Popular Punjabi songs glorifying violence, with suggestive and provocative videos accompanying them are becoming a trend, inviting protests from women's organisations and cultural groups from Canada and the U.S.

Concerns have been raised by cricketer Harbhajan Singh over Punjabi songs advocating violence and use of weapons recently found more support on, with Punjabi cultural and literary organizations in the US and Canada also speaking out against the "disturbing trend".

Last week, Ludhiana-based Punjabi Sahit Akademi had puts its weight behind Harbhajan for speaking out against the gun culture promoted in Punjabi songs.

"This resolution should be transformed into a revolution and should also be politically approved by you. Already, a lot of damage has been done and we need to fight it vehemently. We are 100% with you as Punjabi songs have never seen such a low as in the present era. Congratulations and good wishes for this brave and adequate step. Vishav Punjabi Sahit Academy endorses its support," said Harjinder Kang, general secretary of Vishav Punjabi Sahit Academy (Fresno, USA) in a message given to Gurbhajan Gill for the resolution passed by Punjabi Sahit Akademi, following a story carried by The Times of India.

The British Columbia Punjabi Cultural Foundation of Canada also lent its support to the cause, saying that they were against vulgar lyrics and singing.

Bassi, an eminent Punjabi writer from Surrey in Canada, was also supported by other members and writers, namely Mohan Gill, Jarnail Singh Sekha and Nachattar Singh Brar who all are also from Canada.

"As has been rightly suggested by my literary friends from all across the world, a legislation in this regard is a must," said writer Gurbhajan Gill.

Another writer Surjit Patar said such lyrics were targetted at the youth as the market and these were having an adverse affect on society.

"We need to put a curb on such songs and promote theatre that is doing a much better job."

Punjabi music is especially seen to be riding on violent lyrics. A recent hit, Gaddi moudan ge, by Mika celebrates hooliganism while Gippy Grewal's Gangster and Hathiyaar are about criminals and arms. K.S. Makhan's Badmashi and Preet Brar's Desi gun package violence as the new cool.

Parents of Yo Yo Honey Singh fans have been worried about the effect of his songs. In a 2007 track named Prostitute, he sings about having violent sex with a woman after forcing her to dance naked. Another song, Yaar Bathere, labels women as frivolous heartbreakers.

"New Punjabi pop songs are littered with words such as bandookan (guns) and daru (alcohol) and rap phrases like 'signal todah ge' (we'll break all rules) and 'chak laan ge' (we'll kidnap the girl)," says Punjabi singer Satinder Satti. But these songs, she fears, are the new youth anthems.

The apprehension is that the young will absorb these sentiments as the norm. "Over time, they will begin to take such acts and incidents casually," says Anubhuti Yadav, associate professor, new media, Indian Institute of Mass Communication, New Delhi. Yadav, who presented a paper on "Media violence and aggression among adolescents" at a Delhi University event in 2012, believes that exposure to sadism-laced lyrics could desensitise the youth to violence.

Honey Singh, with many chartbusters to his credit. Honey, whose songs are being enjoyed by both children and grown-ups, has some numbers whose videos have been age-restricted by YouTube. Styled after the Gangsta rap genre, reflecting the violent lifestyles of African-American youth, Honey Singh's music cleverly fuses rhythm and melody, which accounts for the popularity of his songs. But the explicit lyrics that leave nothing to imagination have come as a shock to many. For example, Honey Singh teamed up with Diljit Dosanjh to sing "Mitran nu shauk golian chalan da (We are fond of firing from our guns)".

Equating the supposed Punjabi machismo with violence and guns many other popular singers have followed suit. Garry Riar is as direct when he sings, "Koi banda bunda marna tan das (Tell me if you want someone to be killed)." Raju Dinehwala sings, "Jatt di dushmani sir mangdi (an enmity with a Jatt asks for one's head)." Bhinda Aujla threatens his girl that if she goes back on her word she would face a bullet: "Je mukar gayee taan pehli goli tere maraange." Another singer tells his girlfriend "Vich Pajero de rakhli desi gunn (Have kept a country made gun in my Pajero)."

Popular Punjabi songs glorifying violence, with suggestive and provocative videos accompanying them are becoming a trend, inviting protests from women's organisations and cultural groups from Canada and the U.S.

Concerns have been raised by cricketer Harbhajan Singh over Punjabi songs advocating violence and use of weapons recently found more support on, with Punjabi cultural and literary organizations in the US and Canada also speaking out against the "disturbing trend".

Last week, Ludhiana-based Punjabi Sahit Akademi had puts its weight behind Harbhajan for speaking out against the gun culture promoted in Punjabi songs.

"This resolution should be transformed into a revolution and should also be politically approved by you. Already, a lot of damage has been done and we need to fight it vehemently. We are 100% with you as Punjabi songs have never seen such a low as in the present era. Congratulations and good wishes for this brave and adequate step. Vishav Punjabi Sahit Academy endorses its support," said Harjinder Kang, general secretary of Vishav Punjabi Sahit Academy (Fresno, USA) in a message given to Gurbhajan Gill for the resolution passed by Punjabi Sahit Akademi, following a story carried by The Times of India.

The British Columbia Punjabi Cultural Foundation of Canada also lent its support to the cause, saying that they were against vulgar lyrics and singing.

Bassi, an eminent Punjabi writer from Surrey in Canada, was also supported by other members and writers, namely Mohan Gill, Jarnail Singh Sekha and Nachattar Singh Brar who all are also from Canada.

"As has been rightly suggested by my literary friends from all across the world, a legislation in this regard is a must," said writer Gurbhajan Gill.

Another writer Surjit Patar said such lyrics were targetted at the youth as the market and these were having an adverse affect on society.

"We need to put a curb on such songs and promote theatre that is doing a much better job."

Punjabi music is especially seen to be riding on violent lyrics. A recent hit, Gaddi moudan ge, by Mika celebrates hooliganism while Gippy Grewal's Gangster and Hathiyaar are about criminals and arms. K.S. Makhan's Badmashi and Preet Brar's Desi gun package violence as the new cool.

Parents of Yo Yo Honey Singh fans have been worried about the effect of his songs. In a 2007 track named Prostitute, he sings about having violent sex with a woman after forcing her to dance naked. Another song, Yaar Bathere, labels women as frivolous heartbreakers.

"New Punjabi pop songs are littered with words such as bandookan (guns) and daru (alcohol) and rap phrases like 'signal todah ge' (we'll break all rules) and 'chak laan ge' (we'll kidnap the girl)," says Punjabi singer Satinder Satti. But these songs, she fears, are the new youth anthems.

The apprehension is that the young will absorb these sentiments as the norm. "Over time, they will begin to take such acts and incidents casually," says Anubhuti Yadav, associate professor, new media, Indian Institute of Mass Communication, New Delhi. Yadav, who presented a paper on "Media violence and aggression among adolescents" at a Delhi University event in 2012, believes that exposure to sadism-laced lyrics could desensitise the youth to violence.

Honey Singh, with many chartbusters to his credit. Honey, whose songs are being enjoyed by both children and grown-ups, has some numbers whose videos have been age-restricted by YouTube. Styled after the Gangsta rap genre, reflecting the violent lifestyles of African-American youth, Honey Singh's music cleverly fuses rhythm and melody, which accounts for the popularity of his songs. But the explicit lyrics that leave nothing to imagination have come as a shock to many. For example, Honey Singh teamed up with Diljit Dosanjh to sing "Mitran nu shauk golian chalan da (We are fond of firing from our guns)".

Equating the supposed Punjabi machismo with violence and guns many other popular singers have followed suit. Garry Riar is as direct when he sings, "Koi banda bunda marna tan das (Tell me if you want someone to be killed)." Raju Dinehwala sings, "Jatt di dushmani sir mangdi (an enmity with a Jatt asks for one's head)." Bhinda Aujla threatens his girl that if she goes back on her word she would face a bullet: "Je mukar gayee taan pehli goli tere maraange." Another singer tells his girlfriend "Vich Pajero de rakhli desi gunn (Have kept a country made gun in my Pajero)."