Telugu folk singer Mangli has apologised following backlash over the sexually explicit Hindi version of her song Sarke Chunar from the Kannada film KD The Devil.
Posting on Instagram, she said the lyrics have been updated, and the revised version will be released soon. She added the song has been removed from all platforms out of respect for public sentiment and expressed regret for the oversight, assuring that such a situation will not arise again.
The controversy prompted attention in Parliament, where Samajwadi Party MP Anand Bhadoria criticised vulgar content on OTT platforms. Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw confirmed the song has been banned, noting that freedom of speech must respect societal norms.
Actor Nora Fatehi, who appears in the dance video with Sanjay Dutt, clarified she recorded the Kannada version three years ago and had flagged the issue with the Hindi adaptation. Lyricist Raqeeb Alam also distanced himself, stating he had translated the Kannada lyrics literally, which were originally penned by the film’s director, Prem.
The Hindi version was widely criticised, leading the National Human Rights Commission to issue a notice to the Information and Broadcasting Ministry. KD The Devil, dubbed in four languages including Hindi, is scheduled to release on April 30. (PTI)
