Director Prem Firmly Denies Publicity Stunt Allegations Over Controversial Song
Prem, the director of the upcoming film 'KD: The Devil,' has officially broken his silence regarding the escalating controversy surrounding the track 'Sarke Chunar.' The Hindi version of this song, featuring prominent actors Nora Fatehi and Sanjay Dutt, recently ignited a firestorm of criticism across social media platforms. This backlash culminated in a formal complaint being lodged with the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) and widespread speculation that the entire episode was a calculated "publicity stunt."
Prem Clarifies Intent: Emotional Film, Fun Song
Addressing the swirling rumors head-on, director Prem has categorically dismissed claims that the controversy was deliberately manufactured to generate attention for the film. He insisted that creating such an uproar was never part of the project's strategy. "I don't want any controversy. Mine is an emotional film, and the song is meant to be something people dance to at parties. It's been well received in Karnataka and Kerala. Why would I want controversy?" Prem explained in a detailed conversation with Hindustan Times.
He emphasized that 'KD The Devil' is fundamentally a narrative driven by emotion, and the song 'Sarke Chunar' was conceived purely as a celebratory, fun number designed for audiences to enjoy at social gatherings and festivities.
Language Barrier and Lyric Misunderstanding
Prem provided crucial context for the misunderstanding, revealing a significant language gap. He originally penned the lyrics for the Kannada version of the song, which proceeded without issue. However, lyricist Raqueeb Alam was responsible for adapting the lyrics into Hindi for the version featuring Nora Fatehi.
"Everything went smoothly with the Kannada original. I didn't understand the Hindi words used in translation as I am not fluent in the language," Prem admitted. He further clarified that certain expressions used in the Hindi translation, which sparked the backlash, are commonplace and culturally accepted within his own rural background, but their nuance was lost in translation and context for a wider Hindi-speaking audience.
Lyrics Revised and Apology Issued
In direct response to the intense public criticism, the filmmaker has taken corrective action. Prem confirmed that the controversial portions of the 'Sarke Chunar' lyrics have now been modified. The revised version will be formally submitted to the Censor Board for approval.
Offering a sincere apology, Prem stated, "If anyone is hurt, I am very sorry. Our big film faced a small lyrics issue, but it has been blown out of proportion. There are so many larger problems in the world, war hai, LPG gas ki problem hai toh kyun ek gaane pe itni badi controversy kar di?" His statement underscores a plea for perspective amidst the heated debate.
Background of the 'Sarke Chunar' Controversy
For context, the song 'Sarke Chunar Teri Sarke' from 'KD: The Devil' recently became a major point of contention following severe backlash on social media. Numerous users criticized the Hindi lyrics, leading to widespread online debate. This public outcry eventually prompted the film's makers to take down the Hindi version of the track from platforms.
It is important to note that this specific controversial version was sung by Mangli, written by Raqueeb Alam, and composed by Karan Janya. Notably, the other language versions of the song—in Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam—remain available online, as the criticism has been almost exclusively directed at the Hindi adaptation of the lyrics.
The controversy highlights the delicate challenges of cross-cultural translation in cinema and the rapid amplification of public sentiment through social media channels.
