An Ode to Boroline, a Video Blog Post posted on Bengali New Year’s day, is a nostalgic ditty celebrating the miracle multipurpose cream that Bengali communities across India and the world have grown up with since 1929. It is NOT a paid ad or jingle. The blog, inspired partly by the iconic Phoebe Buffay, aims to redefine randomness through original songs and videos created entirely by Sawan Dutta.
“As a Prabashi non resident Bengali who’s never lived in Bengal, there are a few things i’ve learnt to associate with the essence of being a bengali – things scattered through my growing years, introduced to me by my parents, grandparents or greatgrandparents. The creamy sweetness of mishti doi, the cloying smell of Keo Karpin hair oil, the inimitable tangy taste of Hojmi Guli ( miniscule tamarind balls mixed with exotic spices ), the sound of conch shells( shaankh ) blowing during evening prayers , the smoky intoxicating incense of dhuno mixed with the deafening sound of dhak drummers in puja pandals…..and that all purpose herbal cream, Boroline, which we were taught to turn to for a baffling array of discomforts and ailments!
There is something about the sight and smell of Boroline that is strangely reassuring to me still, after all these years – and I’m almost embarrassed to say that I still use it at the drop of a hat, along with all the other global mega brands, irrespective of whether its actually helping or not,” says Sawan.
SONG LYRICS/ ODE TO BOROLINE
Is your skin feeling dry?
Does your complexion make you cry?
Then you must definitely try…
Boroline, boroline
Is good for my skin
Boroline is the cream for my kith and kin
I put on my lip, my cheek and chin
Boroline is more effective any day than Vaseline
If you have got mosquito bite
Or if you hurt yourself in a fight
If you have got a boil on your bum
Choose correct treatment, do not be dumb
Boroline, boroline
The balm for my skin
I always have extra in my biscuit tin
I rub on my leg, my elbow and shin
Boroline is the dream cream for my kith and kin
Song written, composed, produced and performed by Sawan Dutta
Video conceptualised, shot, featuring and edited by Sawan Dutta
Sawan writes, composes and sings about a vast and totally random variety of subjects that she encounters in her life, with simple, quirky high concept videos to support her songs.
