The internet is a powerful tool. It lends a voice to those who find it difficult to be heard. It changes a person’s destiny. It gifts fame to the talented and helps those who need it. Today, the internet’s new favourite person is Bhuban Badyakar – a humble peanut seller from Birbhum, West Bengal, who rose to fame after his song ‘Kacha Badam’ went viral.
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Kacha Badam started off as nothing more than a marketing gimmick. Badyakar used to travel from village to village selling peanuts and grabbing people’s attention by singing the song. Funnily, instead of asking for cash as payment for the peanuts, he asked his customers to buy the peanuts in exchange for old, used items like phones or artificial jewellery.
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According to The Telegraph, he did so to earn more money. While cash would fetch him a profit of Rs 2.5, selling old items in factories would help him earn a profit of Rs 5. However, somebody took a video of his song and posted it on social media, and soon it went viral.
Things started to take a different shape when Indian celebrities started to make Instagram Reels using the song. And then, people living overseas began doing the same. It was then when a music label named Godhulibela Music was stirred by the buzz and decided to launch a remix version of the song. But controversy ignited when the label launched the song but didn’t pay Badyakar his rightful remuneration.
It was after much online outrage that the label was forced to pay the singer his due. They have already paid him Rs 1.5 lakhs and a remaining Rs 1.5 lakhs is pending which they claim he would receive in a few days, reported ETimes.
However, Bhuban Badyakar is more than happy. He recently performed at a posh club in Kolkata and was felicitated by Kolkata Police. He now has a YouTube video and his family is calling him a “celebrity”.
Speaking to The Telegraph, he said, “Life has taken a turn beyond my imagination. I still do not understand why people are showing me this kind of love. The government and state police have given me so much support. Celebrities are speaking highly of me! I am eternally grateful to everyone – everyone who has shown me love, blessed me, who want to see me perform or take selfies with me. This is an incredible feeling of acceptance and I wholeheartedly thank everyone. My words are not polished, but they come from the heart.”
He revealed that for the time being, he wants to focus on making more music and give selling peanuts a rest, reported India Today. We hope that the 50-year-old and his family are able to live a better life.