Chaar Botal Vodka

Song: Chaar Botal Vodka
Performer: Yo! Yo! Honey Singh
Release Date: Feb 25, 2014 (YouTube)
Film: Ragini MMS 2

One of the highlights from the pre-release publicity campaign for the critically acclaimed Ragini MMS 2 was the song Chaar Botal Vodka, performed by Yo! Yo! Honey Singh (henceforth referred to as YoYo). Once again bringing to the table his unique ability to highlight issues that the common people of India are afflicted with, YoYo dispassionately discusses both sides of the argument around whether a ban should be imposed on government owned liquor stores in Kerala.

The song begins with YoYo taking up the cause of the worker who fronts these liquor stores. With lyrics that are bound to elicit strong emotions from listeners, the worker prostrates himself in front of the decision-makers, and recounts how his livelihood depends on the freedom to sell four bottles of Vodka a day.

Chaar botal Vodka

Kaam mera roz ka

Na mujhko koi roke

Na kisi ne roka...

Before your brain can settle, YoYo in trademark Honey Singh fashion, presents the counter-argument in the very next verse in which he highlights the dominant culture of over-consumption amongst many in the state.

Main rahoon saari raat in the bar

Daaru piyun lagaatar

Ek aadhi sab pee lete hain

Main to piyun botal chaar

Never one for facile analysis of complex issues, YoYo then highlights his mental acuity by not committing to the common pitfall that all guilt lies in the drink and none in the drinker. With seemingly simple yet actually profound lyrics, YoYo encourages you to entertain the possibly improbable yet definitely possible explanation that the drinker is in fact a masochist who craves not the high but rather the hangover.

I want a hangover tonight

I want a hangover tonight

I want a hangover tonight

I want a hangover tonight

The beauty of the song lies in the tact with which YoYo, on realizing that the listeners are being swayed towards one train of thought, quickly balances the scales by reintroducing them to the plight of the soon-to-be-unemployed worker at the liquor store.

Chaar botal Vodka

Kaam mera roz ka

Na mujhko koi roke

Na kisi ne roka...

YoYo then slips into the zone he is most comfortable in – that of the responsible adult who admonishes youngsters who drink too much. But at the same time, YoYo ensures that the decision-makers don't cite these drunkards as a reason to shut down shops by highlighting the importance of alcohol sales to the wellbeing and profits of another indigenous industry – one that makes lemonade.

Saari raat daaru, subah nimbu-paani

Party karne waalon ki hai yehi kahaani

Having satisfied the capitalists, YoYo goes on to satirize how some of these youngsters don't respect the privacy of couples at the club, and eve-tease unassuming ladies.

Pet bhar ke jitni bhi pee lo

Kisi ki bandi ko bhi hello

Hello baby how do you do?

Ek minute ko khad jaa tu

He describes how despite their unkempt, rustic nature, these hooligans are often perplexed by why no girl would go out with them, and tacitly takes a jibe at them by highlighting how a little introspection would go a long way.

Pata ni mujhe yeh samajh ni aata

Mere saath kabhi koi club nahi aata

Apne palle se koi ni pilaata

Main pee loon zyada phir koi munh ni lagata

Kyun ki, kyun ki, kyun ki, kyun ki...

YoYo then tries to tell the authorities that a simple ban would not deter the alcoholic by citing the example of a lecher who continues to gawk at girls despite having been punched in the eye on previous occasions.

Sooji-sooji aankhein meri yeh phir bhi dekho

Ladkiyon ko kaise yeh nihaarein, nihaarein..

Agle din uthu main hangover me phir bhi dekho

Liver mera Vodka pukaare

The song ends with an insightful foreshadowing in which YoYo repeats the refrain several times to depict the helplessness of the worker whose cries are falling on deaf ears, as the government in the months that followed the song’s release, would go ahead and enforce the ban being discussed.

Chaar botal Vodka

Kaam mera roz ka

Na mujhko koi roke

Na kisi ne roka...

I was certainly won over by YoYo’s profound verses and nuanced handling of a complicated issue. How about you? Let me know in the comments. Cheers!