He’s been living in the Netherlands since 1974 but with time his Bhojpuri roots have only gotten stronger. Trying to undo the damage that Bhojpuri film music has done to the Bhojpuri image, musician Raj Mohan is writing some contemporary Bhojpuri rock music with his Dutch band.
“Bhojpuri has been viewed as cheap and vulgar by the new generation because of the low level of films made in India. The new generation does not want to speak or associate themselves with Bhojpuri,” says Raj.
“What I am trying to do with my music is to make Bhojpuri attractive to the new generation. I am writing in Bhojpuri but my music is alternative pop, rock and jazz. I think this is the way to keep the next generation connected to their Bhojpuri roots and make it sound cool too,” adds Raj, who is a part of the huge Surinamese Hindustani population living in the Netherlands.
His next album even includes a song on the Bhojpuri population which has travelled to distant countries as bonded labourers. “We are scared of losing our culture and roots. So we want to keep it evolving and alive - just like a Dev D is made in a contemporary way for this generation or an Omkara is adapted for the Indian culture,” he says when asked what inspired him to take up the cause of Bhojpuri music in the Netherlands.
The musician will jam with Surangma - a group of three sisters and their mother who are trying to revive the rare folk Bhojpuri music and dance in India. The troupe previously jammed with Raj when they performed at the In de Sporen van India Festival in Hague last year. Surangma has travelled extensively through Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Suriname and Gayana with their stylised nautanki flavour of acts like seeta swayamwar, phagua, jhumar, kajari and khilona.
“Our vision matches with Raj who is making Bhojpuri music contemporary. We are looking forward to contemporary dancing to his Bhojpuri rock and jazz,” says Surangma dancer Sumisha Shankar.
Raj will be here in India in June and then again in December with his band which includes musicians from Suriname and Germany to promote his new album and organise some Bhojpuri rock concerts in Mumbai.
