‘Hindi films not strangers to innuendo’

Ministry of Information & Broadcasting reportedly pulls up censor board for passing the track Bhaag DK Bose, film’s lead actor lashes out at criticisms, bemoans double standards applied to art.

In Bollywood parlance, Munni has lost her reputation and Sheila, her youth. Now DK Bose, the season’s new anthem-like grungy song from Delhi Belly, is making news for its double-meaning lyrics too. However, actor Imran Khan doesn’t seem to understand why. “I’m surprised by all the hue and cry being created around DK Bose. We, in Hindi films, aren’t strangers to double-meaning lyrics and innuendo,” says the actor who plays Tashi in the Aamir Khan production that releases on July 1.

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Recalling how his mother never allowed him to watch Bobby (1973) as a kid as it was deemed ‘immoral’ and ‘obscene’, Imran insists that many classic songs from old films in the past have had clear references to sexual acts. “I’m not getting into the specifics, but they aren’t subtly disguised. People never criticised those songs because they were poetic in nature. Also, perhaps because they were written by revered lyricists or composed by respected music directors.” But because Bhaag DK Bose… has been written by “a cool and young composer, lyricist” it is being made an issue out of.

“Youth music has always been on the fringes and a majority of society has always looked at it with suspicion. At one point, Elvis (Presley) and The Beatles were called obscene. They became great musicians.”

But at the end of the day, he is content with the track. “I’m glad it has clicked with the youth and market we intended to reach. It’s a song for and about young people.”

At the same time, he makes it a point to warn a certain section of the audience against watching the film. “It isn’t meant for those under the age of 18. We have always wanted an A-certificate. It’s not meant for people who aren’t young at heart,” says Imran. “If you feel like, Hamari parampara (our tradition) and all, please don’t watch it. The movie is very irreverent.”

A few weeks ago, RA.One director Anubhav Sinha too had joined the bandwagon and slammed Aamir Khan for backing a risqué song like DK Bose. At which point Imran’s aunt-in-law Kiran Rao had stood up and openly defended it.