More than a laugh: examining the role of parody songs on Indian political discourse

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

This study investigates the emergence of political parody songs as a powerful medium of political communication in India. It looks at 18 parody songs by six creators from 2015 to 2025, focusing on their construction of political critique, use of rhetorical devices and the influence of intertextual elements. The analysis reveals that song creators subvert political authority by mocking leaders with playful nicknames, presenting policy failures as systematic features instead of aberrations and comparing the lived reality of the citizens with official narratives and political promises. Presenting English as a language of elite hypocrisy and Hindi as the language of authentic frustrations, these songs use irony, hyperbole and metaphors to make their sharp critique. Webs of meaning are created through intertextual references such as nostalgic Bollywood songs, catchy slogans and viral memes. These elements together create a mix that allows these parodies to reach millions of audiences and create counter-hegemonic narratives. However, the sophisticated cultural references in these parodies create an accessibility paradox that excludes the rural and non-English-speaking audiences they claim to represent. Moreover, by presenting all parties as equally corrupt, they risk promoting political cynicism instead of mobilising for social change. Contributing to the understanding of vernacular digital creativity in a postcolonial context, the researchers argue that YouTube enables new forms of political expression that powerfully document democratic decay but are still struggling to imagine alternatives.