Netflix Documentary Feature

Netflix approached us to be part of a documentary about Punjabi singer Hirdesh Singh, popularly known as Yo Yo Honey Singh. This opportunity emerged after we published our April 2022 article, “Exploring the Formation of Jat Masculinity in Contemporary Punjabi Music,” in Economic and Political Weekly Engage, which had sparked wide-ranging conversations across podcasts, interviews, and public forums.

Produced by Sikhya Entertainment, the team behind the Oscar-winning The Elephant Whisperers, the documentary sought our perspectives on Honey Singh’s music. We discussed how the misogynistic and aggressive lyrics in some of his songs contribute to the normalization of rape culture and provide it with cultural sanction.

This experience underscored the importance of expanding these dialogues beyond academic writing and into mainstream platforms. The original article is available on EPW Engage, and the documentary is currently streaming on Netflix.