Honey Singh, Karan Aujla To Appear Before Punjab Women's Commission Over Misogynistic Lyrics
The Punjab State Women's Commission has summoned Bollywood singer Yo Yo Honey Singh and Punjabi artist Karan Aujla for a hearing today at 11:30 a.m, in response to lyrics in their songs that allegedly disrespect women.
The Commission had earlier said that Aujla's 'MF Gabhru" and Honey Singh's 'Millionaire" will be banned. Commission Chairperson Raj Lali Gill had condemned the lyrics and said,"Those who use this language cannot be tolerated. That's why I have summoned both of them. These songs will be banned. Singers are the voice of society. On one hand, they say that they love their mother very much. On the other hand, they are using abusive language about mothers in these songs. Will not tolerate abuses about mother in songs."
An inquiry was launched following complaints that certain songs by the artists contain content that may undermine the dignity of women. The Commission stated that both singers will be asked to clarify the intent behind such lyrics, and measures will be discussed to prevent the promotion of such content going forward.
The Commission's Chairperson personally reviewed the songs on social media before recommending action. In addition, senior police officials have been asked to submit a report related to the case.
view comments
First Published:
August 11, 2025, 09:39 IST
Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mint
an hour ago
- Mint
Why India's music labels are eyeing regional catalogues
Tepid growth in paid subscriptions and increasing content creation costs are pushing music labels to step up consolidation efforts in the industry. Experts say this is a relatively easy way to expand libraries and improve market share. Entering newer realms brings an opportunity to collaborate with more artists, many of whom are well known in smaller, specific markets, improving their monetisation as well. Saregama's acquisition of NAV Records, a Haryanvi music catalogue, last month shows how players are looking at unlocking potential in newer languages. This June, Sony Music India announced a strategic joint venture with LA-based global entertainment firm The Hello Group (THG) to form THG India, designed to help Indian artists, particularly within the booming live music sector. Earlier, Warner Music India had formed partnerships with key regional players, including a majority stake in Divo, a South Indian music label, and a strategic alliance with Sky Digital, which specialises in Punjabi music. The company also acquired 26% of Global Music Junction, a dominant player in the Bhojpuri, Kannada, Gujarati, Haryanvi, and Oriya language markets and the music and entertainment subsidiary of JetSynthesys. Big companies like Saregama maintain 30-35% of all music releases in India, and partnering with regional labels can, in some cases, account for over 50% releases in the market for the specific language . 'These moves illustrate how regional strengths can be scaled through strategic partnerships. They have helped unlock value by streamlining rights and royalty systems, expanding digital distribution, and bringing under-leveraged catalogues into the streaming mainstream while maintaining their cultural identity," said Vivek Raina, managing director, Believe India, a global digital music company, that has acquired majority stake in south Indian label Think Music, Ishtar (formerly Venus Music) in the Hindi catalogue space, and the catalogue of White Hill Music. According to a recent Ficci EY media and entertainment report, the Indian music industry's revenue declined by 2% to reach ₹5,300 crore in 2024. The industry recorded 12 million paid streamers and 192 million free streamers in the year. The right tune Consolidation can act as a strong accelerator, especially for regional or mid-sized players that have valuable IP and deep local roots but limited access to infrastructure, global platforms, or capital, Raina added. Entertainment industry experts emphasize that organic growth for music players includes expanding artist rosters, creating original content, leveraging social media trends, optimizing playlists, and deepening audience engagement through live events or fan communities. Inorganic growth comes via acquisitions, mergers, catalogue licensing deals, and strategic partnerships with brands, streaming platforms, or tech companies. Organic methods build long-term brand equity and loyal audiences, while inorganic moves offer rapid scale, larger catalogues, and immediate market share gains. Both can be highly complementary — organic growth sustains creativity and authenticity, while inorganic strategies accelerate reach and revenue, enabling music labels and platforms to stay competitive in a fast-evolving industry. A senior executive at a leading label pointed out that as monetization from paid subscriptions plateaus and content costs continue to rise, few companies can afford to keep producing content on their own. Music labels such as T-Series, Sony Music, and Saregama, among others, have seen film soundtrack acquisition costs spike five to eightfold since the pandemic. Meanwhile, audio streaming platforms have lowered their pay rates (the amount paid per stream for a song) by about half over the past few months, as audience preferences shift away from music to other genres of entertainment, such as stand-up comedy and podcasts on YouTube. 'Capital expenditure goes up with rising content costs, and there is no way anyone can make more content on their own. This (acquisitions or joint ventures), on the other hand, is a one-time investment that allows you a stronger footprint in the market without having to create from scratch," the person said, adding that it automatically allows for better commercial terms from audio streaming platforms that music labels sell rights to. Such catalogue partnerships make sense for smaller labels which are heavily dependent on streaming and YouTube revenue and are unlikely to operate at scale, according to Mandar Thakur, CEO of Times Music. 'The former has dried up and the latter has begun to focus on long-form content. As long as you have a catalogue, you should make something out of it or the current wave of capital could go down," Thakur added. Consolidation in India's music industry could help smaller and national players by pooling resources, expanding catalogues, and increasing bargaining power with platforms, brands, and advertisers, said Gaurav Dagaonkar, co-founder and CEO of Hoopr, a music licensing platform. 'It can enable shared marketing, technology adoption, and data-driven strategies that might otherwise be costly for individual players. A unified catalogue offers better licensing opportunities, attracts larger deals, and improves discoverability for diverse music," Dagaonkar said. For artists, it can mean wider reach and fairer monetisation. That said, the trend can also have a downside. Bigger players entering regional markets can lead to monopolistic scenarios, inflating costs in the short term as they pay relatively higher sums to artists and then suddenly leading to correction. While challenges like maintaining creative diversity remain, strategic consolidation could be a viable path forward, fostering competitiveness, scalability, and sustainable growth in an increasingly globalised and digital-first music ecosystem, Dagaonkar added.
News18
2 hours ago
- News18
Anu Malik's Brother Daboo Malik REACTS To His MeToo Allegations: 'We Couldn't Handle The Pain'
Daboo Malik opens up about brother Anu Malik's MeToo allegations, recalling the family's emotional struggle and the challenges they faced during the controversy. Anu Malik faced serious sexual harassment accusations during the MeToo movement, made by singers Sona Mohapatra, Neha Bhasin, Alisha Chinai and others. Now, his younger brother, music composer Daboo Malik, has opened up about how the family coped with the controversy. Speaking to journalist Vickey Lalwani, Daboo recalled the difficult period. 'It shattered us as a family. He was also taken aback. We couldn't handle the pain he went through at the time with so many people targeting him. We supported him emotionally. We saw to it that he got back in terms of work and meetings. As a family, I couldn't pass any judgement. One should not. He saw a very difficult time. I have supported him on an individual level because when you see someone going through so much, it was quite a setback for him." 'Our Parents Couldn't Understand What Was Happening' Daboo revealed that their elderly parents struggled to process the situation. 'They couldn't understand what was happening. They were in their '80s." When asked if it became difficult for him and younger brother Abu Malik to face people, Daboo said, 'We give it too much importance. I don't think we are stars. He is not a Shah Rukh Khan or a superstar. We are musicians. Unnecessarily, we keep talking about someone on social media and end up giving them a position. I don't think we are that important to even have this conversation." Anu Malik's MeToo Case In October 2018, during India's MeToo movement, multiple women accused Anu Malik of sexual harassment. Singer Shweta Pandit claimed Malik made an unwanted pass at her when she was 15. Lyricist Sameer supported Malik, denying the incident. Sona Mohapatra and Neha Bhasin also accused him of predatory behaviour, while Hema Sardesai defended him. Malik denied all allegations, but public backlash forced him to leave Indian Idol Season 10 as a judge. Alisha Chinai, who had previously sued Malik for molestation in the 1990s, supported the fresh allegations. In 2019, Malik briefly returned as a judge on Season 11 but stepped down again, citing inability to focus on work. On January 17, 2020, the National Commission for Women closed the case due to lack of substantial evidence, though it stated it could be reopened if new evidence emerged. First Published: August 13, 2025, 05:26 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
News18
3 hours ago
- News18
Superman OTT Release: When And Where To Watch The DC Superhero Film Online
Last Updated: James Gunn confirms Superman's digital release on August 15 after the film smashes US box office records, becoming the highest-grossing Superman movie. James Gunn has officially announced the digital release date for Superman (2025), just as Warner Bros. confirmed the film's record-breaking performance at the US box office. The DC reboot, directed by Gunn, has become the highest-grossing Superman film ever in the United States, grossing over $331 million domestically and $581.1 million worldwide, according to IMDb. The movie has now completed a month in theaters and is still drawing audiences, but fans will soon be able to watch it from the comfort of their homes. Superman Digital Release Date and Platforms Taking to social media platform X, Gunn wrote: '#Superman is coming to your homes this Friday, 8/15. Available now for pre-order. Or catch it while it's still in theaters!" According to The Wrap, starting August 15, Superman (2025) will be available on streaming platforms such as Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Fandango at Home. Fans who prefer a physical copy can mark their calendars for September 23, when the 4K UHD, Blu-ray, and DVD editions will hit stores. Despite its massive success in the US, Gunn admitted that the film underperformed internationally, attributing it to Superman's relatively lower global popularity compared to Batman and 'a certain amount of anti-American sentiment around the world." Box Office Triumph and What's Next Warner Bros. confirmed to IGN that Superman has overtaken all previous entries in the franchise to claim the top spot in US box office history for the character. The film also holds the title for the highest-grossing superhero release of the year domestically. Gunn's reboot focuses on a fresh interpretation of the Man of Steel, aiming to reinvigorate the DC Universe's cinematic future. With Superman's strong domestic reception and upcoming home release, fans who missed it in theaters will soon get their chance to experience the new chapter. Whether streaming on August 15 or waiting for the Blu-ray on September 23, Gunn's Superman is set to reach an even wider audience in the weeks ahead. First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
