KACHA BADAM IS A PEANUT, not an almond. That's the first thing Bhuban Badyakar, the “Kacha Badam hit-maker, clarifies when we meet. Peanuts are referred to as kacha badam in his native West Bengal, where the 52-year-old former dry-fruit seller hails from Kuraljuri village. A simple, salt-of-the-earth chap, Badyakar has worked a motley assortment of jobs - from farming on other people's land to selling vegetables. It's only in the last decade or so that the musician began selling the nut that would make him a sensation on the Internet.
Did he expect one of the songs he used to sing as a hawker to go viral? “I've no clue how or when it became famous, says Badyakar, who recalls the people in his village asking for an encore of his tunes as he went about selling his wares. The locals would whip out their camera phones and record his daily performance that comprised Badyakar stitching together words on the uses of peanuts, how to cook and eat them and so on, all hummed to a simple melody. One such video went viral earlier this year in January, and was followed by digital creators remixing the song on Instagram reels (they even added a dancing flourish to the tune). To Badyakar’s earnest surprise, “Kacha Badam” soon took the Internet by storm.
This story is from the May 2022 edition of RollingStone India.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the May 2022 edition of RollingStone India.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
anumitanadesan
The singer-songwriter talks about her first Malayalam film song, her upcoming debut abum and working across genres and languages
amrit ramneath
Understanding the interplay between abiding by tradition and progress is no new feat for this 25-year-old composer
yashraj
With chart-topping collaborations with seasoned veterans, this rapper has consistently been in the conversations of industry observers
dǝbzee
The 'Malabari Banger' hitmaker shares exclusive insights on his upcoming projects, life, and his vision for the future of music in India
taba chake
The Arunachal Pradesh-based singer-song-writer discusses how his latest song \"Kahani\" reflects the power of love songs.
ranj x clifr
The Bengaluru singer-composer and producer duo may not be done with hip-hop, but they are venturing into pop, R&B and Tamil songs next
RESHAPING THE FUTURE OF MUSIC
How digital collectibles, especially for live events, have a tremendous potential
Evnne On 'Un: Seen,' Their 'Seen,' And 'Unseen' Sides
The Band Discusses How A Setback Early In Their Career Spurred Them On And How They Fused Those Experiences With Their Sound In Their Second Mini Album, ‘Un: Seen
kayan
Between fandoms and aesthetic-setting live shows, artist Ambika Nayak talks about wanting to put out an album
anoushka maskey
Taking her “self-organized” Sunny Side Tour across the country, the Sikkim-origin artist is prioritizing consistent releases and exploring bossa nova next