'Ab bas bhi kar le': A lyrical reply to Baba Sehgal’s sexist, body-shaming song ‘Dieting kar le’

Baba Sehgal is easily one of the wackiest artists of the Indian music scene. The latest among his lyrical, er, “creations”, ‘Dieting Kar le’, however, has taken sexism, chauvinism and hypocrisy to new levels.

 

The video begins with skinny women holding pompoms and dancing to the tune and a few moments into the video, the shot cuts into showing a plus-size woman running her way to that oh-so-desirable hourglass figure. Visuals of thin women are dispersed throughout the video to put the point across as well.

 

 

As if that wasn’t enough, the lyrics of the song are downright offensive. Here’s an example –

 

 

Here, he tells the girl that her boyfriend is leaving her because of her increasing weight. “Arre pet cover kar liya hai chunni se, it’s looking odd. Kamar thi 26 ab hai 32, OMG oh my God,” he adds. (You’ve covered your tummy with a dupatta but it looks odd. Your waist has expanded from 26 to 32, oh my god!) And the refrain of the song goes,

 

 

 

With the demeaning scrutiny that women of all ages already go through on the internet, the song may not be the first of its kind, but it certainly cannot be taken lightly. The likes of Yo Yo Honey Singh have already been at the forefront of subjugating and objectifying women in their songs. Sexist and offensive lyrics sold on catchy beats indoctrinate the patriarchal status quo even further.

 

But no, this is not an article on why there shouldn’t be sexist song and objectification of women. Instead, we thought, why not use the same methodology as these artists and write them a song, fashioned along Baba Sehgal’s new song? So here goes -

 

Stop writing songs, writing songs, ab bas bhi kar le (x2)

 

Arre dekh zara tu akal iski

Bas ke bahar hai sabke samajh ki

Gaane mein thoda jhol karke

Publicity karli hai apni

 

Study tu karle feminism ki

Nahi zarurat mujhe teri diet ki

Sexism ka na chalega taana

ab bas bhi kar, na bana tu gaana

 

Stop writing songs, writing songs, ab bas bhi kar le (x3)

 

Arre mind kiya maine ki tere lyrics

Hain bade hi chauvinist

Aa training tujhko de dun

In what cyber shaming is

 

Tujh jaise hai bohot dekhe Yo Yo

Toh kya hua jo main nahi hoon “hot”

Mera weight meri identity nahi

I’m more than a song’s sub-plot

 

Toh kya jo pet nikal raha hai? 

Boyfriend toh mera asshole nahi

Weight ho chaahe 80 kg

Tujh jaisi soch toh nahi

 

Stop writing songs, writing songs, ab bas bhi kar le (x3)

 

Beats mein sexism chupaake

Bana diya ek aur gaana

Pehle kaha “go to the gym”

Fir bola patli kamar banana

 

Gym jaun ya cola piyun

Ya bhindi khaake aish karun

Phone par cake ki recipe lekar

Akele khaun aur kissi ko na dun

 

Jeans agar meri tight ho gayi

Size bade bhi milte hain

Agar tailor ne aisa kuch bola

Toh uss par bhi gaana likh dun

 

Stop writing songs, writing songs, ab bas bhi kar le (x3)

 

Ladki hoon toh saari zindagi

Bohot mile, who objectify

Par wazan, soorat ne kabhi roka nahi

So you can do your thing, I’m still going to fly

 

Stop writing songs, writing songs, ab bas bhi kar le (x3)

 

Baba kitna likhega baba.. bas bhi kar..

 

 

Watch the original video here.