Sona Mohapatra on threats from Sufi group: If this offends you, then go live in your pre-historic cave

Dear @MumbaiPolice I have received a threatening notice from the Madariya Sufi Foundation to remove my music video Tori Surat from all communication mediums. They claim that the video is vulgar,will flare communal tensions.I need to know whom to write in my response to at ur end

— SONA (@sonamohapatra) April 30, 2018

The Sufi Madariya foundation has also called me a ‘regular offender’ & says that they find another five year old Video of me singing a Sufiana Kalam – Piya Se Naina on coke studio insulting Islam because I’m ‘dressed exposing my body’ & playing westernised music. @MumbaiPolice

— SONA (@sonamohapatra) April 30, 2018

She further wrote, “The Madariya foundation along with the agreement of the Nizamuddin Dargah have an issue with the description of my Tori Surat music video, “earthy incarnations of the feminine Divine” & with “a sleeveless dress and body exposing dancers”. Basically with everything woman & free. Dear @MumbaiPolice the Madariya Sufi foundation claims to work for Sufism,peace & universal brotherhood in their threatening notice to me. I ask you & #India ,what about the ‘sisterhood’?Why is it that in this day & age the women expected to cover up, not sing or dance in public.”

The Madariya foundation along with the agreement of the Nizamuddin Dargah have an issue with the description of my Tori Surat music video, “earthy incarnations of the feminine Divine” & with “a sleeveless dress and body exposing dancers”. Basically with everything woman & free.

— SONA (@sonamohapatra) April 30, 2018

Dear @MumbaiPolice the Madariya Sufi foundation claims to work for Sufism,peace & universal brotherhood in their threatening notice to me. I ask you & #India ,what about the ‘sisterhood’?Why is it that in this day & age the women expected to cover up, not sing or dance in public

— SONA (@sonamohapatra) April 30, 2018

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Later the singer who has songs like “Naina”, “Bedardi Raja”, “Jiya Lage Na” and others to her credit raised two questions in a Facebook post. She wrote, “I want to ask the Madariya Sufi Foundation, Chistiya Sufi Brotherhood & custodians at Nizamuddin Auliya Dargah Sharif these very simple but critical questions: 1) Are men & women equal in your eyes? 2) Why are women not allowed to sing inside your Dargahs like the men?” Also, she shared the song “Tori Surat” on Twitter with the caption, “The earthy incarnations of the feminine divine 🔴. If this offends you, then please go live in your pre-historic cave.”

The earthy incarnations of the feminine divine 🔴https://t.co/CzhoCgVkZ6

)If this offends you, then please go live in your pre-historic cave. )

— SONA (@sonamohapatra) May 1, 2018

The Mumbai Police has reacted to Sona’s complaint. “Headed to the police station in my neighbourhood to sort out this matter. Thank you @MumbaiPolice for calling me & giving direction. 🤘🏾🔴,” tweeted Sona.

Headed to the police station in my neighbourhood to sort out this matter. Thank you @MumbaiPolice for calling me & giving direction. 🤘🏾🔴

— SONA (@sonamohapatra) April 30, 2018

Reacting on the incident, lyricist Javed Akhtar took to his Twitter handle and wrote, “In strongest possible words I condemn those regressive and reactionary organisations who are threatening Sona Mahapatra for making a music video of a Amir Khusrau ‘ Geet . These mullas should know that Amir Khusrau belongs to every Indian . He is not your property .”

In strongest possible words I condemn those regressive and reactionary organisations who are threatening Sona Mahapatra for making a music video of a Amir Khusrau ‘ Geet . These mullas should know that Amir Khusrau belongs to every Indian . He is not your property .

— Javed Akhtar (@Javedakhtarjadu) May 1, 2018

In an earlier interview with indianexpress.com, Sona narrated the story behind her new project Lal Pari Mastani. She said, “I am a travel addict and it was in Delhi, I was living in a guest house. There were these travellers from around the world. So, there was this French woman from Afghanistan who spoke about the area between Afghanistan and Pakistan border, which is a birthplace of Sufiana music. However, once the Taliban had come in and they were wiping out music, making women stay at home covered in burqas. Then she mentioned a woman who wore all red, was a complete rebel and used to sing in Dargah. She did not care about anyone. The picture was imprinted in my brain that there is a sea of black and here’s a force of nature who is standing up against everything, singing, dancing and saying music is not haraam. This episode is from some 15 years ago and since then, I have been carrying the image in my heart and mind. That is how Lal Pari Mastani happened.”

Also read | Sona Mohapatra: Lal Pari Mastani will truly change how Indian artistes are perceived within the country and globally

Under Lal Pari Mastani project, the singer will be launching a song and a video every month until the end of the year.