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{{Short description|Hindutva music genre}}
{{pp|small=yes}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2025}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2025}}
{{Infobox music genre
| name = Hindutva pop
| other_names = H-Pop
| stylistic_origins =
| cultural_origins = 1980s – 1990s, [[India]]
}}
'''Hindutva pop''', often referred to as '''H-Pop''', is a genre of [[Indian pop|Indian pop music]] that promotes [[Hindutva]], a [[Hindu nationalism|Hindu nationalist]] ideology. The music has become increasingly popular in the 2010s and 2020s and frequently includes [[Islamophobia|Islamophobic]] lyrics.<ref name=":14">{{Cite web |date=2023-01-30 |title=India: Soundtrack of hate |url=https://www.dw.com/en/india-soundtrack-of-hate/video-64544108 |access-date=2023-01-31 |website=DW |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Rehbar |first=Quratulain |date=2022-06-02 |title='Hindutva pop': The singers producing anti-Muslim music in India |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/6/2/hindutva-pop-the-singers-producing-anti-muslim-music-in-india |access-date=2023-01-31 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en}}</ref> The songs have sometimes been played on loudspeakers by Hindutva groups during [[Violence against Muslims in India|violent attacks on Indian Muslims]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite magazine |last1=Zaffar |first1=Hanan |last2=Pandit |first2=Danish |date=2022-12-20 |title=Hindutva Pop: the Soundtrack to India's Anti-Muslim Movement |url=https://time.com/6242156/hindutva-pop-music-anti-muslim-violence-india/ |access-date=2023-01-31 |magazine=Time |language=en |archive-date=4 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231004120312/https://time.com/6242156/hindutva-pop-music-anti-muslim-violence-india/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

== History ==

=== Roots ===
In the 1980s and 1990s, the [[Ram Janmabhoomi|Ram janmabhoomi]] movement distributed audio-cassette tapes that included Hindutva speeches intermixed with music. One was entitled "Mandir ka nirman karo" ("Build the temple").<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":25">Callen, Jeffrey. 1999. [https://ethnomusicologyreview.ucla.edu/sites/default/files/prevol9.pdf "Ram's Chariot: Popular Culture, Music, & the Hindu Nationalist Movement."] ''Pacific Review of Ethnomusicology'' 9 (1): 27-45.</ref> Despite some of the tapes being banned by the authorities, many copies were sold. The tapes have been credited with contributing to anti-Muslim violence.<ref name=":25" />

Hindutva pop, including the music of Laxmi Dubey and Prem Krishnavanshi, became increasingly popular after the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] (BJP) came to power in 2014 and [[Narendra Modi]] became Prime Minister.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Zaffar |first=Hanan |date=2022-08-26 |title=How India's 'Hindutva pop' stars use music to target Muslims |url=https://religionnews.com/2022/08/26/how-indias-hindutva-pop-stars-use-music-to-target-muslims/ |access-date=2024-09-07 |website=Religion News Service |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite web |date=2019-12-01 |title=Hindutva pop singer Laxmi Dubey spreading hate in India |url=https://www.arabnews.com/node/1592136/world |access-date=2024-09-08 |website=Arab News |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":11" /> A few years later, [[Yogi Adityanath]], accused of inciting violence, and [[Pragya Singh Thakur|Sadhvi Pragya]], accused of participating in the [[2008 western India bombings|2008 Malegaon Blasts]], were elected to government office. Professor Anirban K. Baishya has pointed to these events as examples of the "mainstreamization" of Hindutva ideals and imagery that have contributed to the increasing popularity of Hindutva pop.<ref name=":6" /> Similarly, Professor Badri Narayan has stated: "Hindutva has changed in the common sense. People have a sense of history and it reaches more popularity through music.”<ref name=":13" />

In 2015, a Muslim man was [[2015 Dadri lynching|lynched in Dadri, Uttar Pradesh]] for allegedly eating beef. The arrests of 18 men in connection with the crime were resented by many local residents. This incident and the 2017 election of Yogi Adityanath contributed to the increasing popularity of Upendra Rana, a local Hindutva pop singer.<ref name=":13" /><ref name=":18" />

In February 2019, a [[2019 Pulwama attack|suicide bomber]] killed 40 [[Paramilitary forces of India|Indian paramilitary soldiers]] in the Pulwama area of Kashmir.<ref name=":12">{{Cite book |last=Purohit |first=Kunal |title=H-Pop |publisher=HarperCollins |year=2023 |location=Gurugram, Haryana |chapter=An Introduction to Kavi Singh}}</ref> Kavi Singh credits the attack with inspiring her Hindutva pop music career.<ref name=":11" /><ref name=":20" /><ref name=":21" /> She recorded a song, "Pulwama mein veeron ne jo jaan desh pe vaari hai" ("The Sacrifices by Our Martyrs in Pulwama"), which blamed [[Kashmiri Muslims]] for the attack and called to "finish off that traitor". After the song quickly went viral on WhatsApp, Singh recorded a music video which also went viral.<ref name=":12" />

=== Communal Violence ===
In April 2017, a [[Rama Navami]] procession in [[Gumla|Gumla, Jharkhand]] stopped in front of a mosque and played a Hindutva pop song, leading participants to chant Hindu slogans and provoking Muslims in the area. The police prevented an immediate escalation by stopping the music. A few hours later, some Hindu men who had attended the procession lynched a Muslim man, Mohammad Shalik, after seeing him with a Hindu woman.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Purohit |first=Kunal |date=2019-06-04 |title=In Jharkhand, Ram Navami celebrations have become weaponised sites of communal tension |url=https://scroll.in/article/925788/in-jharkhand-ram-navami-celebrations-have-become-weaponised-sites-of-communal-tension#:~:text=Irshad%20Khan%20knew%20there%20would,The%20halt%20made%20everyone%20anxious. |access-date=2024-09-07 |website=Scroll.in |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":23">{{Cite book |last=Purohit |first=Kunal |title=H-Pop |publisher=HarperCollins |year=2023 |location=Gurugram, Haryana |chapter=Introduction}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-04-08 |title=Muslim Man Killed In Jharkhand Allegedly Over 'Affair' With Hindu Girl |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/muslim-man-killed-in-jharkhand-allegedly-over-affair-with-hindu-girl-1678824 |access-date=2024-09-07 |website=NDTV.com}}</ref>

In April 2022, a Hindutva pop song by Sandeep Chaturvedi was played in [[2022 Karauli violence|Karauli, Rajasthan]], during a Hindu New Year celebration. The song threatens violence against "skull-cap wearers", i.e. Muslims. After the procession passed through a Muslim neighborhood, the worst [[communal violence]] in the city since [[Partition of India|Partition]] erupted, leading to damaged property, injuries of at least 35 people, and arrests of 29 people.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Iyer |first=Aishwarya |date=2022-04-11 |title='The day my blood boils': How songs incited hate at a Navratri rally in Rajasthan's Karauli |url=https://scroll.in/article/1021548/the-day-my-blood-boils-how-songs-incited-hate-at-a-navratri-rally-in-rajasthan-s-karauli |access-date=2024-09-07 |website=Scroll.in |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last1=Chaudhuri |first1=Pooja |last2=Xiong |first2=Yong |date=2023-03-08 |title=YouTube hosts Hindutva pop videos that violate its hate policies, auto-generates more |url=https://www.cjr.org/tow_center/youtube-allows-hindutva-pop-videos-that-violate-its-hate-policies-auto-generates-more.php |access-date=2024-09-07 |website=Columbia Journalism Review |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Ellis-Petersen |first1=Hannah |last2=Hassan |first2=Aakash |date=2022-04-18 |title='Hatred, bigotry and untruth': communal violence grips India |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/apr/18/hatred-bigotry-and-untruth-communal-violence-grips-india |access-date=2024-09-08 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Wahid |first=Saif Azam, Danishmand Khan and Abdul |date=2023-04-04 |title=Muslims suffer in the aftermath of 2022 violence in Rajasthan's Karauli |url=https://www.himalmag.com/politics/muslims-aftermath-of-violence-in-rajasthans-karauli |access-date=2024-09-08 |website=Himal Southasian |language=en}}</ref>

Around the same time in [[2022 Khargone violence|Khargone, Madhya Pradesh]], a Rama Navami procession played Hindutva pop outside a mosque before attacking and burning the homes of several Muslims.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":15">{{Cite news |date=2023-02-01 |title=German report on high price of 'Hindutva pop' |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/german-report-on-high-price-of-hindutva-pop/cid/1913424 |work=Telegraph India}}</ref> One of the music tracks was created for the event and mixed "Jai Shri Ram" chants with the sounds of a Hindu woman being attacked from the controversial film ''[[The Kashmir Files]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sharma |first=Supriya |date=2022-04-29 |title=How 'Kashmir Files' added to communal fires in Khargone that ended with bulldozer injustice |url=https://scroll.in/article/1022860/how-kashmir-files-added-to-communal-fires-in-khargone-that-ended-with-bulldozer-injustice |access-date=2024-09-08 |website=Scroll.in |language=en}}</ref> More than 24 people were injured in the violence.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-04-11 |title=10 houses burnt, many hurt in Madhya Pradesh city; curfew imposed |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/bhopal/10-houses-burnt-many-hurt-in-mp-city-curfew-imposed-7863135/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220411105441/https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/bhopal/10-houses-burnt-many-hurt-in-mp-city-curfew-imposed-7863135/ |archive-date=2022-04-11 |access-date=2024-09-08 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref>

In March 2023, a Rama Navami procession in [[Bihar Sharif|Bihar Sharif, Bihar]], burned several Muslim buildings, including a 110 year old library with historical texts.<ref name=":19">{{Cite news |last=Rehbar |first=Quratulain |date=2023-05-09 |title=Secularism up in smoke: Hindutva mob torches century-old madrasa and incinerates Indian pluralism |url=https://www.newarab.com/features/hindutva-mob-torches-madrasa-and-cremates-indian-pluralism |work=The New Arab}}</ref> Local residents reported that the mob played Hindutva pop songs,<ref name=":19" /><ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2023-04-01 |title=Mosque set on fire in Bihar town during Ram Navami procession |url=https://maktoobmedia.com/features/mosque-set-on-fire-in-bihar-town-during-ram-navami-procession/ |access-date=2024-09-08 |website=Maktoob media |language=en-US}}</ref> including one with the lyrics: "Kill them or send them to Pakistan".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Anwar |first=Tarique |date=2023-04-17 |title=Ram Navami Violence: How Bihar Sharif Saw the Communal Flare-up |url=https://www.newsclick.in/ram-navami-violence-how-bihar-sharif-saw-communal-flare |work=Newsclick}}</ref> According to the police, the attack was pre-planned via a WhatsApp group.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bihar Ram Navami Violence Was Planned On Social Media, WhatsApp: Cops |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/bihar-ram-navami-violence-was-planned-on-social-media-whatsapp-cops-3934476 |access-date=2024-09-08 |website=NDTV.com}}</ref>

== Themes and Content ==
H-pop songs often feature catchy dance beats, violent lyrics,<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4">{{Cite news |last=Schultz |first=Kai |date=2019-11-10 |title=India's Soundtrack of Hate, With a Pop Sheen |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/10/world/asia/india-hindutva-pop-narendra-modi.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210121075154/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/10/world/asia/india-hindutva-pop-narendra-modi.html |archive-date=2021-01-21 |work=The New York Times}}</ref><ref name=":6">{{Cite journal |last=Baishya |first=Anirban K. |date=2022-07-03 |title=Violent spectating: Hindutva music and audio-visualizations of hate and terror in Digital India |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14791420.2022.2099918 |journal=Communication and Critical/Cultural Studies |language=en |volume=19 |issue=3 |pages=289–309 |doi=10.1080/14791420.2022.2099918 |issn=1479-1420|url-access=subscription }}</ref> and low production values.<ref name=":16">{{Cite web |last=Joshi |first=Shamani |date=2019-08-26 |title=Songs in India's 'Patriotism Pop' Genre Are Urging Hindus to Claim Kashmir |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/songs-in-indias-patriotism-pop-genre-are-urging-hindus-to-claim-kashmir/ |access-date=2024-09-08 |website=VICE |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":21">{{Cite web |last=Joshi |first=Nachiket |date=2024-02-25 |title='H-Pop': A cut-throat digital economy and deep-rooted hatred have fundamentally changed India |url=https://scroll.in/article/1064129/h-pop-a-cut-throat-digital-economy-and-deep-rooted-hatred-have-fundamentally-changed-india |access-date=2024-09-08 |website=Scroll.in |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":17">{{Cite news |date=2018-11-18 |title=Sing a song of saffron: How Hindutva is going pop |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/sunday-times/sing-a-song-of-saffron-how-hindutva-is-going-pop/articleshow/66671679.cms |access-date=2024-09-08 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref> The vocals are often auto-tuned<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":16" /> and performed by untrained singers.<ref name=":10">{{Cite news |last=Salam |first=Ziya Us |date=2023-06-14 |title=Hindutva pop: Selling hate through music |url=https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/hindutva-pop-selling-hate-through-music/article66967878.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230615113644/https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/hindutva-pop-selling-hate-through-music/article66967878.ece#selection-1299.265-1299.277 |archive-date=2023-06-15 |access-date=2024-09-08 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref name=":16" /> H-pop music videos have been described as "garish",<ref name=":10" /> "amateurish",<ref name=":6" /> and "poorly-synced";<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":16" /> they often feature weaponry<ref name=":9" /><ref name=":10" /><ref name=":13" /> and Hindu gods.<ref name=":8" /><ref name=":6" /><ref name=":17" /> Typically Hindutva pop songs are in [[Hindi]], but some have also been composed in other languages.<ref name=":13">{{Cite web |last=Matharu |first=Sonal |date=2022-03-19 |title='Ab hathiyaar uthao': A Dadri singer is firing up youth with Rajput-Hindutva DJ tracks |url=https://theprint.in/features/ab-hathiyaar-uthao-how-a-dadri-singer-is-firing-up-youth-with-rajput-hindutva-dj-tracks/878316/ |access-date=2023-01-31 |website=ThePrint |language=en-US}}</ref> Many songs feature the Hindu phrase: "[[Jai Shri Ram]]".<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":8" /><ref name=":17" /> Singers often wear Hindu symbols: including [[tilaka]],<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":6" /><ref name=":17" /> marigold garlands,<ref name=":13" /><ref name=":1" /> and [[Saffron (color)|saffron]] clothing.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":8" /><ref name=":6" />

Hindutva pop features a range of Hindu nationalist and anti-Muslim themes. Some songs praise BJP leaders like Narendra Modi or [[Yogi Adityanath]],<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" /> including songs urging fans to vote for Modi in the [[2024 elections in India|2024 elections.]]<ref name=":18">{{Cite web |last=Dutta |first=Taniya |title=India election: Hindutva pop fills the airwaves as PM Modi's party seeks another victory |url=https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/asia/2024/05/10/india-election-hindutva-music/ |access-date=2024-09-08 |website=The National |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":20">{{Cite web |last=Raj |first=Aiswarya |date=2024-04-21 |title=Singing the BJP's tune, the songsters taking the '400 paar' message to voters |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/political-pulse/bjp-message-singers-400-paar-9282779/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240421120623/https://indianexpress.com/article/political-pulse/bjp-message-singers-400-paar-9282779/ |archive-date=2024-04-21 |access-date=2024-09-08 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Purohit |first=Kunal |date=2024-04-13 |title=How Hindutva Pop Music Is Aiding PM Modi's Rise |url=https://www.outlookindia.com/art-entertainment/how-hindutva-pop-music-is-aiding-pm-modis-rise |access-date=2024-09-08 |website=Outlook India |language=en}}</ref> After Modi [[Revocation of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir|revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir]], there were songs celebrating the decision<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Purohit |first=Kunal |date=2023-11-20 |title=How Hindutva pop music is giving hate a soundtrack |url=https://frontline.thehindu.com/books/how-hindutva-pop-music-is-giving-hate-a-soundtrack/article67553452.ece |access-date=2024-09-07 |website=Frontline |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":7">{{Cite web |last=Purohit |first=Kunal |date=2023-11-17 |title=How 25-year-old 'Hindutva-pop' star Kavi Singh shot to fame with songs to stoke nationalism |url=https://scroll.in/article/1059026/how-25-year-old-hindutva-pop-star-kavi-singh-shot-to-fame-with-songs-to-stoke-nationalism |access-date=2024-09-08 |website=Scroll.in |language=en}}</ref> and songs about Hindus moving to Kashmir and marrying Kashmiri women.<ref>{{Cite web |title=India's 'patriotism pop' songs urge Hindus to claim Kashmir |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/8/22/indias-patriotism-pop-songs-urge-hindus-to-claim-kashmir |access-date=2024-11-18 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":16" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=2019-08-11 |title=The new K-pop |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/the-new-k-pop/articleshow/70622823.cms |access-date=2024-11-18 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref> Other songs glorify historical Hindu leaders<ref name=":1" /> or promote [[Caste|casteism]].<ref name=":8">{{Cite web |date=2022-10-08 |title=When lilting songs and music spread a particular brand of hate: Hindutva pop |url=https://sabrangindia.in/when-lilting-songs-and-music-spread-particular-brand-hate-hindutva-pop/ |access-date=2024-09-08 |website=SabrangIndia |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":9">{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2022-03-20 |title=Hindutva pop: The anthem of Yati Narsinghanand and others like him |url=https://www.siasat.com/hindutva-pop-the-anthem-of-yati-narsinghanand-and-others-like-him-2293689/ |access-date=2024-09-08 |website=The Siasat Daily |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":13" /> Some songs encourage Hindus to take pride in their religion or call for a [[Hindutva#Definitions|Hindu rashtra.]]<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":6" /><ref name=":18" />

Some songs threaten Muslims and mosques with violence,<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":6" /> often accusing Muslims of loyalty to Pakistan<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" /><ref name=":11">{{Cite news |last1=Islam |first1=Muheet UI |last2=Shakir |first2=Pirzada |date=2022-06-24 |title=Hindutva pop: The rise of India's hate music scene |url=https://www.newarab.com/analysis/hindutva-pop-rise-indias-hate-music-scene |work=The New Arab}}</ref> or warning against [[Love jihad conspiracy theory|love jihad]]<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":7" /> or decrying the [[demographic threat]] of Muslims.<ref name=":2" /> One of Laxmi Dubey's most popular songs includes the lyric: "Hindustan me rehna hoga, [[Vande Mataram]] kehna hoga" ("If you want to stay in India, praise the motherland").<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-01-20 |title=Sound and Fury: The voices creating aggressive Hindutva's soundtrack |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/express-sunday-eye/aggressive-hindutva-soundtrack-fury-internet-5545915/ |access-date=2024-09-08 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref> One popular song, Kavi Singh's "Agar chhua mandir toh tujhe dikha denge" ("Don’t Dare Touch the Temple"), threatens Muslims with violence if they touch or look at Hindu temples.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":9" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Shah |first=Shubhangi |date=2024-01-07 |title='Hindutva is good business and H-Pop stars know it' |url=https://www.financialexpress.com/life/lifestyle-hindutva-is-good-business-and-h-pop-stars-know-it-3357493/ |access-date=2024-09-08 |website=Financialexpress |language=en}}</ref> Another popular song, Sandeep Acharya's "Aabar Babar Ke Naam se Awadh Me Savchalaye Banwaunga" ("I'll get a toilet made in the name of Babur in Awadh")'','' references [[Babri Masjid]], a 16th century mosque that was destroyed in 1992. The video features images of people cleaning toilets and children defecating, while the lyrics threaten to make Muslims clean toilets.<ref name=":6" />

In one song, Prem Krishnavanshi addresses Muslims: "Insaan nahi ho saalon ho tum kasai, Bohot hua ab hindu muslim bhai bhai" ("You are not humans but butchers, enough of this Hindu-Muslim brotherhood”).<ref name=":8" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" /> In another song, Krishnavanshi praises BJP leader [[Yogi Adityanath]]. These two songs have been called "street anthems for right-wing supporters, who chant these verses while passing through Muslim dominated neighbourhoods".<ref name=":11" />
== Impact ==

=== Violence against Muslims ===
Hindutva pop has been credited with inspiring and normalizing violence against Muslims in India.<ref name=":0" /> Hindutva songs are sometimes played at religious gatherings that are followed by violent attacks on Muslim communities.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":5" /> H-pop has been compared to [[Radio Rwanda]] and [[Radio Télévision Libre des Mille Collines]],<ref name=":2" /> both [[Hutu Power]] radio stations active during the [[Rwandan genocide]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=‘Music to kill to’: Rwandan genocide survivors remember RTLM|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2020/6/7/music-to-kill-to-rwandan-genocide-survivors-remember-rtlm|website=Al Jazeera|access-date=2025-11-28|language=en|first=Mia|last=Swart|date=2020-06-07}}</ref> and [[Nazi songs]].<ref name=":1" /> Professor [[Brahma Prakash Singh|Brahma Prakash]] has stated that playing Hindutva pop "will move the mobs and make them participate in massacre. You don’t need an instigator to incite violence. You set the tone, you set the track and the hate will rock."<ref name=":1" /> Professor Anirban K. Baishya has argued that Hindutva pop probably doesn't "directly contribute to" violence, but it "normalizes hatred and dehumanization".<ref name=":6" />

However, some Hindutva pop singers have denied hating Muslims. Laxmi Dubey has stated that she only opposes Muslims who support Pakistan<ref name=":0" /> and that she respects all religions,<ref name=":24">{{Cite web |last=Anshuman |first=Kumar |date=2018-04-06 |title=The rise of the communal hate soundtrack in India |url=https://theprint.in/politics/the-rise-of-the-communal-hate-soundtrack-in-india/47672/ |access-date=2024-09-08 |website=ThePrint |language=en-US}}</ref> while Sanjay Faizabadi has stated that he only opposes terrorists.<ref name=":4" /> Prem Krishnavanshi has stated that he does not want to hurt Muslims,<ref name=":0" /> while Ved Vyas has argued: "Had my songs preached violence or hatred then riots would have taken place almost everywhere but nothing such has happened. No one has been harmed."<ref name=":11" />

=== Popularity ===
Hindutva pop music is especially popular within India's [[Hindi Belt|Hindi belt]] of Northern India, considered to be a Hindutva stronghold.<ref name=":1" /> Hindutva songs are frequently posted to YouTube, where some have been viewed millions of times.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":3" /> One popular Hindutva song by Laxmi Dubey, "Har Ghar Bhagwa Chayega" ("Every House Shall Turn Saffron"), has been played more than 65 million times online.<ref name=":0" /> As of May 2024, Dubey had around 500,000 subscribers.<ref name=":18" /> As of June 2023, Upendra Rana had 478,000 subscribers.<ref name=":10" />

== Response ==

=== YouTube ===
YouTube has been criticized for auto-generating Hindutva music videos and for failing to adequately moderate Hindutva pop music that violates its policies against hatred and violence.<ref name=":3" /> YouTube has removed various accounts and videos created by Hindutva pop singers such as Sandeep Acharya and Prem Krishnvanshi for violating their hate speech policies. However, their videos continue to be re-uploaded and re-mixed by other users.<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":3" /><ref name=":0" />

=== Government and Politicians ===
Singers like Laxmi Dubey and Upendra Rana frequently perform for politicians.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":10" /><ref name=":1" /> Dubey has stated: "We go wherever B.J.P. leaders invite us to perform. That’s because the B.J.P. is helping to propagate Hindutva."<ref name=":4" /> According to Kavi Singh, the BJP asked her to create a song to support Modi's re-election in 2024, and she regularly campaigns for BJP politicians.<ref name=":20" /> BJP politician [[T. Raja Singh|Raja Singh]] has played or performed Hindutva pop songs at his rallies,<ref name=":3" /><ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2022-04-12 |title=Hyderabad: Here's the hate speech BJP's Raja Singh was booked for |url=https://www.siasat.com/hyderabad-heres-the-hate-speech-bjps-raja-singh-was-booked-for-2307260/#google_vignette |access-date=2024-09-08 |website=The Siasat Daily |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Pasham |first=Deepika |date=2024-03-27 |title=What are 'Raja Singh songs', aka Hindutva pop, at the heart of recent communal clashes in Telangana? |url=https://thesouthfirst.com/telangana/what-are-raja-singh-songs-aka-hindutva-pop-at-the-heart-of-recent-communal-clashes-in-telangana/ |access-date=2024-09-08 |website=The South First |language=en}}</ref> while former BJP MP [[Dinesh Lal Yadav]] has recorded his own H-pop music video.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-06-01 |title=How the Bulldozer Travelled From Fringe Hindutva s Vocabulary to Modi s |url=https://m.thewire.in/article/communalism/bulldozer-justice-hindutva-fringe-modi/amp |access-date=2024-09-08 |website=thewire.in}}</ref>

In 2022, Prem Krishnavanshi was given an award by the [[Uttar Pradesh]] government for a song about Yogi Adityanath.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":8" /> A BJP spokesperson stated that the award was given for the song's artistic merit and that it was not an endorsement.<ref name=":18" /> The founder of ''[[Muslim Mirror]]'' has said that the government fully supports Hindutva pop singers.<ref name=":0" /> Professor Amir Ali has stated that H-pop "reinforces the electoral and political dominance of the BJP."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-01-17 |title=In India, chorus of anti-Muslim hatred grows louder with rise of H-pop |url=https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3248673/india-chorus-anti-muslim-hatred-grows-louder-rise-aggressive-hindutva-pop |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240117020509/https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3248673/india-chorus-anti-muslim-hatred-grows-louder-rise-aggressive-hindutva-pop#selection-2277.52-2277.110 |archive-date=2024-01-17 |access-date=2024-09-08 |website=South China Morning Post |language=en}}</ref>

The government and police have been criticized for not taking sufficient action to suppress H-pop or prosecute its singers for "promoting hatred between religious groups."<ref name=":10" /><ref name=":9" /><ref name=":5" /><ref name=":24" /> Some officers have attempted to control playlists at Hindu religious events to prevent violence.<ref name=":24" /><ref name=":23" /> Some officers have said that suppressing H-pop is challenging because of how easy it is to access and upload.<ref name=":24" /> Journalist Kunal Purohit wrote that the police sometimes ban the playing of music instead of trying to resolve the source of the problem.<ref name=":18" />

In 2019, four people were arrested for a viral YouTube music video after the police received multiple complaints.<ref name=":22">{{Cite news |last=Rashid |first=Omar |date=2019-07-26 |title='Jo Na bole Jai Sri Ram': Four arrested for composing and uploading 'hate song' |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/jo-na-bole-jai-sri-ram-four-arrested-for-composing-and-uploading-hate-song/article28725687.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200101165140/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/jo-na-bole-jai-sri-ram-four-arrested-for-composing-and-uploading-hate-song/article28725687.ece |archive-date=2020-01-01 |access-date=2024-09-08 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> The song was entitled: “Jo Na Bole Jai Shri Ram, Usko Bhejo Kabristan” ("Those who refuse to chant Jai Sri Ram should be sent to the graveyard").<ref>{{Cite news |date=2019-07-27 |title='YouTube uploads of Bhojpuri artist inflammatory' |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/cops-youtube-uploads-of-bhojpuri-artist-inflammatory/articleshow/70403718.cms |access-date=2024-09-08 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-07-26 |title=Varun Bahar, Singer of Controversial 'Bhejo Kabristan' Song Taken into Police Custody Amid Backlash |url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/varaun-bahar-singer-of-controversial-bhejo-kabristan-song-arrested-in-ups-gonda-2246467.html |access-date=2024-09-08 |website=News18 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Sharma |first=Betwa |date=2019-07-26 |title='This Is All About Hindutva,' Says Singer Of Jo Na Bole Jai Shri Ram |url=https://www.huffpost.com/archive/in/entry/varun-bahar-jo-na-bole-jai-shri-ram-video-youtube_in_5d3a3d43e4b0ef792e0a06b4 |access-date=2024-09-08 |website=HuffPost |language=en}}</ref>

In January 2023, [[Deutsche Welle]] produced a news report about Hindutva pop, calling it "soundtrack of hate"<ref name=":14" /> and featuring H-pop singers Sandeep Acharya and Prem Krishnvanshi. In response, a BJP spokesperson stated that her party has no connection to the singers and does not promote hatred. She recommended that anyone offended should file a police report against the singers.<ref name=":15" />
== See also ==
* [[Saffronisation]]
* [[National Socialist black metal]]
* [[White power music]]
* [[Racist music]]
* [[Hate media]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{popmusic}}{{Hindu nationalism}}{{Fascism}}
[[Category:Indian pop]]
[[Category:Incitement to genocide by the Hindutva movement]]
[[Category:Anti-Islam sentiment in India]]
[[Category:Hinduism-related mass media and entertainment controversies]]
[[Category:Political music genres]]
[[Category:Human rights abuses in India]]
[[Category:Persecution of Muslims]]
[[Category:Hate speech]]

Hindutva pop - Revision history

LouJ11418910501 at 02:13, 6 February 2026