Dear Editor,

People should not be confused with the music/melody of a song and the language in which the lyrics are sung.

Many will ‘sing’ along with Hindi songs because they love the beat or melody, and not because of the Hindi language that they don’t understand. Same goes for songs in other languages. Those songs would still be loved if the language in which they are sung is changed, unless it is revealed that the lyrics are crappy. It is the beat or melody /music that attracts many non-Hindi speaking listeners. Some have tried to twist this fact. They give the impression that it is the incomprehensible Hindi language that is attracting listeners, and have suggested that other ethnic groups in the country also listen to songs in a language that they cannot understand. That is silly.

What is being advocated is a change in language to one that listeners can understand, so that they can appreciate more than just the melody. It is hard to appreciate why one will insist on being spoken to, or sung to for that matter, in syllables that are incomprehensible. Switching to Swahili will introduce a similar foolishness. Language serves to communicate, and if it cannot do so then where is the wisdom in using it?

We should keep the lovely melody in the Hindi songs, but sing in a language that many more can understand.

Yours faithfully,

C Forde