Bollywood songs that refute Sharad Yadav's sexist tune

Facing a storm of disapproval for his “saanvli” (dark complexioned) remarks on Indian women, Janata Dal (United) leader Sharad Yadav stood his ground and turned to classic Hindi film song in defiance on Monday.

Facing a storm of disapproval for his “saanvli” (dark complexioned) remarks on Indian women, Janata Dal (United) leader Sharad Yadav stood his ground and turned to classic Hindi film song in defiance on Monday.

JD-U-leader-Sharad-Yadav-and-HRD-minister-Smriti-Irani-in-Rajya-Sabha-in-New-Delhi-PTI-Photos

He brought up Gulzar’s ‘Mera gora rang lai le, mohe shyaam rang dei de’ for Bandini to insist he had said nothing wrong during a debate in the Rajya Sabha last week.

During the debate on the insurance bill, the veteran politician had held forth on Indians’ obsession with fair skin and said, “Your God is dark like Ravi Shankar Prasad, but your matrimonial ads insist on white-skinned brides.” Telecom minister Prasad has dissociated himself from Yadav’s comments.

The JD(U) leader had also referred to the complexion of south Indian women, saying, "The women of the south are dark but they are as beautiful as their bodies... We don't see it here. They know (how to) dance."

A defiant Yadav is ready for a debate on his remarks, which have been deemed sexist, but turning to Hindi songs will not be of much help because he cannot hope to get the poetic licence accorded to Gulzar or other lyricists.

There are many popular songs with the gora-kala reference and some of them pitch the meaningless of the complexion obsession. Be that as it may, artistic freedom is different from political grandstanding.

If the seasoned JD(U) leader wants to take the song route to stand firm, here are a few for him to ponder over.

Song:

Goron ki na kaalon ki, duniya hai dilwalon ki

Film:

Disco Dancer

Song:

Gore rang pe na itna gumaan kar, gora rang do din me dhal jaega

Film:

Roti

Song:

Gore nahi hum kaale sahi

Film:

Desh Premee

Song:

Hum kaale hain toh kya hua dilwale hain

Film:

Gumnaam

Song:

Kaala re, saiyaan kala re

Film:

Gangs Of Wasseypur

Song:

Saanwla rang hai mera

Film:

Rampur Ka Laksham

Song:

Yashomati maiya se… Radha kyon gori, main kyon kala

Film:

Satyam Shivam Sundaram