Hukus Bukus: Musical version of Kashmiri singer’s childhood memories is breaking the internet

Hukus Bukus, a Kashmiri folk song, generally hummed by grannies to cheer up kids, for ages, is finally breaking the internet in a new avatar.

It is thanks to local singer Aabha Hanjura, who went for a “funky makeover” of this traditional number and released the sparkling video on the internet, taking the social media by storm.

A perfect blend of beauty with a soul-grabbing voice, Aabha, in her 20s, has been winning the hearts of her listeners across the globe.

In this song, one-time Indian Idol contestant in the finals of 2005, Aabha strings together a series of Kashmiri lullabies, poems and profound verses into a groovy simulating melody which gets you foot-tapping.

This musical number aims at promotion of Kashmir by highlighting the richness of language and music of this Valley in the Himalayas.

A Srinagar native, Aabha was four years old when militancy erupted in the Valley and her family had to migrate to Jammu where she completed her studies.

Presently based in Bangalore, she speaks to this writer about Hukus Bukus and her unending love for Kashmir, something that continues to grow stronger despite being miles apart.

Q) Tell us something about your journey into the music industry.

Indian Idol was completely by chance in 2005 when my brother literally forced me to go for the auditions. I was just 17 at that time. Subsequently things changed.

After Indian Idol people started telling me that you really have a voice, and I started thinking seriously.

But frankly speaking, the moment I found purpose in my art, I took it seriously.

Otherwise earlier, as a child I would sing, but that time I never thought of becoming a singer.

Q) How did the idea of Hukus Bukus come up?

Hukus Bukus is a song that I really loved as a child. My grandmother used to sing it for me when I was a little kid. She would also sing bishtu bishtu biariyo. I have grown up listening to these.

So I was very inspired to make a fun version of this song. I believed that this is the song that brings happiness and memories, so it should be done in way that it instantly wakes up your mood.

If you listen to it in the morning, you should feel that your day will go fine because memories of my grandmother used to be like that. She would sing it for me in the mornings and that is what I have tried to replicate in this song.

Q) You have brought some changes in the lyrics?

It’s very old traditional poetry of Kashmir. To be honest, the lyrics are so old that nobody knows what the actual lyrics ever were.

I have given the lyrics my own twist. I have changed a few words here and there as its open to interpretation.

Q) You seem to be more inclined towards Kashmir folk music.

Actually I have been working and performing Kashmir folk music for many years now.

My performance at Indian Idol had brought a lot of success. But that kind of fame fades away really fast. And, I realised that I don’t want to get into promotional music for numerous reasons.

I took a different path. It looks like a glamorous profession but it’s a lonely journey.

I feel art needs to have some sort of purpose. If you have a purpose then you will feel motivated.

As for me, my inspiration came from Kashmir because after migration I would visit the Valley for short-holidays as my father was posted there in the postal department.

A visit to Kashmir was always inspiring. I had been listening to a lot of Kashmiri music, something that inspired me.

I really like the earthy folk instruments of the Valley. If you see the video of Hukus Bukus, I have collaborated with musicians from Kashmir, the Rabab artist and the Santoor artist.

I am always inspired to play ethnic music. Rabab and Santoor are part of our tradition which we cannot break.

Q) But then you have added instruments like guitar to your folk numbers?

Yes, that’s the idea. Kashmir folk music has to go forward. My idea is to create a new sound.

I believe it has to be modernised and contemporarised so that more and more people listen to it.

Take this Hukus Bukus, so many people who are not Kashmiri are also listening to this song. Music is really beyond language.

More importantly it’s my own perspective. It’s really personal. It may be right or wrong. But I have done it. But then as an artist, this is what I wanted.

Q) Kashmiri Pandits mostly speak of the pain of migration but you have added a new facet through your gala music.

I think these emotions are not something you put in black and white. There’s everything you feel as a human being. For me, I also feel pain but I also feel happily connected to my culture. And I don’t want to take that away.

I feel really bad as a Kashmiri Pandit or Muslim or Sardar or whatever. You know people talk about us only in a negative light. They start laughing at us.

Whatever they talk about is that they think of Kashmir with regard to two things: tourism or terrorism.

For them it’s either picturesque mountains or scary unrest.  There is a musical heritage to our language, which is not getting highlighted.

We hear a lot of Rajasthani or Punjabi folk music but people don’t even know that Kashmiri is a language. So we have a long way to go.

Q) What next with regard to Kashmiri folk?

My endeavour is to keep putting out music but it equally depends on support of listeners. Because as with regard to this album, it has no labels as I developed it as an independent artist. So listeners’ support is must for such endeavours.

Also read: Why is India failing to stop Kashmir's children from turning into militants?