Rekha Bhardwaj on rescuing Bhojpuri folk music from being 'caricaturish' and 'not so dignified': 'It deserves more respect'

At a time when viral hooks and social media trends often dominate the music landscape, Rekha Bhardwaj believes there is still space for songs rooted in culture, emotion and storytelling. Her latest track, ‘Kachaudi Gali’, released under Coke Studio Bharat alongside Utpal Udit, has become a talking point not only for its melody but also for the conversations it has sparked around Bhojpuri folk traditions.

Drawing inspiration from age-old Bhojpuri musical forms, the song explores themes of longing, separation and memory, reminding listeners of a cultural heritage often overshadowed by more commercial offerings.While many blame changing listener habits for the rise of formulaic music, Rekha sees the issue differently. In an interview with Variety India, she stated that audiences have always been open to meaningful music, but the industry often prioritizes what sells quickly.“A lot of music is built around instant recall and virality, and I worry that silence, poetry and emotional depth are becoming harder to sell. This has always been the case. Even earlier, it was the same kind of struggle if you wanted to do something soulful or something more poetic. It was still difficult to sell that to the companies and producers. So it’s not about people, it’s about the companies that sell music.”Despite the industry's growing obsession with numbers and trends, Rekha says she has consciously stayed away from creating music merely to fit the market.

“It’s very easy to succumb to mediocrity or something more trendy. But I feel we are fortunate to understand the craft we want to work on and create our kind of music. I feel fortunate to reach a stage in my life and career where I am able to do this.”For the National Award-winning singer, artistic satisfaction comes from staying true to her musical instincts rather than following fleeting trends.

How ‘Kachaudi Gali’ reconnected her with Bhojpuri folk

Before learning about the song's historical roots, it was the melody and emotional resonance of ‘Kachaudi Gali’ that drew Rekha in.

She recalled that her manager, Vishwas Dubey, who hails from Varanasi, helped her understand the context behind the composition.“When I got the song, I just got the melody. My manager, Vishwas Dubey, who’s from Varanasi, explained the gist of the song. First, it was the feel, the emotion and the melody of the folk song.” The singer has long viewed folk music as the foundation of all musical traditions.“I have always associated a lot with folk music. It is the mother of all genres of music.

Any music, even classical, has come from folk music only. So it was the emotion first. Later, I started understanding the story behind it.”

The forgotten beauty of Bhojpuri folk music

‘Kachaudi Gali’ draws from Bhojpuri songs traditionally sung by women waiting for their husbands to return from war. For Rekha, the emotional richness of such music is what gives it lasting relevance.“Music always preserves emotions and memories better than history. Folk music, especially, because it was never recorded.

It was an oral tradition. People from different eras and generations added their own touch, adding their own lives to it. That’s the beauty of it.”She believes folk songs survive because they carry collective memories from one generation to the next.

Why Bhojpuri music deserves more respect

Rekha also spoke about how Bhojpuri music is often unfairly stereotyped or reduced to caricatures, causing people to overlook its depth and artistic value.“There is a dignity to folk music which sometimes gets lost in translation.

We sometimes play to the gallery. That’s how Bhojpuri music became more caricaturish or not so dignified at times. But with ‘Kachaudi Gali,’ people are talking about the story behind the song also.”The singer feels that the track has encouraged listeners to revisit Bhojpuri culture with fresh curiosity.

Rekha Bhardwaj's take on young listeners

Contrary to the popular belief that younger generations only consume short-form, trend-driven music, Rekha says her interactions with Gen Z and Gen Alpha listeners tell a different story.“When there is an emotion that strikes you at the core of your being, it is bound to make you sit. I meet Gen Z and Gen Alpha, who talk about songs on their playlists that are not just hook lines. Those are songs that bring joy into their lives.”As music consumption continues to evolve, Rekha remains convinced that the essence of a great song has not changed. Whether it's a Bhojpuri folk ballad like ‘Kachaudi Gali’ or a film track such as ‘Namak’, she believes listeners ultimately respond to authenticity and feeling. “However much the idea of what makes a song successful changes, it’s always emotions that win, and that will never change.”