Singer Sona Mohapatra criticizes rapper Badshah for misogynistic portrayal of women in his controversial Haryanvi track ‘Tateeree’ and urges artists to use their influence responsibly.
Indian singer Sona Mohapatra has voiced strong criticism of rapper Badshah amid the controversy surrounding his recently released track Tateeree. Taking to Instagram, Mohapatra condemned the music video’s portrayal of women and called out recurring stereotypes in pop culture.
In her post, she wrote, “Her & now young girls in uniforms as props … Stop with this brain & soul rot. Real men exist. The good. The honourable. The ones who show up & stand up, let's make them the heroes. Let’s make them the ones we desire #IndiaDeservesBetter.”
Mohapatra further criticized the repetitive trope in mainstream music videos: “A man puffing up his chest, flexing masculinity, objectifying women, and projecting himself as some irresistible hero while women exist merely to drool around him… This isn’t creativity. It’s the laziest trope in pop culture.”
She also emphasized the social context, noting, “Haryana already battles some of the country's worst gender ratios, violence against women, and honour killings.”
Highlighting the responsibility artists carry, she added, “Cultural influence carries responsibility. Artists shape imagination. You can challenge misogyny or profit from it. BADSHAH & this lot, do better. And those fashion victim wannabes paying for this… grow a brain or a soul.”
The controversy stems from a scene in Tateeree featuring girls in school uniforms dancing inside a Haryana Roadways bus, which many criticized as inappropriate. Complaints were filed with the Haryana State Commission for Women, prompting authorities to intervene.
Badshah subsequently issued a public apology and removed the track from streaming platforms and social media.