From Munni to Sheela; Bollywood Songs that Casually Endorsed Harassment
Bollywood has played a pivotal role in our lives from its sweet romantic stories to amazingly shot action sequences, from thrillers that drive us to the edge to comedies that tickled our funny bones. Bollywood has really given us an exemplary cinematic experience. What enhances this experience is the brilliant soundtrack of some of these films but these songs at times forget all the limits and become problematic and promote evils like eve teasing, stalking, kidnapping, etc. majority of them being sung by the hero or the villain for the women he has his heart set on. These problematic lyrics served with catchy tunes then become the perfect songs for dance parties and we have to admit that we’ve all jammed and danced our heart out at these renditions. Here are some of these songs that were wrong and make me wonder how did they pass through the censor board.
1. Gandi Baat – R Rajkumar
Beedi peeke nukkad pe, wait tera kiya re
Khaali peeli attharah (18) cup, chai bhi toh piya re
Raja beta ban ke maine jab sharafat dikhaayi
Tune bola hat mawali bhaav nahi diya re
A B C D padh li bahut
Thandi aahein bhar li bahut
Achchi baatein kar li bahut
Ab karoonga tere saath
(Gandi baat, gandi gandi gandi gandi gandi baat)
(Gandi baat, gandi gandi gandi gandi gandi baat)
This song form R Rajkumar not only glorifies the “Raja Beta Complex” but also implies that one can treat or behave with a woman anyway he wants as he tried to be decent for a few days. the only saving grace in this song was Shahid Kapoor’s dance skills.
2. Tu Cheez Badi Hai Mast – Mohra
Tu cheez badi hai mast mast
Tu cheez badi hai mast
This Akshay Kumar, Raveena Tondon film was well acclaimed for its soundtracks. The song ‘Cheez Badi hai Mast’ even lead to the lead actress been bestowed with title of “Mast Mast Girl”. What makes this song problematic is the casual way it objectifies women. Since when did objectifying women become a way of expressing affection. Don’t think anyone would really appreciate being called a “mast cheez” by some dude. The song was also remade for the 2017 film Machine.
3. Apun Bola – Josh
Apun bola tu meri laila,
woh bolee phekta hai sala
Apun jab bhee sachchi bolta hai ayeee
Usko jhuth kaiko lagta hai re
Yeh uska style hoinga, hontho pe naa
Dil mein haan hoinga
Aaj nahi toh kal bolegi,
Aye tu tension kaiko leta hai re
A song glorifying the “ladki ki na mein bhi haan hai” notion. This really emphasizes on how ‘No’ actually means ‘Yes’. Sung by Bollywood’s Badshah – Shah Rukh Khan. I don’t know what makes it worse, the fact that a woman is singing these lines or seeing my favourite 90’s icons endorsing such ideology.
Ghar se bhagaake leja,
Samjhegi teri baat ko
And if she still rejects you, just kidnap her.
4. Ek Chumma – Houseful 4
Haan Gundo Se Chhudaya Hai
Maine Tujhe Bachaya Hai
Gundo Se Chhudaya Hai
Maine Tujhe Bachaya Hai
Haan Puchh Le Saamne Janta Hai
Ek Chumma, Ek Chummaa
Ik Chummaa Toh Banta Hai
So basically, if you do a decent deed you must be rewarded for it. These men don’t seem any less than the “gundas” they saved these girls from.
5. Jaadu Teri Nazar – Darr
“Tu kisi aur ki ho na jana
Kuch bhi kar jaaonga main deewana
Tu haan kar, ya naa kar
Tu hai meri… Kiran”
Darr was a film about a stalker who casually tattoos the name of the girl he admires with his blood. The song was from a stalker’s point of view but what’s more problematic is that it is to date considered a romantic song without the realisation of how casually it mocks consent.
6. Tu Mere Agal Bagal – Phata Poster Nikla Hero
Khali Peeli Khali Peeli Rokne Ka Nahin
Tera Peechha Karoon Toh Tokne Ka Nahin
Khali Peeli Khali Peeli Rokne Ka Nahin
Tera Peechha Karoon Toh Tokne Ka Nahin
Haan Tujhpe Right Mera
Tu Hai Delight Mera
Tera Rasta Jo Rokoon
Chaunkne Ka Nahin
Tere Doggy Ko Mujhpe Bhaunkne Ka Nahin
Tera Peechha Karoon Toh Rokne Ka Nahin
Khali Peeli Khali Peeli Rokne Ka Nahin
Tera Peechha Karoon Toh Tokne Ka Nahin
Tu Mere Agal Bagal Hai
Main Tere Agal Bagal Hoon
Written by Irshad Kamil, who’s written gem albums like Rockstar and Love Aaj Kal also gave us this is song. The song features a man following around a girl and singing these lines to her even when the girl looks uncomfortable, he continues with his rendition and in fact casually even gropes her. The lyrics translate to ‘don’t stop me when I’m following you, I have a right on you and don’t be shocked if I block your way’. Casually glorifying stalking as a way to show affection. This time even Shahid’s dancing skills couldn’t save this song.
These were a few songs from the list of songs that can put anyone to shame. It is high time Bollywood stops glorifying stalking, kidnapping and objectification as a sign of love and affection. Though movies are a reflection of the society, they also impact and influence the youth. Here’s hoping that Bollywood starts researching on the woman’s perspective and become sensitive towards the ideas they are endorsing before they produce their songs.
- Aadya Punj