At a recent ‘Cinema Dialogue’ event organized by the Bihar State Film Development and Finance Corporation (Film Corporation) in Patna, folk singer Bharat Sharma Vyas addressed the issue of obscenity in Bhojpuri songs. He stated that the current perception of Bhojpuri music being viewed negatively is due to the presence of vulgarity. Vyas pointed out that 30 years ago, Bhojpuri songs lacked this element. He emphasized that not only the singers but also the listeners and those providing platforms for these songs are responsible for the obscenity. He called for action against singers of obscene songs and urged listeners to stop consuming such content. Vyas contrasted the current trend with the past, where the focus was on incorporating good lyrics, whereas now, the emphasis seems to be on including offensive words to gain views. He noted that similar attempts to introduce vulgarity in the 90s failed to sustain, with those singers disappearing from the scene. Nand Kumar Tiwari, known for his strong stance against double-meaning Bhojpuri songs, also spoke at the event, advocating for a pledge by artists and writers to avoid creating or performing such songs. Ruby, the General Manager of the Film Corporation, highlighted the rich tradition of classical and folk music and the need to promote it. Dr. Ajay, the District Public Relations Officer, stressed that good music will attract audiences, along with financial success and platforms. Film Corporation consultant (Film) Shri Arvind Ranjan Das highlighted that the obscenity in Bhojpuri songs has put a negative mark on the entertainment world of Bihar and emphasized the need to take strong steps to revive healthy song-music traditions. The dialogue aimed to find solutions to help the Bhojpuri music and film industry regain its lost prestige.
Bharat Sharma Vyas, born on August 1, 1957, in the village of Nagpura, Buxar district, Bihar, has achieved the title of Bhojpuri Samrat through his singing. He received his classical music heritage from his father, the late Rajeswar Sharma. He began his singing journey at the age of 14 in 1971, starting with the singing of Ramayana verses. His musical journey, which began with a kirtan group, has continued for five decades. His first audio cassette was recorded in 1989. Shri Bharat Sharma Vyas is known for his timeless Bhojpuri songs such as ‘Goriya Chand Ke Ejoriy’, and his singing is enjoyed in countries like Oman, Mauritius, Thailand, and Nepal.
