Even though Shahid Kapoor and Kiara Advani starrer Kabir Singh is on its way to becoming a massive box office hit, the movie has been receiving a lot of criticism from the masses. While the movie revolves around the relationship between the protagonist Kabir and his love-interest Preeti, later going on to showcase Kabir’s heartbreak and its after-effects, many have taken on social media to condemn the movie for allegedly glorifying toxic masculinity and a patriarchal dominant-submissive kind of relationship.
Singer Sona Mohapatra, who has a reputation of speaking her mind unflinchingly, came forward to express her own fair share of criticism as well. According to sources, it started with Sona reacting to one of the tweets praising Shahid Kapoor’s performance as Kabir Singh. She tried pointing out how an actor’s choice of movies holds much importance considering how much films are capable of shaping social consciousness.
& how can we keep such deeply disturbing , dark & dangerous politics ‘aside’? Does the actor have no responsibility for choosing to play a part in a narrative that can set us back as a society? Is that all we have become? Creatures of ambition? #LetsTalk #India #KabirSingh https://t.co/UxUbWdOpAF
— Sona Mohapatra (@sonamohapatra) June 21, 2019
She then went on to attack Rekha Sharma, the Chairperson of the National Commission for Women, for tweeting (now deleted) in praise of the actor as well.
Didn’t notice the deeply misogynistic & patriarchal narrative? Just intense acting? That is truly deeply disturbing. That you are the the chairperson of the @NCWIndia , makes me wonder about what we can hope for when it comes to women’s place in #India . 🔴 https://t.co/zxcLWVFuiO
— Sona Mohapatra (@sonamohapatra) June 21, 2019
However, as one would expect, the singer began receiving a lot of flak from Kabir Singh fans.
Ma'am @sonamohapatra before puking out acid for Kabir Singh – Movie, let me please remind that you did the playback of Bedardi Raja once! Try to appreciate. Being optimistic isn't a crime in India. Peace ✌️
— Gaurabh K Patra (@gaurabhkp) June 23, 2019
Some people get so much desparate to stay in the limelight. This madam is an example
— Rj angarag d great (@angarag) June 24, 2019
Is that another way of gaining cheap publicity?? Relax, it's just a movie
— Vinnie (@Vineet296) June 22, 2019
Dear Mam, where was your sense of moral responsibility when you sang "Bedardi raja".. you are covering new grounds of "double standards"
— Justaju-e-Jagat (@qaafiyaa) June 22, 2019
https://twitter.com/atul_RP__/status/1142802114181099522
Attention wali aunty is back 🤣
— Akaash Kumar (@BeingRealAkaash) June 24, 2019
Sona being Sona, she didn’t ignore these criticisms and hit back with strong replies. For those who were trolling her for her song ‘Bedardi Raja’, she pointed out how a woman celebrating her own sexuality is nowhere close to a man grabbing a woman without her consent.
U are the nth moron trying to make such a false equivalence. A woman singing lustily & celebrating her own sexuality isn’t likely to cause violence & isn’t the same thing as a man grabbing a woman without her consent,kissing her apart from several other such toxic masculine acts https://t.co/d0efQmxKbV
— Sona Mohapatra (@sonamohapatra) June 23, 2019
here is another runt trying to bring me down for criticising a film character/narrative that I didn’t like. 👇🏾I have no issues singing ‘Bhojpuri’ songs btw. I start some shows with poetry written by the brilliant Bhikhari Thakur. 🙏🏾🎶 https://t.co/Ym39RHYEds
— Sona Mohapatra (@sonamohapatra) June 24, 2019
While Kabir Singh allegedly has had the biggest blockbuster opening on a non-holiday earning a whopping 70 crores on its first day itself, there is no doubt that the movie has several problematic narratives running throughout which is now open to debate.
Downright misogyny or “just a love story”? Let us know!