Himanshu Prasad Das And His Few Critical Questions

Himanshu Prasad Das is one of the most acclaimed dramatists of Assam from the present generation, who is known to choose unconventional topics for his plays and films.

His plays Ekhon Gaot Eta TV Asil and Shakira Ahibo Bokultol Bihuloi have left an everlasting impact on the hearts and minds of the audience.

Even the film adaptions of both the plays- Doorodorshon and Shakira Ahibo Bokultol Bihuloi have been successful in replicating the success of their respective originals.

Apart from being an actor-writer-director of substance, Himanshu Prasad Das is also known for his satirical yet socially relevant songs and videos.

His latest song Tarmuj (watermelon) is another such offering that touches upon the differences that exist in the society on the basis of religion, caste, creed, and colour.

Hatred and division are two of the most powerful weapons that break society into various fragments and the song aptly touches this point.

The song is based on an Assamese adaptation of a famous Hindi poem by the noted poet of humour and satire Saghar Khayyami.

The song focuses on the various aspects of religion (read Hinduism and Islam) and questions as (why and how) since when cows and coconuts became symbols Hindusim and goats and date that of Islam.

“The song is based on the Assamese adaptation of a famous poem by Saghar Khayyami. The Assamese adaptation has been penned down by Bitupon Gogoi,” said Himanshu while speaking to The Story Mug.

“I always had a desire to do something with the poem after I read the Assamese adaptation,” he further says.

“The driving force behind that insatiable desire has been the surrounding in which we are living in. What I have been noticing is that a well chalked out plan has been devised to divert us from the real issues and keep us engaged in the issues relating to language, religion, caste, creed, and colour,” he continues.

“We are being gradually concealed by a religious cover and these religious infightings have not done us any good. On the contrary, it has harmed us a lot,” he further says.

“Through this long, I have pinched myself and my reality in a satirical and a humorous way,” Das concludes.

Indeed, the song does ask some basic but strong questions and I am sure once you listen to it, you will also have simial questions knocking at you.

In no way does Himanshu Prasad Das maligns the image of any religion through the song. He just explores his inner self and questions his self-conscience.

WATCH THE SONG HERE