Chandigarh: The fiery chairperson of the Punjab State Women Commission, who has taken on popular rapper Yo Yo Honey Singh for singing a lewd song, now wants a censor board in Punjab for standalone song videos and albums.
Manisha Gulati, who has been the panel chairman for over a year now, told ThePrint, “It is high time that somebody calls out these singers who are not only objectifying women but also giving an impression that women do not deserve any respect.”
Honey Singh was booked last week for his song “Makhna” on the basis of a complaint by Gulati, who found the song “abhorrent and demeaning”.
“I have made a beginning by taking on Honey Singh and I intend to take it further. An example has been set and if Punjabi singers and lyricists continue (to) insult women in their songs, similar action will be initiated against them,” she said.
Also read: Songs, slogans & hashtags — the quick, cheap way Haryana & Punjab are pepping up polls
Censor board for songs
Gulati is now batting for a censor board in Punjab for standalone song videos and albums.
“The films that are produced have to go through a certification process from the Central Board of Film Certification but no such process exists for the songs which are being created,” said Gulati.
“These songs are hugely popular with the youth. They are being watched by millions of people. I talked to a large number of youth before I decided that I should take up the issue of vulgarity in Punjabi songs,” she said.
Gulati said she “wanted to know” why the youth happily dance to these songs and singers like Honey Singh, among others, are considered “youth icons”.
“I realised that over the years what is being said in a song in the form of lyrics has really come to lose most of its importance. For the kids who are dancing to these numbers in clubs and discos, it is just the beat and the music. And for the boys it is the sight of a large number of women dancing to these songs and it is considered to be a hit.
“And since nobody objects to this vulgarity, lyricists are encouraged to write anything they want under the garb of the artist’s licence and singers go and sing whatever they are served on the sheet of paper,” she added.
Gulati also rued the absence of any self-regulation among the singers and lyricists.
“Legendary singers like Gurdas Maan and Jasbir Jassi who are known for making good songs should also put peer pressure on other singers to shun use of lewd language in songs,” she said.
Threats over FIR against Honey Singh
Earlier this month, Gulati took suo motu cognisance of Honey Singh’s song and wrote to the Punjab Police to take action against him.
On 8 July, the Punjab Police registered an FIR against Singh and Bhushan Kumar, owner of music label T-Series which released the song. The police are now on the lookout for Honey Singh to question him.
The panel chief, however, says she has been getting life threats and abuses from Honey Singh’s fans. “A young girl made a video threatening me and posted it on social media.”
“It was not easy to act against a popular singer. There was a lot of pressure on both me and the police not to go ahead with my complaint. But I am not the kind to buckle under pressure and in this case the police as also the government supported me completely,” added Gulati.
This is not the first time that an FIR has been registered against Honey Singh, pointed out Gulati.
“In 2013 a case (was) registered against him on the directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court but then nothing happened after that. Since then the matter is pending in the high court,” she said.
That case was registered for his using the words “Main Hoon Balatkari” in a song but no action was taken against him apart from the registration of an FIR.
“He did not change the way he projected women in his songs. In Makhna, he did a similar thing,” said Gulati.
Also read: Rapper Hard Kaur booked for sedition over her alleged online remarks against Yogi & Bhagwat
Very best act by PSWB ANF ITS CHAIRPERSON a courageous lady Those who back vulgar lyrics of songers actually do not know its after effects what is seems to society bear only the foolish moments of time being spread to gain nthing but to be part of mischevious properity with dark ends and narrow attitude
Actually the point is that every one is die heart fan of honey Singh and he sing and wrote these type of lyrics
Because youth wants to listen these type of song, even you don’t know that honey Singh sung more then 15 desh bhakti songs but no one know because they don’t want to listen desh bhakti and devotional songs even your children and daughter may be a honey Singh fan check it out today ask them what they like