Stand-up star and actor Vir Das recently turned lyricist as he created a song highlighting Mumbai’s increasing smog problem, blending environmental concerns with his signature humor.
On Instagram, Vir shared a video of himself singing the lines “AQI, AQI, let me die,” which perfectly encapsulates the struggles faced by Mumbaikars each morning.
In the song, Vir reflects on his daily experiences amid the smog invading the city. He sings, “Woke up this morning and I took a little breath. God showed up because he thought that I was dead. I was like, hang on bro, it’s because of the smoke. It’s just life inside of this, he met her Oh AQI.”
The lyrics touch on various everyday realities in Mumbai, from dry throats in Bandra to the ongoing construction of oversized apartments. He croons, “My life And I really tried to keep the spirit of Mumbai. Smoke is wrong, we can’t see eye to eye. And my throat is dry Bandra world this evening I can’t see either side… Builders building every day. Do we need 9000 BHKs?”
While pondering the necessity of “9000 BHKs,” Vir highlights the impact on families, with children stuck indoors and elderly residents lamenting the deteriorating environment. He poignantly sings, “If your kids are locked in a room, you hear bulldozers boom, Dadaji is like, let me die beta, it’s not too soon Mere lungs hai bun, it’s no fun. If your customers are dead, who will buy your flat? AQI, AQI, let me die. This smoke is making me choke. Why can’t we see eye to eye? AQI.”
Mixing satire with sincerity, he captioned his post: “A.Q.I.YAI YAIII! Woke up, took a breath, wrote this.”