It has been a revolutionary journey for Punjabi music from the melodious beginnings to the hyper-bhangra and then fusion-desi music from UK (along with Malkit Singh – there were UK fusion pioneers like Apna Sangeet, Alaap, Padesi Group, Premi, Heera, Safri Boys, Sukshinder Shinda, Jessi Sidhu and many more) and then finally the gangster rap epitomized by Sidhu Moose Wala.

By Promod Puri – DESIBUZZCanada Columnist

With my fondness and taste for Punjabi songs, I belong to the era when Prakash Kaur, Surinder Kaur, and Asa Singh Mastana reigned the music waves in their traditional style.

In that file, Shamshad Begum and Mohammad Rafi stand out with such popular numbers, “kachi kali si nazuk dil mera , “jag wala mela yaro lagga bari da.’

Going further back, I often hum K.L. Sehgal O Sohne Saqia Meri Gali Vi Phera.., pyala dil da tut gay te pher ki hoya, main buq which pi lavan ga saqia do ghut pilanda jayeen.

And I still enjoy the style of Lal Chand Yamla Jatt, Tere Ni Karara, Das Main Ki Pyar Wichon; and Ramta’s melodious voice.

I got stuck in the grooves of the outdated vinyl with the music and style of yesteryears.

From the old melodic genre, the maximum I moved forward was when Malkit Singh emerged from the London Punjabi music culture with ‘tutuk tutak tutiya, the meaning I still have not understood. But the song became overwhelmingly popular in India and worldwide, where Punjabi established their roots.

Malkit Singh revolutionized the music of Punjab, giving it more rhythm and variation than the traditional rendering. From then on, Punjabi music gave birth to the Bhangra music, where the beats of the ‘dhool’ stand out.

After Malkit’ Singhs innovation, Punjabi music has gone into free exploration with a rich infusion of western music, reggae and rap styles.

It has been a revolutionary journey for Punjabi music from the melodious beginnings to the hyper-bhangra and then fusion-desi music from UK (along with Malkit Singh – there were UK fusion pioneers like Apna Sangeet, Alaap, Padesi Group, Premi, Heera, Safri Boys, Sukshinder Shinda, Jessi Sidhu and many more) and then finally the gangster rap epitomized by Sidhu Moose Wala.

The latter was the genre in which controversial but talented singer and lyric writer, late Sidhu Moose Wala, excelled. With his talent, Moose Wala certainly leaves his marks in the evolution and diversification of Punjabi music that cuts across nationalistic and linguistic barriers, making it part of world music.

Promod Puri is a veteran journalist and author based in Vancouver. For more info visit promodpuri.com