POPSHIFT
Posts
Bad News for "Pasoori" Fans

Bad News for "Pasoori" Fans

The remake, which alters the original background melodies and poetic Punjabi lyrics, has sparked online vitriol and restarted conversations around Bollywood’s hypocrisy.

rosh
June 27, 2023

Welcome back. In honor of Pride celebrations this month, we explore the history, reverence, and plight of the subcontinent’s third gender. Then we launch back into entertainment news. If you aren’t listening to Bollywood’s poorly received “Pasoori” remake, try watching Disney+’s newest hip-hop comedy adventure “World’s Best.”

— Rosh

Hijras: The Subcontinent’s Third Gender

The story of the Hijra community traces back to ancient times when transgender and intersex individuals were revered across the subcontinent for their spiritual qualities. They were recognized as a "third gender," transcending the conventional male-female binary of the West. Throughout their rich history, Hijras have held a unique cultural identity and social role, but have also faced numerous social and political challenges.

Cultural Significance
In the earliest texts, including the Mahabharata and the Kama Sutra, Hijras were celebrated for their unique connection to the divine. They have held a special place in South Asian society for centuries. Their presence is sought after at joyous occasions like childbirth and weddings, where their blessings and vibrant performances are believed to bring good fortune.

From gay Sufi lovers to Hindu transgender women. India’s sexual fluidity was always a dirty, barbaric concept to its western invaders and it is crucial for the LGBTQ community here in the west to understand this. This isn’t India becoming ‘westernised’. It’s India decolonising.
— Shahmir Sanni (@shahmiruk)
9:49 AM • Sep 6, 2018

Challenges
Despite their cultural significance, the Hijra community has faced numerous challenges and societal marginalization. Colonizers criminalized and branded Hijras as “socially deviant.” Under British rule, discriminatory laws stripped them of their rights, leading to social exclusion and limited education, healthcare, and employment access.

These struggles continue to persist today. Though societal attitudes are slowly changing to one of acceptance, progress evident by the Indian Supreme Court’s official recognition of the third gender in 2014, there is still a long way to go when it comes to inclusivity and equity for Hijras.

Learn More
In honor of Pride, we’re celebrating the Hijra community by amplifying their stories. Here are our some of our favorite picks to learn more about the community and how you can support them.

Film: “Between the Lines”
Book: “Neither Man Nor Woman: The Hijras of India”
Additional Reading: Harvard Divinity School, New York Times

Bollywood Remade “Pasoori” and Fans Couldn’t Be More Pissed

Coke Studio Pakistan’s biggest hit “Pasoori” quickly became a global phenomenon upon its release and was even 2022’s most Googled song. Sung by Ali Sethi and Shae Gill, the track has nearly 600M views on YouTube. But what was once an unapologetic break-up song has been rewritten into a love ballad that only retains fragments of the original.

The new rendition “Pasoori Nu,” sung by Arijit Singh and Tulsi Kumar, already has 10M+ views within 24 hours of its release. The remake, which alters the original background melodies and poetic Punjabi lyrics, has sparked online vitriol and restarted conversations around Bollywood’s hypocrisy. Netizens were quick to point out how the industry still bans Pakistani actors from performing in their films, yet is okay to license their best musical content.

Regardless of the song’s critical reception, we have to ask – is it really necessary to “remake” a song that’s barely a year old?

What are your thoughts on the new "Pasoori?"

“World’s Best” Is the Movie We All Needed Growing Up

All praise to Disney+ for their new musical comedy “World’s Best.” Directed by Roshan Sethi, the film centers around 12-year-old mathematical genius Prem Patel and his journey into the rap scene after discovering his late father Raj Patel was a hip-hop star. The movie stars Manny Magnus and Utkarsh Ambudkar in the leading father-son duo roles.

It’s a feelgood film that validates the hyphenated identity so many children from immigrant families experience. Between calculus and rapping, Prem Patel’s passions are on opposite extremes. As he struggles to balance his dual life and grows through it all, viewers are taken along for the experience that offers comedy, fun music, and wholesome moments that actually feel like representation.

“World’s Best” is available to stream on Disney+, but if you still need some encouragement, let the trailer below convince you.