Chutney Music

Rasika Dindial’s song “Barki Bhun Bhunai” (2017) follows a common narrative found in chutney music. Featuring vocals from Ravi B., Dindial sings from the perspective of a young woman living in a traditional joint family home with her in-laws. She is commenting about the married life and domestic quarrels taking place between her “barka” (husband’s elder brother) and “barki” (husband’s elder brother’s wife). Her sister-in-law becomes upset by her brother-in-law’s wandering eyes for a young lady. She resorts to not speaking or cooking and cannot sleep, while he does not see the harm in what he perceives to have just been a harmless joke.