As you read this, we are happy too bring this very interesting Food Story for you here. We have Mirabelle D’Cunha, Chief Conspirator Hulla Gulla Kids. A mom herself she runs this vibrant community of happy and engaged kids and her latest conspiracy is around food and kids..read her own version in this interview here.
Halla Gulla Kids is quite a popular community; tell us how you started and what has been your vision?
Everywhere kids were dancing to item songs. As a mother, it both angered and saddened me. Then it made me realize there was no dance music for kids in India. That’s where I decided to be the change, I wanted to see in the world and started Halla Gulla Kids. The vision is to create content for kids that’s entertaining, unique and enriching. Live action so kids can see human faces instead of just animation. Music the whole family can enjoy and dance to creating special memories.
We love your songs and the way you connect with kids, share some of your beautiful experiences?
Kids feel like buds waiting to bloom. I love watching the amazement on their faces as I build intrigue into dance along songs, I love watching them let go and dance. As part of Halla Gulla Kids, I have been performing shows across the country for all kinds of audiences. One time I was doing a show at Sion Children’s Hospital, Cancer Ward. It was during demonetization. Some people had walked to get there. The whole atmosphere in the overcrowded ward was dismal. It made me want to cry. Kids were being pricked for blood and while they cried the next kid in line was watching. It was horrifying. I felt instantly depressed. Then I reminded myself that my purpose is to spread joy and that’s why I was there. So I did the Halla Gulla show in Hindi in the ward lobby and slowly the kids came alive. They danced and laughed and the energy of the whole place changed. Everyone was smiling, even the very worried parents. When I left the ward, kids were singing Halla Gulla as they waited for their turn. It made my work seem so meaningful.
We heard your new release is a food song, tell us something about it and how you got it going?
Lambi Dadi Wali Bua is the story song of an aunt who has a long beard. That makes her strange to others. Yet she is a passionate cook and eventually becomes famous for her cooking. The song takes kids through the use of a grinding stone for making chutney, a wooden chaas/buttermilk ladle etc.
While the song is entertaining and humorous in itself, there is much thought behind it. The idea of the bearded aunt and her eventual success is to get kids to embrace the things that make them feel different from others and to follow their passion. It is also to introduce kids to Indian cooking methods and tools, some of which are less used today.
Why a food song for kids, do you have a story there too?
Food after breathing and water is the most important necessity for us. And in India, food is the center of our lives, something that’s important and full of variety and celebration. As family dynamics and economic change, kids are not seeing the kitchen anymore; they are no longer involved in the process of cooking. They are missing out on this wonderful experience. So I decided to take a folk song about food and rework it in a modern context.
We were privileged to view the limited version before the actual release , what is message with the song for the kids and parents?
The message is take some time out to cook together….to eat without the TV. It’s relaxing and bonding and nourishing. Learn about Indian foods and tools because even with all the modernization, in order to go where you want to reach, you must know where you come from. We hope parents and kids will be inspired to cook together and dance-along to this song.
Where can we find your song so our audience can get a touch of the uniqueness it carries.
Our song can be received FREE by subscribing to www.youtube.com/hallagullakids
Click on the link above and then click subscribe. We are constantly releasing new songs. And when you dance-along to the song, send us a video or picture and we’ll share it on our facebook page www.facebook.com/hallagullakids