The recent controversy over Honey Singh's songs has sparked off a debate on social media platforms with many questioning why Bollywood gets away with suggestive item songs.
The rapper, who became popular with his song
Angerezi beat in Saif Ali Khan starrer
Cocktail, was caught in the controversy following the outrage over Delhi gangrape.
He was forced to cancel New Year's Eve performance in Gurgaon after an online petition by some activists and also faces an FIR in a Lucknow police station.
Singh tweeted that he was being used as an excuse while
denying writing the lyrics that triggered the anger.
The online community seemed divided on the issue as many questioned why there was no criticism of item songs like
Sheila ki jawani,
Munni badnaam hui,
Halkat jawani and
Fevicol se while others believed that freedom of expression should be respected.
"FIR lodged against Honey Singh, looks like the Indian system is confused between the 'Rapers' and 'Rappers'," Shivam
Garg
posted on Twitter.
Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap too defended Singh, saying, "The country would like to believe that Honey Singh is the reason
why rapes take place. Then let me raise my hand too. I did x rated EAtyachar. And I will stand up and say... You don't know
what you are doing.. acting like a mob.. Then everything that offends anyone should be banned.
"The more we get moralistic and try to curb expression. There will be more repression. Repression is the root cause of
most evils," Kashyap added.
What seemed to bother many was the hypocrisy of targetting just one artiste while popular cinema and music continued to portray women as eyecandy.
"Ban
Munni and
Sheila as well. Why Honey Singh alone? Heights of double standards," tweeted Sumateja.
"Given Honey Singh's lyrics are offensive... And
Mein to tandoori murgi hoon yaar, gatkale saiyan alcohol se any less
offensive?" a user posted while referring to Kareena Kapoor's item song in Salman Khan starrer
Dabangg 2.