From rallies to reels: political catchphrases turn dance anthems in Kolkata
In a video uploaded to X by IndicSociety, club goers in Kolkata are seen dancing to the song ‘Hamba Hamba’ at Roots, a nightclub in the city. ‘Hamba Hamba’, an imitation of cow mooings taken from Mamata Banerjee’s speech in Murshidabad ahead of the 2021 West Bengal Legislative Assembly elections, has now been remixed into a techno number that has the city dancing, especially after the defeat of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) in the 2026 West Bengal Legislative Assembly elections.
The song was uploaded on Apple Music, JioSaavn and Spotify in January 2024 by Bajania Ghar, a music production house whose Instagram bio describes it as “a music production house dedicated to discovering and revitalizing new, raw singing and songwriting talents from across the country.”
Over the past few years, Bengal’s political soundscape has given rise to a strange but sticky new genre: political techno remixes built on repetitive choruses, meme-friendly punchlines and danceable beats, often remixed by local DJs and amplified through reels and short-form videos. The trend probably started in 2021 with the Trinamool Congress anthem Khela Hobe (let the games begin), written by youth leaders Debangshu Bhattacharya and remixed by DJ Bulbul. Originally adapted from a slogan popularized by Bangladeshi politician Shamim Osman, the phrase quickly escaped politics and entered everyday speech. Since then songs like ‘Hamba Hamba’, ‘Mach Chor’ (fish thief) and ‘File Chor’ (file thief)They followed a similar template, using catchy hooks and direct political sarcasm to quickly circulate on social media.
A screenshot from the original ‘Khela Hobe’ music video released by Bengal Newscast ahead of its remixed version by DJ Bulbul in 2021. | Photo Credit: Bengal News Broadcast
Arkaprabha Mahata, a software development engineer, is an avid listener and appreciator of Electronic Dance Music (EDM). Arkaprabha, a fan of acid and minimal techno popularized by Belgian DJ Charlotte de Witte, says she has been enjoying the song ‘Hamba Hamba’ for a while and explains why. He says: “So basically the words ‘hamba hamba rumba rumba kamba kamba’ — all these words are placed between two beats. Now, in any techno track, there is usually a supporting melody or rhythm behind each beat, and in this particular song, these words, along with their rhyme scheme, fit perfectly into that structure and work very well together.”
A screenshot from the song ‘File Chor’ uploaded to Youtube by BanglaHunt in May 2026. | Photo Credit: BanglaHunt
The Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) released tracks like ‘Mach Chor’ and ‘File Chor’ before and after its landslide victory in Bengal on May 4, He is targeting some former ministers and TMC members.
Indrayudh Bose, an MBA graduate from Trinity College Dublin, says he shared the BJP’s latest song ‘Thanda Thanda Cool Cool Mayer Bhoge Trinamool’ (calm and cool Trinamool offered to the goddess) with his friends as soon as he heard it on Spotify.
Indrayudh explains that many people who dance to or enjoy these songs are not necessarily affiliated with the political ideology of the party behind them. “I think it’s just a really catchy melody and the lyrics are hilarious. Like ‘Khela Hobe.’‘ It turned into a hymn that came out in 2021 (game is on) and we brought it up in every conversation. Even when discussing Derby, East Bengal and Mohun Bagan, people were saying ‘khela hobe’. So this phrase is not because people like Mamata or TMC. And the same thing in 2026, the BJP realized that one way to get into the minds of people who might not subscribe to the ideology – especially the “thanda thanda cool cool mayer bhoge Trinamool” that I share with my friends – objectively has no head or legs. Something really funny and wonderful caught my attention,” says Indrayudh.
A screenshot from the song ‘Thanda Thanda Cool Cool Mayer Bhoge Trinamool’, uploaded by Avijit Mondal on Youtube along with many other creators in May 2026. | Photo Credit: Avijit Mondal
Giving support and afterlife to these songs is social media. Sohan Saha, a cybersecurity student specializing in ethical hacking, uploaded a video of himself and a friend dancing to the BJP song ‘Mach Chor’ (fish thief) on Instagram on May 5. The song targets Saokat Molla, a former TMC MLA. The video received 1.4 million views, 131,000 likes, 1,003 comments, 3,247 reposts and 77,800 shares as of May 21, 2026.
Sohan first heard the song on a friend’s mobile phone a week before the 2026 Bengal elections. “It didn’t hit me at first. After listening to it two or three times on Instagram reels, the repetitive hook stuck in my head and I felt it had something in it, a ‘vibe’. Later, I started hearing the song in buses, autos, totoos and roadside stalls. Even if we removed the party angle, the lyrics were so engaging and funny that it was relatable. Its catchy melody makes people move and dance. Techno songs made in Bollywood also have a repetitive melody and a catchy beat. Such beats is trending and makes you want to take action Instagram or YouTube Shorts are great for making these songs go viral.
After uploading the reel, Sohan gained more than 700 followers and comments poured in from users across different states of India praising the amazing number. Comments on the reel were as follows:aladai vibe” (“a different vibe”), “an absolute blast” and “this song deserved the Nobel”, as well as receiving both acclaim and critical response.
understanding satire
Discussing this new genre of satirical techno-infused remixes, political commentator and lyricist of the band Chandrabindoo, Chandril Bhattacharya, explains: “Earlier in Bengali protest songs, either a particular class was attacked or the songs were against the oppressor. During the Left Front rule, some songs centered around some mishaps and hence criticized the ruling party. But now the songs are directed, without any scope of suggestion, by naming and attacking certain parties or certain people and often crossing the boundaries of decency at the same time.” Lack of subtlety is not usually known to elevate art, so these songs walk a fine line, reflecting people’s attitudes but using vulgarity to become popular.
Chandril Bhattacharya | Photo Credit: Special Editing
Talking about their popularity, Chandril says, “These songs are gaining popularity today because we see an insulting culture being created on social media. It is admirable to insult others. At the same time, these songs provide an expression of valid anger against political leaders who abuse power. These songs also have a good level of skill and craft. They have crunchy punchlines, hummable choruses and catchy beats that make people dance.”
Next time you hear a familiar tune on the dance floor, jump in. Bengal’s political techno remixes seem to have escaped the campaign trail altogether, turning into memes, slogans and club anthems whose shelf life may far outlast the politicians who inspired them.
It was published – 21 May 2026 16:33 IST
