The poll playlist/A beat and a ballot

As Tamil Nadu heads to the Lok Sabha polls, meet the voices behind popular political songs and party anthems who regaled audiences during the campaigns

Mirage and manifestos maketh the great Indian election.

For a whole month now, rappers Dinesh and RJ Prasath, better known by their stage name Comrade Gangstas, have contributed to this mirage by performing at street-side stages and grand public meetings. They sing in support of the INDIA Bloc, taking forward its left-aligned polity. Their songs, in praise of Periyar and Ambedkar and often critical of the Centre’s policies such as the Citizenship Amendment Act and violence based on religion, have gotten claps, whistles and sometimes absolute pindrop silence.

The legacy of propaganda singers is older than the free and fair democratic elections in India. These talented musicians sprout from the grassroots, have a sense of tune and are able to entertain restless masses who deserve breaks during lengthy political discourse. Over the years, the nature of the propaganda singer has changed. Today, they don colourful clothes, sing with backing vocals and even rap. Some stick by a larger governing ideology of the party they support. Others pen lyrics 10 minutes before their performance based on the parties that have recruited them.

One particular memory from this election campaign trail in 2024 has left Dinesh amused.

Just as these new-age singers began belting out rap songs at a public function in Purasawalkam last week, a host of women stood up and began dancing.

“We had campaigned in 2021 too, but had noticed that women usually did not take part in the dancing. However, this time they danced as though they were possessed. It looked violent and fun. They really let loose during our performance,” he says.

This was a well-attended public meeting with the likes of Tamil Nadu Cabinet Minister Sekar Babu, Chennai Mayor Priya Rajan and the Communist Party of India’s (Marxist) district secretary G Selva on stage. But the singers were asked to croon on despite their performance eating into the speakers’ time. “The minister said that everyone must enjoy,” he recalls.