Native Bapa; a new wave of
Hip-Hop in Kerala
Musical video albums and songs are not only for
entertainments but serve as social tools to protest and raise the voice against
the injustice and immoral activities in the society also. Musical video albums
are one of the most influential media to inform and educate the society in
order to make the social environment a better one. We are living in the 21st
century. Our present society is running behind the jazz , rock music and American
Hip hop music. So, growing inclination of people from ‘Hip Hop’ towards
‘padappattu’ in Malabar region has its own significance.
Hip Hop is pioneered in 1960s. It is the technical rhythmic
steps of dances and musics invented by the blacks of America to protest the
dominants of whites in America. Hip hop raises the voices of blacks’ against
the discrimination of the society on the basis of colour. Political Hip Hop is
the developed or modern form of Hip-Hop
The satirical narration and criticism of political issue
where the artists sing in a similar steps and rhythm or a direct exploration or throwing the truth
of political issues towards the audience in a rhythmic and musical way
are known as Political Hip-Hop. Places like Thehareer Square are full filled
with political hip hop while Arab spring was happening.
Malayalies are, over
a long period, not at all aware or not even heard of Hip-hop but now after the release
of muhsin perari’s NATIVE BAPA’ [name of the hip-hop album] it has become a
trend in Kerala too. This social revolutionary form of music is released though
the social networking site YouTube. Mr.muhsin perari who was the director of
this hip-hop album and it is released under the banner of ‘Mappila Lahala Musics’.
Native Bapa
Soliloquizes the loss of his son who was accused a terrorist and killed by
Govt. in a fake encounter in the name of irradciation of terrorism. It tells
about the present condition of Muslim community and the whole theme is
developing though the narrations and soliloquies of the father. This hip-hop
has become a different experience though the symbols images are not novel and
were repeatedly presented by main stream media. This 4.30 minute album is harshly
criticizing such kind of symbols and stereotyping of a particular community as
a terrorists. This small hip-hop album
is enough to understand and to teach the society how the media portraying a particular
community as terrorists or problem makers.
The album
begins with a scene of one green flagged boat is coming towards and in the next
appears a middle aged man. He is the central character of this hip-hop. He is
on the boat. [Politically it represents the news came once about the importing
of weapons though Arabian Sea]. The costume of this album is like one person
wears a green colour big belt [which are commonly used the Malabar Muslims] and
the Arabic muffler [scarf]. These represent a group of community and those
characters are considered villains. [This belt is regularly used in Malayalam
films to a group of community and those characters are villains] these are now
using to represent the terrorism. Following scenes show the congested area of
colonies like mattancherri, palayam etc and is followed by a scene of a bike numbered
KL-10. [Kl_10 is the code of Malappuram dist and it was the highly Muslim
populated district in Kerala]. The wall posters of ‘Maadani’ also flashes
through several times as the father narrates the whole incident, the ill-fate
of his innocent son. Though out that narration, it explains that his son
working in a place far away from home.
The images of his return home in leave with sweet for his child is a
heart- touching visual and it clearly says he is only breadwinner and caretaker
of the family. The narrations also explain how the police has manipulated a
case against him and judged him a terrorist simply describing his life style.
He often uses muffler to protect from cold and this muffler has, surprisingly,
been the identification mark for charging against him. In a regular interval of
narration, the narrator utters the word ‘bomb’. He observes, sarcastically,
that his son has never seen a bomb in his life but ‘bondas’ [bonda- a sweet
with round shape]. He pooh-poohs at the notion of media who tries to stereotype
the green belt and the muffler as identification of terrorists etc.
Mr. Mamukkoya,
one of the leading comedy actors in the Malayalam film industry, has remarkably
essayed the role of father in this album. His own satirical tongue and
mannerisms have been aptly used to sharpen narrations and give much impact. It
is the one of the reasons the album becomes a popular hit. This album also
explains about that father’s legacy that fought against the British to get
freedom. Unfortunately, his own son has been booked by the government accusing
him terrorist.
This hip hop
uses both English and Malayalam words in a rhythmic way. Native Bapa stands
against the stereotyping of a community in the society as terrorists and
problem makers. It shows the unethical practices of media towards a particular
community and this political Hip-hop has become a hit with more than a lack of viewers
in YouTube. Muhsin Perari is the
director of this popular Malayalam hip-hop Hariz- choreography, Jijo Ebraham-
cinematography, Roy George- music direction are the other people worked behind this
venture.
by- Ramis salam P
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