Nora Fatehi-Sanjay Dutt song Sarke Chunar banned after backlash, "freedom of speech is not absolute"
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The song Sarke Chunar, featuring Nora Fatehi and Sanjay Dutt from the film KD: The Devil, has been banned following widespread criticism over its lyrics and choreography, the government confirmed on Monday.
Speaking in the Lok Sabha, Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting, said the decision was taken in line with legal limits on free expression. “A ban has been imposed on the song. We must operate according to the reasonable restrictions under the Freedom of Speech. Freedom of Speech cannot be absolute, it has to be in the context of the society and culture,” he said.
The move follows days of backlash over the song’s double-meaning lyrics and dance sequences, which drew criticism from sections of the film industry and prompted formal complaints.
The track had already been removed from YouTube amid the controversy.
The issue also reached the National Human Rights Commission, which issued a notice over the song’s content. Advocate Vineet Jindal filed a complaint with authorities, describing the track as vulgar and seeking legal action. The All Indian Cine Workers Association also called for an official ban.
Amid the controversy, lyricist Raqueeb Alam distanced himself from the song, stating that the original lyrics were written in Kannada by director Prem and that he had only translated them after initially expressing reservations.
Reacting to the backlash, actor Rakshita questioned why similar songs in the past had not faced the same level of criticism. Singer Armaan Malik said it was “sad to see commercial songwriting hit a new low,” while filmmaker Onir criticised censorship priorities.
Actor Kangana Ranaut also condemned the song, calling for stricter action against what she described as growing vulgarity in the film industry.
Directed by Prem, the film features Dhruva Sarja, Sanjay Dutt, Shilpa Shetty, and Reeshma Nanaiah.
Set in the 1970s, it follows the story of an underworld figure and is scheduled for release on April 30.