A makeshift kiosk owner displays Christmas carol CDs on Purulia Road in Ranchi on Tuesday. Picture by Prashant Mitra

Ranchi, Dec. 23: Christmas carols are being sung, but their cadence is muted. And so, local music companies are not happy.

Unlike previous years when their business usually peaked around this time, thanks to the demand for CDs and cds of Christmas carols in regional languages, there are very few takers this year. The market meltdown, Mumbai terror attacks, not to forget the Church’s directive to keep the celebrations a low-key affair in view of the attacks on Christians in Orissa have cast a shadow on the festive fervour.

This year, 12 new CDs and cds have been launched in the market, but only a few are doing brisk business. The CDs and cds are available in regional languages such as Oraon, Mundari, Kharia, Khorta and Nagpuri. Some of them are Janam khabar janam sandesh in Nagpuri, Janam khabar and Yesus kunduras in Oraon, Jhoom uthe dharti re dharti kar raja in Sadari, Nanha tara in Sadri and Masih kar sandesh in Kharia among others. The price ranges between Rs 32 and Rs 50. A survey carried out by the music companies revealed that only a couple of CDs received good response, while the others flopped.

“There had been a great demand for Christmas cds for the past 15 years, but this year, the scenario has suddenly changed due to the economic crisis, the terror attacks and obviously, the Church’s directive. Hence, many people have refrained from buying cds and CDs. And of course, there is the piracy factor, too,” Bullu Ghosh, a music composer, rued. “A survey carried out by us revealed that there was cent percent sale of a new CD called Pavitra Tara, but another one, Nanha Tara, failed to create a flutter,” Ghosh added.

An employee of Rajdhani cassette company, Md Sarid, said they have launched 20,000 CDs. “Last year, we had made 40,000 CDs. There is no doubt that the popularity of CDs in regional languages is increasing, but this year, the sale has not been good. Piracy has also ruined our market to a certain extent,” the employee said.

The scene was same everywhere. “We have sold just 100 copies of the Janam khabar janam sandesh that has seven songs in Nagpuri and costs Rs 32. Last year, we had almost sold 500 copies of various CDs. This year our business has gone down,” said Kundan Baraik, the owner of a makeshift kiosk called Neha Cassette Centre.

“Every day, we are selling just one or two copies of the CDs in regional languages. The number of buyers has definitely come down, while CDs in Hindi and English of last year’s stock have not been sold at all,” Baraik added. However, those who came to buy the regional CDs were impressed with the vast collection at the shops.

One such customer, Prakash Oraon, who was seen purchasing Janam khabar janam sandesh, said he was happy to see that CDs were being sold in regional languages.

“Earlier, the market was only flooded with cds in Hindi and English, but the quality was poor. This year, not only carols in regional languages are available in CD format, the quality is better, too,” he said.

The owner of another makeshift kiosk, Ajay Khalkho, said though people were liking Yesus Kundurus that costs Rs 40, the number of buyers is less. “We have sold only 400 CDs in the past one month. Some CDs in Sadri language called Merry Christmas were also sold,” Khalkho said.

To cater to the tribal youngsters, Salem Group has introduced CDs on Xmas mega remix that comes for Rs 50.

“We launched the CD keeping in mind the preferences of the youngsters, who love remix songs,” said Khalkho.