Sona Mohapatra claps back at trolls: I called out what felt wrong, and I stand by it
While Sona got a mixed reaction as she voiced out her stand against the makers of Kanta Laga remix, the singer shares her pov
Singer Sona Mohapatra found herself embroiled in a controversy after she reacted strongly to the makers of the Kanta Laga remix (2004) after they announced they were retiring the song in the wake of Shefali Jariwala’s untimely demise. While the makers issued a statement saying the track would not be recreated again “out of respect,” Sona questioned their timing and intent—sparking a wave of online trolling and mixed reactions.
Sona tells us, “What do the people of India feel about this is all I have to ask? Not just a few social media users trolling me. What do you feel about the situation of performative grief & posts to get publicity as is the case with the guys claiming to be the makers of Kanta Laga.” Further adding she says, “They can declare ‘retiring a song’ that RD Burman, Majrooh Sultanpuri created and Bharat Ratna Lata Mangeshkar rendered to serve this purpose of self promotion and that too so insidiously by riding on a pretty performers untimely demise should upset everyone, not just me.”
Keeping her point across, the singer states, “These songs & these legends of the industry are the musical heritage & shoulders we stand upon & I refuse to let fake sentimentality come in the way of facts, the truth & having artistic integrity.”
Addressing the barrage of trolling, she says: “Thankfully, while trolling gets more attention online, there have been enough and more people writing in to support my point of view. That’s a relief & a validation of how public debate helps shape society for the better.”
{{/usCountry}}Addressing the barrage of trolling, she says: “Thankfully, while trolling gets more attention online, there have been enough and more people writing in to support my point of view. That’s a relief & a validation of how public debate helps shape society for the better.”
{{/usCountry}}The controversy started when the makers of the early 2000s remix of Kanta Laga issued a statement after the death of Shefali Jariwala, the face of the original remix video. They declared that, as a mark of respect, the song would not be reimagined or remade again. This sentiment did not sit right with Sona, who felt the statement glossed over the remix’s original flaws—particularly the lack of consent from RD Burman’s estate and the controversial visual treatment of the video.
{{/usCountry}}The controversy started when the makers of the early 2000s remix of Kanta Laga issued a statement after the death of Shefali Jariwala, the face of the original remix video. They declared that, as a mark of respect, the song would not be reimagined or remade again. This sentiment did not sit right with Sona, who felt the statement glossed over the remix’s original flaws—particularly the lack of consent from RD Burman’s estate and the controversial visual treatment of the video.
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