Singer Sona Mohapatra tweets to Mumbai Police over threats from Sufi foundation; receives support from Javed Akhtar

Bollywood singer Sona Mohapatra, who is known for hits like Bedari Raja and Ambarsariya, took to Twitter to allege that she received a threat notice from Madariya Sufi Foundation for one of her music videos-Tori Surat.

The song, which was written by Amir Khusro, is a part of Sona Mohapatra’s new project Lal Pari Mastani. 

The Cuttack-born singer, who is known for giving her opinion, tweeted to Mumbai Police about the incident and alleged that the foundation had threatened her to remove the song. The Jiya Laage Na singer said the Sufi foundation claimed that the song was vulgar & obscene and would flame communal tensions.

The talented singer asked why the women are expected to cover up and not dance or sing in public.

''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 Mohapatra added.

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

— 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

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

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

Mumbai Police was quick enough to respond and said that they would take the matter on priority.

We have followed you. Request you to inbox your number. We will look into this on priority.

— Mumbai Police (@MumbaiPolice) April 30, 2018

Veteran lyricist Javed Akhtar condemned the threats and said that Amir Khusro belonged to every Indian.

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