Retro tune, green goals: Viral reel champions plastic-free Parishe in Bengaluru

Bengaluru: Amid the flood of reels and videos on social media about this year's Kadalekai Parishe, one stood out: a quirky remake of a classic song featuring the 1970 Kannada matinee idol Dr Rajkumar.The remake humorously urges visitors to carry their own bags to the Kadalekai Parishe. The now-viral 90-second version of ‘Taaja-Taaja Kalle Kayi… Garma Garam Kalle Kayi' was shot by techie-turned-singer Sunil Koshy and zero-waste advocate Anand ‘Eat Raja' Raj on Nov 17 and 18. Dressed as lungi-clad vendors, the duo weaved through the crowds of thousands of visitors, blending nostalgia with a playful sustainability message. The original track, written by RN Jayagopal, composed by M Ranga Rao, and sung by S Janaki for Puttanna Kanagal's 1970 movie ‘Karulina Kare', humorously celebrates groundnuts. Their remake maintains the charm of the original but opens with a catchy reminder: ‘Brother, sister, bring a bag with you… come with your own bag'.Set to a recreated score, the video fuses the classic refrain ‘Garma Garam, Taaja-Taaja Kalle Kayi' with the vibrant atmosphere of the Parishe, transforming a beloved tune into a zero-waste anthem. Sunil, co-founder of From Mug to Mike, shared that he rediscovered the song while searching for something culturally resonant. "It was perfect—fun, nostalgic, and local. We recorded the track in a day and filmed it right in the middle of the fair. Humour and music reach people better than preaching," he said. Having grown up in Abu Dhabi and learned Kannada after marriage, he noted that the shoot felt like stepping into a village jathre. For Anand Raj and the Zero Waste Collective, the song amplified a message they have been advocating for years. "Every Kannadiga connects with this song. With five to six lakh people at the Parishe, this was the best way to encourage them to carry their own bags and avoid single-use plastic," he explained. This year, nearly three lakh paper bags were distributed for free to vendors. "Plastic still dominates, but if the song convinces even a few people, it's worth it."

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