State's music struggles for recognition amid lack of promotion, resources
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Despite having deep-rooted tribal and folk traditions, the state's music scene remains mostly confined to seasonal festivals, local events and on the fringes of digital platforms.
Singers and music experts from the state say the reasons for this setback are manifold. Among them, poor presentation, language limitations, financial constraints and lack of promotional strategy are the biggest roadblocks preventing the state's music from reaching national or global audiences.
Monika Mundu, a Nagpuri singer and practising since 1989, emphasises that even though the contents and melodies of the state songs are rich, the way they are packaged and presented remains outdated. "Our songs have the soul and stories, but they lack presentation. Today's generation connects with looks and sounds that are trendy. Unless we upgrade the production quality and visuals, we will stay behind. Our music evolved and is now gaining some national recognition, says Monika, who has sung songs like 'Ab Jago Jharkhandi' among others.
According to Monika, most local artists in the state struggle to find producers, who are willing to invest in such enhancements, unlike Punjabi or Bhojpuri songs that invest heavily in high-quality videos, catchy choreography and promotional teasers.
Other artists say the impediment is also because of the language factor as most tribal and regional songs from the state are composed in Nagpuri, Kurukh, Mundari, Kharia or Ho languages that are spoken primarily in the state or by small tribal populations in neighbouring regions.
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Suman Gari, a Nagpuri singer, says, "There's a beauty in our languages, but they are less understood, hence shared less. When people don't understand the lyrics, they move on. We need subtitles, translations and more fusion content to widen the appeal."
The artists also highlight that while Bhojpuri and Punjabi singers easily get platforms through private music labels, most tribal singers in the state work without any organisational support.
Manish Sony, another singer, says, "Finances are a constant hurdle. We can't even afford proper studio time or professional instruments. Most of us borrow, record at makeshift setups and release songs on YouTube without any ad support. How will we compete with Bhojpuri singers who spend lakhs on a single track?"
Experts and cultural promoters also agree that the state lacks a defined ecosystem for the music industry. Sanjay Kumar, the owner of Runiya Prem Films Production, says, "There is no proper infrastructure, production house or marketing agencies dedicated to regional music. In the absence of these basic elements, most artists don't know how to promote themselves."
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