Mumbai, May 1: Singer Sona Mohapatra claims she has "received threats" from the Madiyar Sufi Foundation over her rendition of 'Tori Surat', based upon the writing of legendary Sufi poet Amir Khusro. Mohapatra reached out to the Mumbai Police, seeking action against the group.
Apart from tweeting to the Mumbai Police, Mohapatra approached the Santacruz police station to discuss the issue. However, no official FIR has been registered.
In a series of tweets, Mohapatra claimed the Sufi outfit objected to her song in a letter sent to her, calling it obscene and defamatory. The group has asked her to pull down the song from all mediums as it could flare up communal passions, apart from being vulgar.
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 singer further claimed that the Sufi Foundation has objected to the "earthy incarnations of the feminine divine" in her video song, apart from her wearing sleeveless while singing a "Sufiana Kalam". "If this offends you, then please go live in your pre-historic cave," she quipped.
The Mumbai Police said it would discuss the issue with the representatives of the Madiyar Sufi Foundation.
Sameer Boghani, president of the Madariya Sufi Foundation, said the outfit has not violated any law by sending a notice to Mohapatra over her "objectionable" video song. "There is a certain format to represent Sufi culture and music. Mohapatra has gone ahead with the video without taking permission from the foundation," he said, while speaking to HT.
The Madiyar Sufi Foundation describes itself as a trust which is committed uphold peace, justice and human rights, apart from promoting Sufism. The outfit focuses on the teachings of Sufi Saint Syed Badiuddin Zinda Shah Madar and his followers.
On being asked whether they "threatened" Mohapatra with dire consequences, Boghani denied, saying no law has been violated by dispatching a legal notice to her. "We are prepared to answer all questions of the Mumbai Police," he added.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 01, 2018 12:09 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).