Kalpana Patowary, the queen of Bhojpuri songs, speaks with SHAlINI SAKSENA about how, she, an Assamese girl started singing in Bhojpuri
You are an English graduate. How did you start singing folkij
It is a long story. I belong to Assam. Folk singing is in my family; my father (Bipin Patowary) is a folk singer. So music was part and parcel of my growing up days. Folk singing is there in most houses of India. I loved the stories they tell and hence my love for literature and decided to pursue it. Also, my fascination for languages means that I have already sung songs in over 30 languages due to my knowledge of phonetics.
You sing Chhaprahiya Purvi style which is male dominated. What made you go thereij
Purvi is Bhojpuri style from main Bhojpur — Chhapra and Balia area. This came to me by chance. I had shifted to Mumbai when I was given an opportunity to sing this style. I just went with it. Fortunately for me, this song became a super-hit. Then more and more songs of this style started coming to me. Then I too started chasing songs from this region because it is the heartland of India. Many of our scriptures talk about this region and some I learnt from my father. This fascination paved my musical career.
Who is your inspirationij
It has to be Bhupen Hazarika. He was a social observer who used music as a tool to change the society’s perception. After I got recognition in Bhojpuri folk, I started looking at its origin. This journey led me to Bhikhari Thakur (playwright, lyricist, folk dancer-singer and social activist) popularly known as the Shakespeare of Bhojpuri language. He was from a low caste and artists didn’t propel him too much. But I took up it up and am now trying to set up a parallel industry in Bhojpuri cinema where I can voice my opinion.
Is there scope of folk songs in Bollywoodij
I am not very active in Bollywood since my calling now lies elsewhere. But I do sing once in a while. The last song I had playbacked was for Begum Jaan — O Re Kaharo. I have sung another song for an upcoming film Khajoor Pe Atka by Bickram Ghosh. So somewhere folk is still there. But more than Bollywood, folk finds its presence in the international market.
Tell us about your association with life of An Outcastij
I have lent my voice for a folk song in this movie which is about the life of an outcast.
You are called the queen of Bhojpuri songs. How did you get your break in Bollywoodij
When I moved from Assam to Mumbai, I got my break in Bollywood. I sang many songs in the industry. But once I got an opportunity to do folk songs, I now want to be called a folk exponent. I want to be something beyond a singer; I want to talk about social and women-centric issues.
Do you think that folk festivals will help promote itij
There are enough festivals taking place to promote it. But the only way that it can be a part of our lives is if we start talking about it at the school level. There is a need to teach our children about our rich culture. There is a need to teach folk heritage as a subject. I am trying my bit; but there is a need for more.
What next for youij
I have lots in my kitty — songs and projects. I am working on a project about a Maharashtrian poetess — Savitribai Jyotirao Phule. Her work is in Marathi and has to be translated into Hindi. So that will keep me busy for the coming months.