Faith on My Feed: Bollywood Parodies and Ramzan’s Digital Evolution

It may look goofy but at its core, this trend is about power—who gets to define what being Muslim looks like.

From 'Jalebi Laayi' to other parody videos of Bollywood songs, Ramzan reels have taken social media by storm.

(Photo: The Quint/Kamran Akhter)

Let’s be honest. When you first heard “Ammi Aftari Mein Jalebi Layi” set to the tune of the popular Bollywood song Jalebi Bai on your Instagram feed, you probably chuckled. Maybe you even forwarded it to your friends and family group chats because it felt novel.

These Ramzan parodies of Bollywood songs are all the rage on te internet right now. Hit Hindi songs like Jalebi Bai, Character Dheela, Mujhse Shaadi Karoge, Yaad Sataye Teri, Aisa Jadoo and Aashiq Banaya Aapne and so on have all been remixed and re-written, with the new lyrics often describing activities related to the month of Ramzan and extolling the virtues of fasting, praying and more.

These viral songs aren’t just goofy internet fluff, though. They are a representation of how digital-native Muslims celebrate faith, defy stereotypes, and even push back against the politics of representation.

Reclaiming Ramzan

Growing up, Ramzan always felt formal. The mosques, the sermons, the rules about the “right” way to be Muslim. Historically, religious authority held a firm grip on the modes of celebration. But scroll through Instagram today, and you’ll find something raw and relatable. Content creators are meme-ing relatable iftar scenes or parodying typical household scenes during Ramzan. Not to forget the multitude of memes on the comeback of the OG iftar drink, Roohafza. 

This is, in fact, a digital revolution democratising religion and making it palatable for its online followers. Social media platforms have become the new pulpits for individuals to interpret and celebrate their faith in their own way.

This trend, while seemingly innocuous and lighthearted, signals a shift towards a more personalised and participatory form of religious expression. 

The power of these parodies lies in their ability to resonate with a diverse audience, fostering a sense of community that transcends geographical and social boundaries. It does not necessarily signify a rejection of religious doctrine, but rather a reinterpretation that aligns with contemporary sensibilities. It's a testament to the evolving nature of faith in a globalised world.

Undoing Tropes with Jokes

Moreover, these parodies are also, in their own way, dismantling stereotypes about Muslim communities. Global media often reduces Muslim identity to tropes of conservatism or conflict. These parodies showcase the creativity, adaptability, and humour of a community often portrayed in monolithic terms.

The viral nature of these songs allows for a more nuanced and relatable portrayal of Muslim life, challenging preconceived notions and fostering greater understanding. This feels new because the subject is a community that is constantly vilified and reduced to bare stereotypes.

Take, for example, Hina Khan, a popular Indian actress with 20 million followers on Instagram who has been actively creating reels showcasing relatable Ramzan scenarios. With content that resonates with everyday Ramzan experiences, she bridges the gap between celebrity culture and religious observance. This visibility not only entertains but also educates, offering a window into Muslim traditions and practices for a wider audience.

In a space often dominated by stereotypes or limited representation, Hina Khan's content, along with that of other creators (like Gauahar Khan, Rida Tharana, Sana Khan and many others) contributes to a more authentic understanding of Muslim life than just the adaab-tehzeeb-biryani narrative that we are used to seeing on popular media for decades. 

Inclusivity amid Growing Polarisation

There is also another interesting fact. The now popular  “Jalebi Layi” set to the tune of Jalebi bai is produced by T-Series Regional, India’s music behemoth, better known for churning out Hindu bhajans (sometimes, also set to Bollywood compositions)  and Bollywood hits. In fact, it is part of an album called “Ramzan aaya hai Salman Chachi” with nine songs.

 While the songs are currently resurfacing and gaining viral traction, they were originally released roughly 11 years ago (as per its Youtube timestamp), a time when the socio-political climate in India was notably different.

This context is crucial. Back then, the song might have been seen primarily as a lighthearted, culturally resonant piece, reflecting a broader acceptance of Bollywood's influence across religious lines. Today, however, its resurgence takes on a different hue.

While T-Series' initial motivation might have been simply to tap into a popular musical trend, its current spread through reels reflects a deeper yearning for cultural inclusivity in an increasingly polarized environment. The song's reappearance reminds us of a time when these cultural exchanges felt less fraught.

It serves as a nostalgic echo of a period when the lines between religious communities were perhaps less sharply drawn.

By packaging Ramzan rituals in the lingua franca of Bollywood–a genre beloved across religious lines–these songs normalise Muslimness as undeniably Indian. In a nation where right-wing narratives insist that Hindus and Muslims cannot coexist, Ramzan parodies on everyone’s feed mocks that binary. It’s far from activism, but it’s not not activism either.

Content Creators as New Age Cultural Curators

The resurgence of these parodies is not merely a matter of algorithms. It's the creative spark of content creators who are repurposing relevant songs in countless reels. These creators, often with substantial followings, are acting as cultural curators, bringing these older songs back into the spotlight and injecting them with fresh relevance. They are, in a way, actively reinterpreting and recontextualising these tracks, ensuring they resonate with a new generation of viewers.

This active engagement is what propels these tunes back into the viral sphere, proving that a song's journey doesn't end with its initial release, but can be revitalised and reimagined by the creativity of online communities.

Interestingly, long before Instagram, Ramzan had its own soundtrack. When I was a child, singers with a dafli (percussion instrument) roamed the streets at dawn, singing to wake families for sehri. These songs were either specific to Ramzan (“Rozedaaro ka chamka Sitara, Aaya Ramzan pyaara pyaara”) or naats in praise of the Prophet (pbuh).

Today’s parody creators can be seen as the modern heirs to that legacy–except, instead of drums, they’ve got Auto-Tune. That is the beauty of social media. It flips the narrative on who gets to lead tradition. You don’t need a beard or a theology degree to speak about Ramzan. Anyone can grab a mic and remix their truth. For marginalised sections within the community which have always been sidelined by religious power structures, that’s huge. Or at least, it’s a start.

At its core, this trend is about power—who gets to define what being Muslim looks like. For decades, that power sat with clerics, politicians, and patriarchs. Now, it’s shifting to people with a phone and a Wi-Fi connection.

So the next time you see a Ramzan remix on your feed, remember that faith, like culture, is a living, breathing entity that is constantly being reinterpreted and reimagined. And we are here for the change. 

(Farnaz Fatima has a postgraduate degree in Politics and International Studies. Currently working in advertising, she is interested in exploring the intersections of gender, mental health and popular culture through her writing. This is an opinion piece and the views expressed are the author’s own. The Quint neither endorses nor is responsible for them.)