Beyond the fascinating revelation that the pronunciation of the letter ‘K’ is influenced by the epiglottis, courtesy of Shah Rukh Khan, it’s noteworthy that words like ‘befizool’ and ‘befaltu’ are absent from the Urdu dictionary. Despite Urdu’s enduring influence in Bhopal, Bollywood and casual speakers have significantly altered the language. Consequently, the younger generation, from aspiring Urdu poets to social media ‘shayars,’ is embracing a version of Urdu that deviates from its original form, as reported by Indian media.
An interesting anecdote involves Gulzar’s experience during the production of Satya (1998). When lyricist Gulzar presented the lyrics of ‘Goli maar bhejey mein,’ the unit members were unimpressed. They favored the dummy lines written by composer Vishal Bhardwaj. Anurag Kashyap, the rookie in the team, conveyed this preference to Gulzar, who retorted, ‘Pehle GHam to bolna seekho,’ emphasizing the importance of correct pronunciation.
While one might expect a writer and filmmaker like Kashyap to grasp the intricacies of the language, the responsibility for delivering accurate lines falls elsewhere. Playback singers, however, lack this luxury. Unfortunately, incorrect pronunciation of Urdu words has become pervasive in Hindi film songs, tarnishing otherwise commendable efforts.
The decline in attention to phonetic norms began in the 1990s and continued into the new millennium. The trend is alarming, as professional singers often repeat the same mistakes across numerous songs. While deliberate mispronunciation may be warranted in certain scripts to match character traits, many errors lack justification.
The decline in correct diction is a crossroads for Hindi film songs, which have historically contributed to keeping Urdu alive among the masses. Despite lyricists predominantly using Urdu-heavy Hindustani, a significant number of singers lack proficiency in the language. Attention to details, such as the placement of the ‘nuqta’ in Devanagari script, could rectify these issues.
Contrary to popular belief, not all yesteryear greats were born into Urdu-speaking households. Many, including Manna Dey, polished their articulation skills through classical music training. The decline in correct diction can be attributed to the removal of Urdu from mainstream education, affecting people’s awareness.
The language itself is not in danger, but the script has suffered, leading to a decrease in correct diction. In the past, Urdu was part of mainstream education, and its sounds were ingrained in speech from childhood. The influence of cinema, with its vast reach, plays a significant role in shaping people’s understanding of pronunciation.
Gulzar, in a 2013 interview, highlighted the lack of Hindi and Urdu proficiency among new filmmakers and stressed the importance of precise pronunciation. Film titles with inaccurate spellings further contribute to reinforcing pronunciation fallacies.
The Hindi vs. Urdu debate is not new and dates back about a century. Linguist Ganesh Devy emphasized that reputable writers like Premchand and Amrita Pritam wrote in Urdu, regardless of their religious background. Urdu was widely spoken in regions like Punjab, Bihar, and Maharashtra, and not just by Muslims.
The historical context reveals that Urdu was the language of polite culture in North India in the 18th and early 19th centuries. The controversy over Hindi and Urdu as official languages in the 19th century laid the groundwork for the linguistic and religious dichotomy that eventually manifested in the Partition.
While the language debate continues, the decline in accurate Urdu pronunciation in Hindi film songs raises concerns about preserving the authenticity of this rich linguistic tradition.