A Bihu album that has been topping music charts in Assam

Guwahati, Dec. 28: Move over Shakira, it’s time for the Bihu girls to rule the music “screen”.

Bihu music videos have caught the imagination of music enthusiasts, unfortunately at the cost of the good old audio albums.

The numbers speak for themselves: Compared to over 250 Bihu audio albums released last year, this year the number has dwindled to just 50.

In comparison, Bihu music video albums have shot up from just around 30 two years ago to nearly 300 this year.

“People now want video albums and not just audio,” said Debo Barkataky, general secretary of the Assam Audio Cassette Producers’ Union.

With VCD players available for just Rs 1,000 or even less, people even in the rural belts are going for video albums.

The Bihu song industry is one of the biggest money-spinners in the state and December-January and March-April are the busiest months for producers when the two primary Bihus are celebrated.

Release of albums for the Magh Bihu season, for instance, begin by December 1.

“The new trend is changing the way we look at Bihu,” Barkataky added.

Jayanta Barkataky of the Jorhat-based NK Productions — one of the biggest audio production houses — said the production of audio albums has fallen by “at least 80 per cent.

“That is just an estimate as we have not looked at the figures. But the trend is clear,” he added.

For the music video industry, the growth in quantity has been directly proportional to quality. Compared to the amateurish productions a few years ago, Bihu videos are “now being made very artistically”.

“Moreover, the producers are roping in top filmstars and models for the Bihu videos. Naturally, these hold a special appeal for the people,” he added.

Whereas Zubeen Garg is the guest artiste in almost every album — Bihu singers like Krishnamoni Chutia of “Chal Gori” fame, Krishnamoni Nath, Rintu Saikia, Khagen Gogoi and Vitali Das are also in great demand.

Among filmstars, Ravi Sharma, Zarifa Wahid and Prastuti Parashar have featured in various music videos, boosting sales.

“King” of Bihu Khagen Mahanta, however, is not happy with the way things are shaping up. He is “aghast” at the way the new breed of singers and composers are taking liberty with Bihu tunes and rhythms.

“Bihu songs and dances are becoming more ‘filmy’ in style and substance. The original earthy flavour is gone,” lamented another veteran artiste.

But going by the popularity of music albums, it seems the trend is here to stay.

So come Magh Bihu, when the mejis (bonfires) are lit, they may well signify the last rites of the good old cassettes. Bihu “looks good” these days.