Sona Mohapatra writes to Mumbai Police for help from Sufi Foundation, Javed Akhtar stands for support
Popular singer Sona Mohapatra has found herself in the middle of a problem yet again. The lady has received warnings from Madiyar Sufi Foundation, who threatens her to remove her latest video from all communication channels on the grounds as it did not comply with the Sufi format.
In a series of tweets written by Sona Mohapatra to Mumbai Police about the threats regarding her latest song ‘Tori Surat’, the singer writes, “Dear @MumbaiPolice I have received a threatening notice from the Madariya Sufi Foundation to remove my music video Tori Surat from all communication mediums. They claim that the video is vulgar,will flare communal tensions.I need to know whom to write in my response to at ur end.”
Dear @MumbaiPolice the Madariya Sufi foundation claims to work for Sufism,peace & universal brotherhood in their threatening notice to me. I ask you & #India ,what about the ‘sisterhood’?Why is it that in this day & age the women expected to cover up, not sing or dance in public
— SONA (@sonamohapatra) April 30, 2018
In later tweets, she gave out more details about the threats and described what the Foundation is up to. ‘Tori Surat’ s a part of Sona’s latest project called Lal Pari Mastani. The Sufi love song was penned by Ameer Khusrau for his beloved Nizammudin Auliya.
The Madariya foundation along with the agreement of the Nizamuddin Dargah have an issue with the description of my Tori Surat music video, “earthy incarnations of the feminine Divine” & with “a sleeveless dress and body exposing dancers”. Basically with everything woman & free.
— SONA (@sonamohapatra) April 30, 2018
The Sufi Madariya foundation has also called me a ‘regular offender’ & says that they find another five year old Video of me singing a Sufiana Kalam - Piya Se Naina on coke studio insulting Islam because I’m ‘dressed exposing my body’ & playing westernised music. @MumbaiPolice
— SONA (@sonamohapatra) April 30, 2018
While the singer has given a written application to the police, she did not file an FIR
When HT spoke to Sona, she was at the Santacruz police station. “I am just happy the police responded immediately because I did not know who to go to and it is very intimidating to receive a threatening message… The police have promised to talk to the foundation and my lawyers will respond to their notice.”
Not just Mumbai Police but after learning about the incident, another Bollywood singer and writer Javed Akhtar raised his voice to support the singer. He wrote on his twitter, “In strongest possible words I condemn those regressive and reactionary organisations who are threatening Sona Mahapatra for making a music video of a Amir Khusrau ‘ Geet . These mullas should know that Amir Khusrau belongs to every Indian. He is not your property."
In strongest possible words I condemn those regressive and reactionary organisations who are threatening Sona Mahapatra for making a music video of a Amir Khusrau ‘ Geet . These mullas should know that Amir Khusrau belongs to every Indian . He is not your property .
— Javed Akhtar (@Javedakhtarjadu) May 1, 2018
Sona also tweeted:
The earthy incarnations of the feminine divine 🔴https://t.co/CzhoCgVkZ6
— SONA (@sonamohapatra) May 1, 2018
)If this offends you, then please go live in your pre-historic cave. )