Chief Mufti Maulana Ebrahim Hussain of the Muslim Personal Darul Ifta in Aligarh has issued a fatwa in response to the ongoing dispute around a song from the movie KD: The Devil. In a statement to India, the cleric said Today, the song, which features Sanjay Dutt and Nora Fatehi, is deemed unacceptable under Islamic teachings due to its purported usage of explicit and “vulgar” images. He described such materials as haram and a gunah-e-kabira (severe sin), adding that it is against religious principles to participate in or promote such stuff.
The comment is made in the midst of a developing controversy about the song’s purportedly pornographic lyrics and images, which have garnered criticism from a number of sources. Its possible effects on younger audiences and more general cultural values have also drawn criticism.
In response to the criticism, the Central Government reportedly banned the song.
Everything about the backlash:
The song was intended to commemorate Nora Fatehi’s debut in Kannada film when it was released on March 14, 2026. It also stars Sanjay Dutt and has a strong 1970s-inspired throwback dance bar vibe. This environment is important since songs with provocative performances have traditionally been performed in such contexts.
However, viewers thought they had gone too far this time.
The song’s choreography drew criticism, particularly a hook step that included repeatedly dropping the pallu. A lot of viewers thought it went too far. But what really got things going were the lyrics.
Before changing to a metaphor about a bottle of booze, the initial lines rely on a clear double meaning that seems to describe a sexual act. That explanation did not stop the harm for a lot of listeners. The wording seemed uncivilised and very explicit.
Legal matters
The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) was reportedly requested to look into the situation earlier this week by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB). Concerns were voiced concurrently by organisations such as the Karnataka State Commission for Women and the National Human Rights Commission. The latter warned that such content could normalise harassment and characterised the song as disparaging to women.
Soon after, there were legal complaints. Petitioners argued that the song was problematic since it was freely available to minors, citing provisions under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and even the POCSO Act.
What the film’s crew stated
The Hindi version, Sarke Chunar, was written by lyricist Raqueeb Alam, who openly disassociated himself from the Kannada original. He asserted that he had not composed the contentious words and had just translated an already-existing Kannada number. He claims that Prem, the film’s director, wrote the original version. Alam added that despite his warnings regarding possible censorship concerns, the team was nevertheless asked to move forward.
However, Rakshita, the wife of filmmaker Prem, defended the movie and song by citing earlier songs that she believed had double meaning. She mentioned popular songs like Peelings, Dreamup Wakeupum, and Choli Ke Peechhe. She argued, “Why is the KD track being singled out if those songs were accepted despite being controversial back in the day?”
Nora Fatehi’s remarks regarding the problematic song
The song’s star, actor Nora Fatehi, then claimed in a video statement that she had never heard of Sarke Chunar, the Hindi rendition of the contentious Sarse Ninna song from the Kannada movie KD: The Devil. She said that although she didn’t understand Kannada, she warned the filmmaker that the song would cause controversy as soon as she heard the Hindi version. She also asked her followers not to distribute the song.
“I would hate for anyone to believe that I support this. She stated, “Thank you for the backlash; the filmmakers have fortunately taken it down because of this pressure.” She also asked fans to refrain from sharing the song online.She continued, “I would also ask everyone to stop sharing the song because you’re just giving it a platform unnecessarily.”
Nora disclosed in an Instagram video that she had taped the song in Kannada three years prior and had consented to participate because it had Sanjay Dutt and was a part of a significant project.Three years ago, I recorded this song in Kannada. It was a part of a large movie, so I said sure. Who wouldn’t want to collaborate with a major celebrity like Sanjay Dutt?” she asked.
At the time, she said, she relied on the filmmakers for translations. “When they translated the song for me, nothing appeared offensive or wrong. I was depending on what they said because I don’t understand Kannada.”
