dehradun

Updated: Jul 19, 2017 20:29 IST

A sprightly group of artistes from Uttarakhand is taking the online world by storm by churning out quirky experiments in regional languages like Garhwali and Jaunsari. From regional songs peppered with DJ beats and rhythms to folk numbers sprinkled with rap and trance music, the refreshing works of these new-age artistes are finding thousands of viewers on the social media platforms.

They’re not only pushing the boundaries of conventional folk music, but are also giving music lovers from Uttarakhand, living in different parts of the world, a reason to rejoice the hill state’s cultural legacy.

Garhwali singer Kishan Mahipal’s peppy video song Fyonladiya, featuring music by Ishaan Dobhal has garnered over 15 lakh views on video-sharing site YouTube. The audio of the song released last year has received 24.98 lakh views.

“Folk music is beautiful in itself, but the pop and rock loving generation of youngsters asks for some new twist to the pahadi (hill) music. By using western instruments, rhythms and pahadi rap, we’re not only trying to revive the long-forgotten folk songs but also trying to connect them (young generation) with our rich culture. People of Uttarakhand from different parts of the world are loving these experiments,” says Mahipal, whose YouTube channel has over 48.56 lakh views.

Another Srinagar-based singer-musician, Amit Sagar’s song Chaitwali – Aachhari Jaagar that is a tribute to folk singers Keshav Anuragi and Chandra Singh Raahi featuring dhol-damau fused with guitars, drums, and trance music by Gunjan Dangwal has got 4.11 lakh views on YouTube. His works on his YouTube channel Sur Sagar Studio have gained over 22.98 lakh views so far. “Being a youngster myself, I want to offer interesting folk tunes to young music lovers in a flavour that appeals to their aesthetic sensibilities,” says Sagar, who had first shot to fame by creating the viral hit Kolaveri Di song in Garhwali language in 2011.

Some other artistes who have set the online world abuzz with exciting pahadi songs in new avatars include the Pandavaas, a Srinagar-based group of production artists that has over 21.96 lakh views on YouTube, and singer Pankaj Sati, whose channel has got over 3.46 lakh views. Among their hits, Phulaari by the Pandavaas has garnered over 5.12 lakh views while Sati’s Bol Chitthi Kile Ni Bheji filmed in Dubai has got 2.37 lakh views on YouTube.

Bollywood singer Jubin Nautiyal presented a Jaunsari folk song ‘O Saathi O Saathi’ in a new avatar in March which became an overnight sensation. The rejigged version of the song - which was originally sung by Uttarakhandi singer Khajan Dutt Sharma – also featured a rap by popular rapper Badshah. “Pahadi music and culture will go places with such experiments,” said Nautiyal in an interview with HT.