New Delhi: A fatwa has sparked outrage in Uttar Pradesh against Bollywood dancer Nora Fatehi over her steamy song Sarke Chunar Teri Sarke from the upcoming Kannada film KD: The Devil. Religious leaders slammed the track’s lyrics and visuals as vulgar and un-Islamic, joining a national uproar that led to a government ban.
As backlash intensifies ahead of the film’s release, Nora defends her role—but will this controversy derail her career?
Fatwa issued in Aligarh
A Muslim religious body in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, issued a fatwa against Nora Fatehi for the song Sarke Chunar Teri Sarke, calling its content objectionable and against Islamic teachings. The fatwa came from the Muslim Personal Darul Ifta, led by Chief Mufti Maulana Ebrahim Hussain. He described the visuals as “explicit and vulgar,” labelling participation in such material as “haram and a gunah-e-kabira (grave sin).” The body told ANI that the song violates religious principles. A fatwa is a non-binding legal opinion by a mufti on Islamic issues.
Government steps in
The Union government banned the song after widespread complaints about its lyrics and visuals. Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw announced this in the Lok Sabha, responding to Samajwadi Party MP Anand Bhadouria. Public backlash included demands for FIRs and the removal of the track from platforms. Complaints flooded in before Parliament raised the issue.
Song details and backlash
The song features Nora Fatehi and Sanjay Dutt, composed by Arjun Janya with Kannada lyrics by director Prem, translated to Hindi by Raqueeb Alam, and sung by Mangli. Released recently, it faced instant online fury for being too provocative. The film KD: The Devil stars Dhruva Sarja, Sanjay Dutt, Shilpa Shetty Kundra, and others, set for April 30 release.
Nora’s defence
Nora addressed the storm in an Instagram video, saying she shot it three years ago for a big film with icon Sanjay Dutt. “Who would say no to working with him? He’s such an icon. And it was a remake… of Nayak Nahi Khalnayak Hoon Main,” she explained. She claimed the team assured her the Hindi translation was fine, as she doesn’t understand Kannada. But upon hearing the final Hindi lyrics at launch, she knew “it would cause trouble.”