Abstract: This essay examines the divergent trajectories of popular music and Hindutva in the aftermath of the Babri Mosque demolition on December 6, 1992, in India, situating this exploration within the broader concept of yatra —both as a literal journey and a metaphor for cultural and political movement. It demonstrates how popular songs, particularly in Hindi cinema, emerged as a cultural counterforce to Hindutva’s increasing dominance. The first section analyzes how popular music resisted religious polarization through its inclusive and syncretic traditions, while the second section examines The Kashmir Files (2022) as a turning point in the infiltration of Hindutva into a historically pluralistic Indian cinematic space. The essay ultimately argues that while political ideologies shape cultural narratives, the inherent dynamism of artistic expression fosters resistance and ongoing reconfiguration.
Lucky Issar (2025) studied this question.