Controversy Erupts Over Nora Fatehi and Sanjay Dutt's Song 'Sarke Chunar'
The song 'Sarke Chunar' featuring Bollywood stars Nora Fatehi and Sanjay Dutt has ignited a significant controversy, leading to a ban by the central government due to its explicit content. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw emphasized that freedom of expression must adhere to social norms. The backlash has prompted legal complaints and calls for a 'clean version' of the song. Critics, including politicians and celebrities, have condemned the lyrics and visuals as inappropriate. As the film 'KD: The Devil' prepares for its release, the controversy continues to unfold, raising questions about censorship and artistic expression in the industry.
| Mar 18, 2026, 14:58 IST
Parliament Reacts to Song Controversy
The recent uproar surrounding Bollywood stars Nora Fatehi and Sanjay Dutt's new song 'Sarke Chunar' has escalated to the national parliament. On Wednesday, the central government took a firm stance by announcing a ban on the controversial track. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw emphasized that 'freedom of expression' should remain within the bounds of social and cultural norms. Responding to a query raised by Samajwadi Party MP Anand Bhadauria in the House, the Minister stated: "The song has been banned. We must operate under 'reasonable restrictions' concerning freedom of expression. It cannot be absolute; it must be viewed in the context of society and culture."
Root of the Controversy: Explicit Lyrics and Visuals
This song is part of the upcoming Kannada film 'KD: The Devil'. Following its release, it sparked significant outrage online. Viewers and critics labeled the lyrics as "sexually explicit" and the visuals as "provocative."
Removed from Digital Platforms: In response to the backlash, the Hindi version of the song has been taken down from YouTube, although versions in other regional languages remain available.
Warning of Censorship: Lyricist Rakib Alam revealed that he merely translated the original Kannada lyrics and had previously warned director Prem that such lyrics would not pass the censor board.
Legal Action and Apology in the Works
Advocate Vineet Jindal has filed a legal complaint against the song, claiming it undermines public decency. Meanwhile, the film's team is now engaged in damage control. According to lyricist Rakib Alam, the makers have requested him to write a 'clean version,' which may soon be released along with an apology.
The song features actress Nora Fatehi and Sanjay Dutt. It became embroiled in controversy immediately after its online release, with many viewers objecting to its lyrics as "sexually vulgar" and its visuals as "provocative."
Continued Criticism and Calls for Action
This Hindi version was uploaded to YouTube earlier this week, but it was removed following intensified protests. However, versions in Kannada, Malayalam, Telugu, and Tamil are still accessible on the platform.
The film is set to release on April 30 and will be dubbed in multiple languages.
The original lyrics in Kannada were penned by the film's director, Prem. Lyricist Rakib Alam has distanced himself from the controversy, stating that he only translated the original lyrics.
Alam mentioned, "I did not write these lyrics. They were written in Kannada by director Prem. When I was asked to write them, I refused, stating that such songs would not be accepted and would not pass the censor board." He further explained that he was later asked only to translate the original lyrics.
Numerous celebrities and politicians have criticized the song. BJP MP Ravi Kishan stated that obscene content that harms our cultural values should not be promoted. Actress and politician Kangana Ranaut accused Bollywood of crossing all limits of obscenity and called for stricter regulations on such content.
Singer Armaan Malik also criticized the lyrics on social media, stating that the standards for writing commercial song lyrics have now "dropped significantly." This controversy has now reached the legal arena, with Advocate Vineet Jindal demanding immediate legal action against the song, alleging that it contains "extremely obscene, sexually provocative, and vulgar words," and that its visuals promote obscenity and violate public decency.
Meanwhile, Alam revealed that the film's team has asked him to write a new version with "clean lyrics," which may be released along with an apology following the controversy.