What is that song about?: A psychological study of contemporary Hindi music

Pages:214-220
Anavila Lochan (Department of Applied Psychology, Shyama Prasad Mukherji College, University of Delhi, Delhi)
Sumangali Radhakrishnan (Department of Psychology, Jesus and Mary College, University of Delhi, Delhi)

Music is ubiquitous. The ongoing technological revolution in the field of music has made music easily and inexpensively accessible to millions of youngsters with access to internet and electronic devices like phones, walkmans, and computers. The present study aims at analysing popular songs Hindi songs to study themes around mental health and well-being in popular culture. The study is based on the thematic analysis of 20 most viewed Hindi songs, from recent times, on You tube. The analysis suggests 8 different themes such as living by the pleasure principle, inadequate processing and management of emotions, dependence on alcohol, normalisation of sexual assault and violence, gender stereotyping, obsession with brands, setting and operationalising unfair beauty standards, and nonchalance and power. A larger idea based on the themes implicating the impact of media (songs) on mental health and well being has been discussed.