the way how it should be ’coz that’s the only way how we can be safe and secure. — DJ Manish