Arkaprabha Mahata, a software development engineer, has been an avid listener and appreciator of Electronic Dance Music (EDM). A fan of acid and minimal techno popularised by Belgian DJ Charlotte de Witte, Arkaprabha says he has been enjoying the ‘Hamba Hamba’ song for a while now and explains the reason why. He says, “So basically the words ‘hamba hamba rumba rumba kamba kamba’ — all of these words are in between two beats. Now, in any techno track, every beat usually has a backing melody or rhythm behind it, and in this particular song these words, with their rhyming scheme, fit perfectly into that structure and work very well together.” 

A screengrab from the ‘File Chor’ song uploaded by BanglaHunt on Youtube in May 2026.
| Photo Credit:
BanglaHunt

The Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP), following and preceding its landslide victory in Bengal on May 4, has released tracks like ‘Mach Chor’ and ‘File Chor’, aimed at certain former ministers and members of the TMC.

Indrayudh Bose, an MBA graduate from Trinity College Dublin, says that the moment he heard the BJP’s latest song, ‘Thanda Thanda Cool Cool Mayer Bhoge Trinamool’ (calm and cool Trinamool is on offer to the goddess), on Spotify, he shared it with his friends.

Indrayudh explains that many people dancing to or enjoying these songs do not necessarily subscribe to the political ideology of the party behind them. “I think it boils down to one really catchy tune and the lyrics are so funny. Like ‘Khela Hobe’ (the game is on), which came out in 2021, became a chant and we brought it up in every conversation. Even when I was discussing the Derby, East Bengal versus Mohun Bagan, people were saying ‘khela hobe’. So that phrase kind of caught on not necessarily because people liked Mamata or TMC. And the same thing in 2026, BJP also realised that a way to get into people’s heads who may not subscribe to the ideology — especially the one which I shared to my friends, ‘thanda thanda cool cool mayer bhoge Trinamool’ — objectively has no head or feet. It is just something really funny and groovy which caught my attention,” says Indrayudh.

A screengrab from the song ‘Thanda Thanda Cool Cool Mayer Bhoge Trinamool’ uploaded by Avijit Mondal amongst several other creators on Youtube in May 2026.
| Photo Credit:
Avijit Mondal

Giving these songs a boost and an afterlife is social media. Sohan Saha, a cyber security student specialising in ethical hacking, uploaded a video of himself and a friend dancing to the BJP’s song ‘Mach Chor’ (fish thief) on Instagram on May 5. The song is targeted at Saokat Molla, a former TMC MLA. As of May 21, 2026, the video has received 1.4 million views, 131,000 likes, 1,003 comments, 3,247 reposts and 77,800 shares so far.

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 got stuck in my head and I felt that it had something in it, it had a ‘vibe’. After that I started hearing the song in buses, autos, totos (three-wheeled public transport) and roadside stalls. Even if we take out the party angle, the lyrics were so engaging and funny it was relatable. The catchy tune makes people move and dance. Nowadays in the techno songs made in Bollywood, they have a repetitive hook as well and a catchy beat. These kinds of beats are trending and make you want to move. Instagram or YouTube Shorts are great for making these songs go viral.”

After uploading the reel, Sohan gained more than 700 followers, with comments pouring in from users across different Indian states praising the groovy number. The reel attracted comments such as “aladai vibe” (“a different vibe”), “an absolute banger” and “this song deserved a Nobel”, alongside both appreciative and critical reactions.

Understanding the satire

Discussing this new genre of satirical techno inflected remixes, Chandril Bhattacharya, a political commentator, and lyricist for the band Chandrabindoo, explains, “Earlier in Bengali protest songs, a certain class would be attacked or songs would be against the oppressor. During the Left Front rule, some of the songs centred around some mishaps and thus criticised the ruling party. But now songs are directly, without any scope of suggestion, naming and attacking specific parties or specific persons and often crossing the limits of decency. That forms the core of their appeal, at the same time a lack of refinement is not usually known to enhance art. So these songs are treading a thin line, they reflect people’s attitude but they use crudeness to become popular.”

Chandril Bhattacharya
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

Speaking of their popularity, Chandril says, “In today’s age these songs are gaining popularity because we are seeing the creation of a culture of insult-flinging on social media. Humiliating others is creditable. At the same time these songs give vent to a lot of valid anger against the political leaders who abuse power. These songs also have a good level of skill or craft. They have crunchy punchlines, hummable refrains and catchy rhythms that make people dance.”

The next time you hear a familiar tune on the dancefloor, jump right in. Bengal’s political techno remixes seems to have escaped the campaign trail altogether, evolving into memes, catchphrases and club anthems whose shelf life may well outlast the politicians who inspired them.