‘Bambai Mein Ka Ba’ song: Manoj Bajpayee becomes the voice of poor migrant workers

Actor Manoj Bajpayee and director Anubhav Sinha have joined hands for the Bhojpuri song 'Bambai Main Ka Ba' with the aim of reviving Bhojpuri music. Whether they achieve their goal will be known by and by. But we can safely say the rap song is thought-provoking. 

Throughout the year, thousands of migrant workers arrive in Mumbai from states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar in search of employment. Many are forced to migrate alone, because of which they miss their families dearly as they struggle to make a living in the city. The lyrics of ‘Bambai Mein Ka Ba,’ written by Dr Sagar, throws light on the lives of such migrants and what they go through in Mumbai.

The song also highlights the issues such poor migrant labourers faced during the COVID-19 pandemic-induced lockdown earlier this year when, left without jobs and food, many were forced to return to their home states, some of them making the journey of over a thousand miles barefoot.

‘Bambai Mein Ka Ba’ sees Bajpayee performing at Mumbai Central station, from where most of the trains headed to India’s Hindi heartland depart, intercut with visuals of real migrant workers. The actor is in the groove and adds life to the song.

Bajpayee has also sung the song himself, though his rendition is more like dialogue recitation since it’s a rap song. Nevertheless, his performance works because of his sharp voice. Anurag Saikia’s music is catchy, though it is mostly the same melody repeated. Watch the song below: