Rewind, reconnect: Punjabi folk music makes a modern-day comeback

From Bajre Da Sitta and Bhabhi Meri Hoor Wargi or remixed renditions of Do Pall and Ik Meri Akh Kashni, chances are that you’ve heard these Punjabi folk songs while scrolling on Instagram lately. The aesthetic, sound and vibe of Punjabi folk culture are resonating more than ever - not just through trending reels but at intimate baithaks and home concerts too. Ahead of Baisakhi, we speak to people from the music industry on how the reimagining of rich Punjabi folk music is about reconnecting with the roots with a fresh perspective.
‘A collective movement to restore Punjabi folk culture’
Sunaini Guleria, an ethnomusicologist and the granddaughter of legendary singer Surinder Kaur, is collaborating with young musicians to add a fresh edge to old folk melodies. She says, “The idea was to add a groove to the Surinder Kaur and Prakash Kaur’s songs, without tweaking the tone of their voice. So, these artistes like Coach Sahb and Here Sarab created renditions that the young generation enjoyed and these versions trended on social media. There’s a collective movement to restore and celebrate Punjabi culture and Punjabiyat, and this revival of folk music is a vital part of that.”

Malini Arora, co-founder of Once Upon India, who curates baithaks in NCR, says, “At our Punjabi baithak, we were pleasantly surprised to see some audience members volunteer to help document these folk songs, contributing to the preservation movement. At these baithaks, we distributed songbooks to make the lyrics more accessible and help people connect.”

Love the idea of reimagining folk songs yet maintaining their sanctity: Akriti Kakar
I’m a true-blue Punjabi kudi, and I’ve grown up on these folk melodies. I love the idea of reinventing and reimagining folk songs yet maintaining their sanctity, else the current generation will miss out on these impeccably rich tunes that our culture owns. In my own independent music journey, I’ve rendered many folk songs in my own way, like Chitta Kukkad, Madhaniya, Mawaan Te Dhiyaan, Matthe Te Chamkan, Mehndi Ni Mehndi, Kaala Doreya, Aya Ladiye, Sui Ve Sui, Heer and many more.
Akriti’s folk faves
Ik Meri Akh Kashni
Mawan Te Dhiyan Ral
Heer
Madhaniya
Laung Gawacha

Revival is about reconnecting with our roots: Asees Kaur
Reviving Punjabi folk music is not just about preserving melodies of the past — it’s about reconnecting with our roots, celebrating our identity, and passing down the soul of our culture to the next generation. Being a new mom, I want to pass on the true essence of our culture to our younger generation.
Asees’ folk faves
Latthe Di Chadar
Mainu Heere Heere Aakhe
Ik Meri Akh Kashni
Bajre Da Sitta
Kala Sha Kala
Folk music never dies: Jasbir Jassi
Folk music never dies. It taps into the emotions of everyday human life. Rock, sufi, rap, jazz music sab folk music se hi nikla hai. Melody gyaan te emotion nu ek saath laan ton baad hi bandi hai (melody is made with the confluence of knowledge and emotions). Surinder Kaur, Asa Singh Mastana, Kuldeep Manak saab, Mohd Sateek saab’s voice continue to stay with us and will always do.
Punjabi folk music is inherently romantic: Paresh Pahuja
To go forward in anything, we have to look back a little. And that’s what we’re doing with music. Everything else eventually fades away but the lyrics, melody and stories stay. Punjabi folk music is so rich – lyrically and melodically. It’s inherently romantic, all kinds of romance. There’s so much spiritual love in it too. My exposure to folk music has been through legends like Gurdas Maan.

I’ve had the privilege of singing traditional songs passed down by my grandmother: Rene Singh
The resurgence of folk Punjabi music can be attributed to baithaks and social media. These platforms have provided a space for people to come together, share, and experience the richness of folk music. I’ve had the privilege of curating baithaks where I’ve sung traditional songs passed down from my grandmother and mother, which include many songs sung by Surinder Kaur and Prakash Kaur. The enthusiasm and response from the audience is a testament to the enduring appeal of folk music and the importance of preserving the same.