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NEW DELHI – In a significant move regarding content regulation, Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw confirmed in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday that the government has officially banned the song “Sarke Chunariya” (also known as Sarke Chunar).
The track, featuring Nora Fatehi and Sanjay Dutt from the upcoming film KD: The Devil, sparked a massive public outcry over its “vulgar and sexually suggestive” lyrics.
“Freedom of Speech is Not Absolute”
Addressing the House in response to a query by Samajwadi Party MP Anand Bhadouria, Minister Vaishnaw emphasized that while the Constitution guarantees freedom of expression, it is subject to “reasonable restrictions.”
“I would like to say this clearly that we should follow the reasonable restrictions imposed by the creators of the Constitution of India on freedom of speech,” Vaishnaw stated. “Freedom of speech cannot be absolute. It has to be in the context of society and culture.”
The Minister further noted that the government is committed to taking strict action to protect “impressionable minds,” particularly children, from the adverse effects of explicit digital content.
Backstory: A Rapid Escalation
The controversy erupted almost immediately after the song’s release earlier this week. Social media platforms were flooded with criticism, with users and public figures—including singer Armaan Malik—calling the lyrics a “new low” for commercial songwriting.
The backlash led to several legal and administrative actions:
YouTube Removal: The makers pulled the Hindi version of the song from YouTube following the initial uproar.
Legal Complaints: Advocate Vineet Jindal filed a formal complaint with the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) and the Ministry of I&B, alleging violations under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the POCSO Act.
Women’s Commissions: Both the Haryana and Karnataka State Commissions for Women flagged the song for objectifying women and being “highly objectionable.”
Nora Fatehi and Lyricist Distant Themselves
In a video clarification, Nora Fatehi distanced herself from the controversy, stating she had shot the song three years ago for the original Kannada version and was unaware of the “inappropriate” Hindi lyrics. She claimed she refused to promote the track once she heard the translated version.
Similarly, lyricist Raqueeb Alam denied writing the controversial Hindi verses, claiming they were translated by the film’s director and that he had requested his name be removed from the credits.
Current Status: The song has been ordered for removal from all digital and broadcast platforms. The CBFC has also clarified that the song was never submitted to them for certification, as digital-only releases often bypass traditional film censorship routes—a loophole the government appears to be addressing with this ban.
