MUMBAI: After garnering immense popularity with its distinct sound and flavour, the song ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ from the movie ‘Shanghai’ has run into controversy over its lyrics.
Tejinder Bagga from the organization Bhagat Singh Kranti Sena has filed a PIL (Public Interest Litigation) in the Delhi High Court seeking a complete ban on the song and an interim stay on the release of the film on 8 June.
The petitioner has alleged that the song has many insulting and outrageous words which can hurt the patriotic sentiments of people. He has also sought help from the central government and the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to take steps to ban the sale of audio CDs of the film.
Bagga said, “We have problems with the words ‘Sone ki chidiya, dengue, malaria, gud bhi hai, gobar bhi, Bharat Mata ki jai’. Bharat Mata is like a goddess to every Indian. In our national song Vande Mataram, she is compared to the goddess Durga. And, here she is told to be the home of such diseases, so, we have a strong objection to it.”
The Mumbai unit of the Congress party has also called for a ban on the song saying it hurts patriotic sentiments and degrades India. In a letter addressed to union Minister for Information & Broadcasting Ambika Soni, Mumbai Congress vice-president Charan Singh Sapra has contended that the content of the entire song is an insult to all countrymen who respect India as their motherland.
The song contains controversial words like Sarkari Hathiyaar, Dhandha, Chanda, Dengue, Malaria and Gobar (cowdung).
Vishal Dadlani tweeted, “As for ‘Bharat Mata’ being our mother, I truly wish that those pretending to be such devoted children, actually rise up and make the changes that are needed. Hai dum? Stop fighting over who said what, because that matters less than what YOU DO, in concrete terms, for your nation.”
The hearing is scheduled for 6 June.