With their song ‘Aalu Anday’, a parody of the current state of politics and mindsets in Pakistan, Beyghairat Brigade gained instant popularity when their music video went viral on the web.
The YouTube video shows three nerdy young boys in school uniforms and painted faces. They seem visibly unhappy as they sing about their packed lunch which consists of aalu anday (potato and egg curry), because they would prefer to eat chicken – even though it is a more expensive option.
The video is funny (especially the side parted hair and nerdy glasses) and the Punjabi lyrics clever. While the song initially seems to be a lament about lunch, as it goes on its message about Pakistani mentality becomes clear: people in Pakistan are chasing after the wrong things. It makes a dig at those who idolize Mumtaz Qadri and Ajmal Kasab, adding that personalities like physicist Abdus Salam are forgotten by most.
The best part about the song is the slogans being held up by the artists:
“Nawaz Sharif, Bye Bye. Papa Kiyani no likey you”
“Tehreek-i-Insaf = good looking Jamaat-e-Islami”
DAWN columnist Nadeem F Paracha agrees:
So, after lamenting the apathetic and confused state of the Sharifs, and winking at Imran Khan’s desire to see the ‘chief’ come in and light up Khan’s political career, BB then get to what are perhaps the most loaded and boldest lyrics of the whole song.
While some disagree and feel that the band has merely “strung a bunch of clichés together with a crappy, directionless video”, I beg to differ. I shared it on my Facebook wall not because I’m putting in on my ‘best songs of 2011’ playlist; but because it is a light-hearted attempt at a message that cannot be reiterated enough.
