Back to today’s briefing

Story perspectives

Coke Studio Revives Century-Old Bhojpuri Ballad, Goes Viral

6/28/2026

26 3 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

The Coke Studio Bharat performance revived a century-old Bhojpuri folk ballad that tells of a woman’s grief while her husband fights in a British-ruled war.
Utpal Udit and Rekha Bhardwaj sang the song, drawing millions of views.
The viral success has highlighted Bhojpuri, spoken by tens of millions, beyond its stereotyped pop image.
Udit told the BBC that he hopes the exposure will improve perceptions of Bhojpuri folk traditions.

1 of 1

Story summary

The Coke Studio Bharat performance revived a century-old Bhojpuri folk ballad that tells of a woman’s grief while her husband fights in a British-ruled war.
Utpal Udit and Rekha Bhardwaj sang the song, drawing millions of views.
The viral success has highlighted Bhojpuri, spoken by tens of millions, beyond its stereotyped pop image.
Udit told the BBC that he hopes the exposure will improve perceptions of Bhojpuri folk traditions.