Published 19:50 IST, November 7th 2019
Sona Mohapatra slams Hema Sardesai for backing Anu Malik in #MeToo row
Sona Mohapatra, Neha Bhasin slammed Hema Sardesai for backing Anu Malik in the #Metoo row. They accused her of victim-shaming, terming her comments disgusting'.
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Like last year, the #MeToo movement came to the fore once again when one of the names accused then, Anu Malik, recently returned to Indian Idol 11 as a judge. Sona Mohapatra and Neha Bhasin had lashed out at the makers for getting him on the show, with the latter opeing up on her ordeal with the music composer for the first time. However, Anu Malik got the backing of another singer, Hema Sardesai, who said that singer-composer had given her hits only on merit. She asked all those who raised their voice, why they were quiet for so long and even asked if they were doing it for publicity. Sona, Neha and another singer Shweta Pandit fumed at Hema Sardesai for her comments, calling it ‘disgusting’, while even accusing Hema of ‘victim-shaming’ with her ‘two hands to clap’ analogy.
Hema Sardesai in a post on Instagram stated that she was among the singers, who refused to make ‘compromises’ for songs, and yet delivered many chartbusters, including many with Anu Malik. She said if ‘one of the decent most’ singers could’ve sung many of ‘Anu Malik’s greatest songs’, it proved that he respected talent and gave her songs on ‘merit’ alone. She asked those taking on Anu Malik why they were ‘quiet’ for so long, and even asked them if the other composers they worked with were ‘gods’ while also saying that it needs 'two hands to clap’. She also wrote that it was ‘unacceptable’ if they were doing it for ‘publicity’.
Singers unhappy
Sona Mohapatra, who had shared her experiences with Anu Malik last year at the time of the peak of MeToo, and raised the issue after Indian Idol again was not happy. She wrote, “ Somebody tell Ms Sardesai that yes, it takes two bodies to even get raped but that does not mean the person getting raped is to be blamed? Also, this is called victim shaming & it is the reason why minors, survivors & their families haven’t formally complained? Sick, Silly woman.”
Neha Bhasin, who recently said she had ‘run away’ from Anu Malik’s ‘strange moves’ when she was 21, hit back at Hema Sardesai. Neha wrote, “Takes two hands to clap? Seriously? Slow clap for you mam with both my hands Who wants publicity to come out in thr open about Anu Malik. Lets not patronise others just coz you got lucky to be treated well.” (sic) “And lastly if this was 2004 n i was a not a dumb 21 year old id not run away but slap him hard. Make a video of him and tell him to his face what every1 knows already he is. Jhooth bolna hai sabko bolo for me this topic is now over,” she added. (sic)
Shweta Pandit too expressed her disgust, “This is beyond shameful. Does this statement mean that “a childabuse victim” and a “rape victim” are equally involved in getting themselves abused? seriously? What are you thinking? Disgusted with this statement.. that too from a woman!!! Highly insensitive and ignorant.”
Updated 20:00 IST, November 7th 2019