Dettol Banega Swasth India Launches Hygiene Focused Tamil Music Album

Dettol Banega Swasth India (DBSI) launched hygiene focused Tamil music album- ‘Folk Music for a Swasth India’ in collaboration with Hindu Tamil Thisai and Gramalaya in Chennai. Composed by James Vasanthan, the album has 5 songs and will be available to Spotify users across the globe starting today. 

The music album was launched by Thiru. Ma. Subramanian, Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of Tamil Nadu, Ravi Bhatnagar, Director, External Affairs and Partnerships, Reckitt- South Asia, Shankar V Subramaniam, Chief Operating Officer, Hindu Tamil Thisai, James Vasanthan, Music Composer, Hygiene Music Album, Padma Shri Sai Damodaran, Founder & CEO Gramalaya in the presence of students, teachers, doctors, and parents. 

With an aim to encourage a healthy self-care hygiene routine among children, the Tamil Hygiene Music Album has been created emphasising the best hygiene habits through folk music of Tamil Nadu. The song, ‘Let’s make Tamil Nadu healthy’ is sung by Asal Kolar, ‘Hygiene at School’ is sung by Velmurugan, ‘Hygiene at neighbourhood’ is sung by Antony Dasan, ‘Significance of Handwashing’ is sung by Isaivani and ‘Hygiene at Home’ is sung by Krishaang. Each song is composed to tunes that everyone can hum along to and the lyrics are meaningful. The composition is such that these songs will appeal to audiences across all age groups, including Gen Z and millennials. The songs focus on the key highlights from the Dettol School Hygiene Curriculum which are culturally adaptive. 

Commenting on the launch, Thiru. Ma. Subramanian Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of Tamil Nadu said, “Hindu Tamil Thisai and Dettol Banega Swasth India joined hands and produced an online series - ‘Sutham Sugatharam’ last year. The program sensitised thousands of students, teachers, and parents across Tamil Nadu on the importance of sustained hygiene behaviour for healthy living. In the prevailing situation, there is a need to stress the importance of hygiene behaviour to the people of Tamil Nadu. I sincerely believe that these songs in the hygiene music album will invoke and educate the masses on the significance of hygiene behaviour. My best wishes to everyone who have been a part of this initiative.”

Gaurav Jain, Senior Vice President, Reckitt South Asia said “Art and Music are powerful tools that can bring about massive societal change and move people to adapt good practices. We are looking at music as a medium to connect with audiences and effectively deliver social messages on health and hygiene. With the Tamil Hygiene Music Album, we are taking hygiene habits through folk music to the children of Tamil Nadu. In our endeavor to create a healthy country by bringing focus on self-care hygiene practices, this initiative is another step from Reckitt towards the mission of ‘Leave No One Behind’.”

Ravi Bhatnagar, Director- External Affairs and Partnerships, Reckitt- South Asia, said, “Music is one of the mediums that has the power to connect with audiences and deliver social messages effectively. With the growing popularity of folk music and the rich culture of Tamil Nadu, we believe this Tamil Hygiene Music Album is a great step towards our vision of bringing behavioral changes across the state. With Dettol Banega Swasth India, we are constantly on the lookout for unique opportunities and partnerships which can deliver impactful changes at the grassroot level to create a ‘Swasth India”

Dettol Banega Swasth India’s deep-rooted commitment to drive behaviour change by inculcating the right hygiene practices makes for an important narrative that has been brought through with this album. ‘Folk Music for a Swasth India’ produced by Dettol and composed by James Vasanthan, will reach listeners on Spotify globally, educating the younger generation on best health and hygiene practices rooted in art and heritage. Its uniquely curated songs focus on five key themes: Making Tamil Nadu Healthy, Significance of Handwashing, Hygiene at Home, Hygiene at School, Hygiene in Neighborhood. The lyrics of every song have been composed to emphasize significant messages from the Dettol School Hygiene Curriculum. It is thoughtfully organized with the intention to create hygiene nudges through folk music and build a deeper connection between health & hygiene in a fun way.