As women, our lives have been consumed with patriarchal norms; norms that identify women as mere objects or emotionless humans. How many times have you been gawked at just because you are a woman? How many times have you seen a man staring at you lecherously? We have all lost the count, haven’t we?
Maa Behan Ka Danda [MBKD] — sung and produced by an all-female band Garam Anday — is an anthem for strong women who stand up for what is rightfully theirs but also a wake-up call for women who are still intimidated by patriarchy.
MBKD sheds light on everyday life instances where men make women uncomfortable and conveniently get away with it. The song begins with women who are forcefully being submerged in basins filled with water and are seen gasping for breaths. Four women are seen wearing white, representing the societal expectation of women to be pure and submissive. Two women, sitting inside a broken car have their mouths tied with a cloth; representative of how women are expected to stay quiet and conform to societal norms.
However, the rest of the music video is in entire contrast with the prologue. The video shows women expressing their anger, letting out years of built-up frustration. A young girl who is seen sitting at a roadside chai dhaba is being lecherously stared on by a young man sitting behind her. This man — who is seen making innuendos — represents many men of our society who feel a sense of entitlement when they see a woman; they must make her feel uncomfortable. The song is a celebration of strength that women have within them so the girl gets up and next thing we see is this man’s eyes being pulled out.
The pop-rock music, the striking electric guitar chords and the slamming sound of the drum add to the angst being portrayed by the women in the video which also sheds light on the special treatment sons receive in South Asian households. One scene, for instance, shows two siblings sitting at the table to have lunch. However, the mother serves food to the son only and is seen patting his back. This angers the daughter and she turns over the table, attacking her brother with a fork.
The women are also seen wearing androgynous clothes and claiming public spaces just like men while the video also features the famous Pakistan Chowk mural of Qandeel Baloch which was painted by another female group Girls at Dhabas which is working towards reclaiming public spaces for women.
Lyrics like “haramion ke badshah, lafangon ke sardar, jhoota tera moun, jhoota tera pyaar” and “ghour se suno meri baat, ab band teri pooja paat, phirta hai bann ke mijaazi khuda, k—- ka bacha line pe aa” depict the plight of women in a male dominant society. This song is an ode to the woman of today who is constantly thriving to be the voice of reason for the weaker ones, claiming public space and being unapologetic for being a woman.
This fun yet impactful and catchy song was indeed the need of today. It is about time women are heard and not treated as subservient beings, it is about time women know the power and strength they endure.
Watch the one of a kind music video and let us know what you think:
