"Sarke Chunar," a Hindi song from the Kannada film "KD The Devil," which sparked a major controversy due to its sexually explicit lyrics, is not the first song from Hindi cinema to face criticism. Here is a list of 10 songs that led to debate and, in some cases, bans due to their controversial and suggestive lyrics:
"Tateeree": This song by rapper Badshah, released earlier this month, was taken down following criticism of its lyrics, which were seen as objectifying women. The singer apologized, saying he had no intention to offend.
"Fevicol Se": This 2012 song, an item number performed by Kareena Kapoor Khan in "Dabangg 2," is still criticized for its objectifying lyrics. Lines like "Main to tanduri murgi hoon yaar. Gatakle alcohol se" drew criticism, with many considering them cheap and not up to the standard of Hindi song writing. The song was composed and written by Sajid-Wajid, and sung by Mamta Sharma.
"Munni Badnaam Hui": This item number from "Dabangg" in 2010, featuring Malaika Arora, was a major hit but faced criticism for its lyrics. There were also trademark infringement concerns due to the use of the name of the pain-relieving balm, Zandu Balm, in the lyrics. Sung by Mamta Sharma and Aishwarya, the song was written by Lalit Pandit, who also composed the music.
"Sheila Ki Jawani": This song from Farah Khan's flop "Tees Maar Khan" in 2010, featuring Katrina Kaif as Sheila, was a major hit. It's known for its suggestive lyrics and dance sequences and comes from a period in Hindi cinema when item songs were a prominent part of films. Sung by Sunidhi Chauhan, the music was composed by Vishal–Shekhar, and the lyrics were written by Vishal Dadlani.
"Chikni Chameli": In 2011, Katrina Kaif performed this item number from "Agneepath." It became an instant hit, but its lyrics were criticized for objectifying women. Years later, singer Shreya Ghoshal, who sang the song, said she finds it strange to see young children dance to it. She said she has become more careful in what she sings now. The song was written by Amitabh Bhattacharya and composed by Ajay-Atul.
"Choli Ke Peeche Kya Hai": This song from 1993's "Khalnayak" made headlines due to its double meaning dialogue and sparked controversy at the time of its release. Madhuri Dixit danced to the number, while Ila Arun and Alka Yagnik sang it. Composed by Laxmikant-Pyarelal, the lyrics were written by Anand Bakshi.
The film also has a connection with "Sarke Chunar." Actor Nora Fatehi said she accepted the song because she was led to believe that it was a remake of "Nayak nahi khalnayak hoon main" from the Subhash Ghai film. Both "Sarke Chunar" and "Nayak nahi..." feature Sanjay Dutt.
"Sexy Sexy Mujhe Log Bole": This song from 1994's film "Khuddar," featuring Karisma Kapoor and Govinda, was considered too vulgar for Indian audiences, leading to protests. Subsequently, the word "sexy" was changed to "baby." Sung by Alisha Chinai and Anu Malik, the song was composed by Malik and has lyrics by Indeevar. The original version is still available online.
"Sarkai Lo Khatiya": This song comes from another Govinda hit "Raja Babu" in 1994. Featuring Karisma Kapoor and Govinda, this song was labeled vulgar for its suggestive lyrics and banned by All India Radio due to its provocative nature. Composed by Anand Milind, it is sung by Poornima and Kumar Sanu with lyrics by Sameer. Despite the controversy, it was a major hit for many years.
"Khada Hai": This sexually suggestive song is from 1994 movie "Andaz," directed by David Dhawan and produced by Pehlaj Nihlani. The song is sung by Sadhana Sargam and Vinod Rathod and features Juhi Chawla and Anil Kapoor. Reports at the time said that Juhi Chawla was upset and uncomfortable during the filming of the song due to its double meaning lyrics and cheap choreography.
"Bhaag Bhaag DK Bose": This song from "Delhi Belly" in 2011 landed in controversy for the sneaky use of a Hindi expletive. Despite the controversy, it became a hit. The movie, produced by Aamir Khan and featuring his nephew Imran Khan in the lead role. The song is composed and sung by Ram Sampat with lyrics by Amitabh Bhattacharya.