Kannada Film Song 'Chunar Teri Sarke' Sparks Major Controversy Over Vulgar Lyrics
The recently released promotional track "Chunar Teri Sarke" from the upcoming Kannada film 'KD: The Devil' has ignited a firestorm of criticism across social media platforms since Monday. Featuring popular Bollywood performers Nora Fatehi and Sanjay Dutt, the song has faced extreme backlash from internet users who have described its lyrics as vulgar, inappropriate, and highly suggestive.
Celebrity Reactions and Industry Backlash
Numerous celebrities have joined the chorus of disapproval. Actress and politician Kangana Ranaut has publicly spoken out against the track, while singer Armaan Malik expressed his disappointment on social media platform X, stating, "Sad to see commercial songwriting hit a new low." The controversy has highlighted growing concerns about content standards in mainstream Indian cinema.
Lyricist Denies Writing Controversial Lines
According to official credits, Raqueeb Alam penned the Hindi lyrics for the song, with music composed by Arjun Janya. However, Alam has now publicly denied writing the specific lines that have drawn criticism. In an exclusive interview with HT City, Alam clarified, "These lyrics were not written by me. They were originally written in Kannada by the film's director Prem. When approached to translate them, I refused, warning that such songs would not work and might face censorship."
Alam explained that he was ultimately instructed to provide a literal translation of the Kannada version, which would then be adapted to fit the song's musical meter. He specifically pointed to words like 'Choosega' and 'chaatega' as being present in the original Kannada lyrics.
Examination of Controversial Lyrics
One particularly contentious verse from the song reads: "Pehle Uthale, Ander Wo Dale, Neeche Ek Boond Na Girae, Khali Kar Ke Nikale, Mujh Pe Na Girana Mujhe Lagta Hai Dar, Bhed Khul Jaae Na Sambhal Ke Jaana Ghar, Choosega ya chatega, jo karega kar, Teri Bottle Pe Na Pade Kisi Ki Bhi Nazar."
Alam acknowledged that the lyrics carry multiple double meanings throughout most of the song, with clarification arriving only toward the end. "Only in the final section do they reveal that the entire song is actually about an alcohol bottle," he stated. "But everything before that is so problematic. I had refused initially. Why would I need to write such songs? When I create good work, people don't notice as much."
Damage Control and Revised Version
As the controversy escalated, the film's production team took swift action. The official music video was removed from YouTube by the makers, though it had already garnered significant attention and criticism.
Alam revealed that the production team contacted him on Monday night with an urgent request to create a cleaner version of the lyrics. "They called me and asked me to write fresh lyrics with appropriate content. I submitted the revised version on Tuesday morning, and recording began the same day," he explained. The team planned to release the updated song along with an official apology note on Tuesday evening.
Professional Reputation Concerns
The lyricist expressed personal distress over the controversy, stating that he feels humiliated by the association with the song. "I have written quality work that doesn't receive this kind of attention," Alam noted, mentioning his contributions to the Hindi version of 'Pushpa' and the song 'Chikri Chikri' for Ram Charan's upcoming film 'Peddi'.
This incident raises important questions about translation ethics, creative responsibility, and content standards in India's multilingual film industry. As audiences become more vocal about objectionable content, production teams face increasing pressure to balance creative expression with social responsibility.
