MUMBAI: The controversy with alleged song of Yo Yo Honey Singh’s "Main hun balatkari," (I am a Rapist) rakes up the issue of what can be allowed as an artistic self expression and what is a blatant attempt to get notoriety or stir up controversy.

In the West, pop music and its off-shoots have had to deal with controversies for decades- from songs with innuendo and double entendre lyrics ( ‘Sympathy for the Devil’- the Rolling Stones, ‘Shake Rattle and Roll’- written by Jesse Stone and first performed by Big Joe Turner), to direct and confrontational material from rap and heavy metal artists.

So much so that in 1985, the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) with the National Parent Teacher Association (National PTA) and the Parents Music Resource Center (PMRC) introduced Parental Advisory stickers on covers of albums with controversial or explicit content.

While some are undoubtedly commentaries on the socio-economic fabric of the environment, others are aimed at creating notoriety and fame from controversies.

In India, the controversies from suggestive lyrics from Bollywood item tracks and indie songs are comparatively still very tame.

The question is: how do radio stations which play Western hits tracks on air- many of them with controversial and explicit lyrics- take a call on popular songs with controversial lyrics.

Radioandmusic.com gets an inside view with Hrishikesh Kannan popularly known as “Hrishi K” producer cum radio host 94.3 RadioONE on how the issue is handled by his station.

Excerpts:

How do you/your station take a call on a hit number; which has lyrics that might not be considered 'suitable'?

Swear words are a complete ‘No, No’. We beep it out if the tune is popular and deserves airplay else we avoid the song altogether.

Do you feel RJ and stations have social responsibilities? Or that would be beyond the brief?

We are 'radio hosts' at 94.3 RadioONE, in contrast to 'RJ's at conventional Bollywood stations. We have a huge sense of social responsibility. Every week the guest list of my show has instruments of social change- environmentalists, thinkers, writers, citizens’ welfare organizations and NGOs working relentlessly at the grass root level. I personally take great pride as producer and radio host of our flagship breakfast show to take great care on who or what we put out on my show so we are sensitive to our listeners sensibilities.

With recent suggestive Bollywood item numbers and Honey Singh's controversial Balatkar song, Do you think India will have more controversial lyrics from artists?

Every era always has its rebels. Some attract attention on purpose with their blatant and risqué song writing. Therefore in between the musicians and singer songwriters who attract the audience’s attention through great melody or rhythm in this day and age comes a Honey Singh* who is trying to shock us to gain ears and eyeballs. As the father, son and a husband, I don’t approve but that’s a personal opinion. So I don’t think this era will have anymore vulgar lyrics than the previous era did ('Sarkaylo Khatiya' and' Lotan Kabootar' in the 80s).

Where do you think one can draw a line between writing 'angry' or 'incisive' lyrics and those who try and use abusive language to get mileage?

There is a dividing line between expressing anger a la Eminem and using pornography in words a la '2 live crew'. Artists have got to reflect internally when they immerse themselves in their art- Is what I'm doing going to have adverse affects? Everyone has a conscience. We just need to tap into or use that conscience.

Does the moral policing and outdated laws prevent artists in India or the audiences from expressing themselves?

More than the authorities it’s the moral policing brigade. It’s people like you and me who make a mountain out of a molehill for individualistic reasons. Sometimes I wish this brigade were more tolerant and took some things like on- air comedy or quick repartee with a pinch of salt or be more sporting as regards tongue in cheek humour. Often we get self appointed crusaders complaining to us about perfectly sane things. But one has to live with it. One man’s medicine is another man’s poison.