Bring on the memes, we’re loving it: Hooligaanism gets candid about their viral songs - with a wink and a punchline

If you haven’t heard them, you’ve definitely heard about them. Hooligaanism, the motley crew of nine men led by actor-director Anirban Bhattacharya, has been making news. Their viral video Melar Gaan was perhaps just a teaser for what was unleashed on an unsuspecting crowd at a recent event.Ever since that explosive performance dropped on social media, certain songs have not only garnered millions of views but also triggered trolling IT cells, legal notices, reaction videos from netas to abhinetas, and of course, endless memes. From SIR to AI, from ministers to stooges, from philosophy to cultural identity, Hooligaanism spares none. Their lyrics sting and tickle at once, commanding a robust following among those who dig their brand of humour, mischief, and dare.As they gear up for a packed season of gigs across India and the US, eight of them sat down with CT over black tea, sweet tea, coffee and more for a no-holds-barred adda.

Your track Tumi Mosti Korbe Jaani has been extremely polarising. It takes potshots across the political spectrum & has clearly shaken things up. Was that deliberate?Subhadeep: You cannot make music and simultaneously sit down to dissect consequences.

Amra gaan ta just chherecchi. Once a song is out, it belongs to the public and they are free to interpret it as they like. Sometimes it will sting, sometimes it will shake things up—and maybe that’s what music should do.Anirban: It’s not the song that is polarising, it’s the world we live in. If you wake up and post, “I like oranges,” someone will immediately say, “What’s wrong with apples?” Whatever you bring to the table, people will split into camps.

Everyone is insecure—about politics, art, culture, even daily life. There’s no patience, no desire to talk or to listen. Ekta bajna bajche. Amrao bajachhi, nijerao bajchhi.Riddle me this: How do you define yourselves — a group, a band, a team?Subhadeep: Shob kotai!Anirban: Definitely a band of friends (laughs). Sometimes a band party when we put on the hats. Sometimes jokers.Debraj: Jokers maybe, but you never know when we’re serious and when we’re laughing at the face of life. That unpredictability keeps it alive.Stand-up comedy, street play, satire, folk music - how do these influences come together in your music?Anirban: Honestly, I’m the least musically talented of the lot. My one gift is that I can write songs, and quickly. I can string together a Sa Re, but the strength of Hooligaanism lies in all nine of us with our different instruments and energies. In the studio, we obsess over small details, layering sounds to create something full.

On stage, though, it’s pure raw energy, showmanship, pulling the audience in, engaging with them.

We’re always trying to balance the two, to do something different.Subhadeep: This is not an overnight thing. Hooligaanism has been a decade-long journey. Most of us have been working together since 2015. In fact, our viral track Tumi mosti korbe jaani was part of a production from back then. Just the other day an old post resurfaced on my feed saying: “The shrieks and the shrills will come back, the detunes and disharmonies are coming back.”

That’s really what we’re doing. Moving from one emotion to another, stage to stage.Anirban: You can hear that in Melar Gaan. It jumps from joy to sadness in an instant, almost like a fairground ride. That was always the intent.

At Band Storm, the audience seemed completely with you, in the moment, high octane, charged. What was it like on stage?(Anirban playfully punches Debraj)Debraj: (pretending to wince) Amake torture kora hocche! (laughs) But yes, we’re stage performers. We don’t really have stage fright because Anirban, Baban-da and I have been at it for years.

For Band Storm, people mostly came for Cactus, Fossils, Anjan Dutt, amader jannye asheni. But somewhere along the way, we realised we were managing to engage them. The energy was infectious, it lifted us up too.– Inputs by Poorna BanerjeeIs there a Pujor Gaan on the way?Subhadeep: After the 16th, maybe the 17th.Anirban: And with the biggest Bengali festival around the corner — if we don’t do something now… (laughs suggestively)Tales of head lamps, trolling & moreSubhadeep: To show some light. Nijer alo nijei jwalo. And the hats? Wedding band inspiration?Debraj: Ekdom band party!Subhadeep: MG Road-er band!Anirban: We are always in costume — shiny jackets, black pants, lit caps. A little joker, a little band party. Bit of the fool like Gopal bhaand!What’s the craziest reaction you’ve heard after your recent show?Debraj: The trolling never stops. Some of it is laughable copy-paste.Anirban: But the memes — whether for us or against us — are brilliant. The level of imagination is absolutely epic. Your lyrics don’t shy away from political satire, even when self-censorship is the norm. How does that work for you?Subhadeep: Has to be this way. We are composing in 2025, not 2010.

The times demand it.Anirban: And it ultimately depends on how much the system can handle. Ministers, prime ministers, chief ministers are not royalty, they are public servants. As long as the system allows it, we’ll continue roasting, rhyming, and singing the way we do.Any message for your fans?Someswar: Just give us a lot of love.Anirban: And we’re waiting for Trump’s reaction!Meet the band of boysAnirban Bhattacharya - VocalsSubhadeep Guha - Vocals, guitar,Debraj Bhattacharya - VocalsSomeshwar Bhattacharya - Lead Guitar Sushruta Goswami - Flute, saxophone Pritam Das - DrumsPritam Deb Sarkar - ViolinKrishanu Ghosh - Bass Guitar