During a ‘Cinema Dialogue’ event hosted by the Bihar State Film Development and Finance Corporation, renowned folk singer Bharat Sharma Vyas voiced his concerns about the rising obscenity in Bhojpuri songs. He attributed the current negative perception of Bhojpuri music to this vulgar content. Vyas recalled a time, three decades prior, when Bhojpuri songs were free from such explicit elements. He asserted that the blame for the current state of Bhojpuri music lies not only with the singers but also with the listeners and those who provide them a platform. He demanded strict measures against singers of obscene songs and urged listeners to stop supporting such content. Vyas contrasted the current trend, where the focus is on incorporating offensive language to gain views, with earlier times when the focus was on quality lyrics. He also mentioned 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 opposition to double-meaning Bhojpuri songs, called for artists and writers to pledge against creating or performing such songs. The General Manager of the Film Corporation, Ruby, emphasized the need to promote the state’s rich tradition of classical music and folk songs. Dr. Ajay, the District Public Relations Officer, echoed that good music attracts both audiences and financial benefits. Shri Arvind Ranjan Das, the film consultant, noted the negative impact of obscene songs on Bihar’s entertainment industry and the need for strong measures to promote healthy musical traditions. The event aimed to address this problem and help the Bhojpuri music and film industry regain its lost reputation.
Bharat Sharma Vyas, born in Buxar district, Bihar, in 1957, is known as the Bhojpuri Samrat due to his contribution to Bhojpuri music. He inherited his classical music knowledge from his father. Vyas started his singing career at the age of 14, beginning with the singing of Ramayana verses in 1971. His musical journey continues for five decades. His first audio cassette was released in 1989. Vyas is recognized for evergreen Bhojpuri songs and his singing is admired in several countries.