Shreya Ghoshal believes Bollywood songs often depict a female perspective, but men still write most of them. In a recent interview, she emphasized that this needs to change.
She Feels Embarrassed About “Chikni Chameli”
During the conversation, Shreya admitted she feels uncomfortable about some songs she has sung, especially Chikni Chameli. She explained, “There is a very fine line between being sensual, sexy, and being outright objectified, or objectifying women in general.”
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Over time, she became more conscious of this issue. She noticed that young children, unaware of the meaning, often sing and dance to these songs. “They’re just dancing to them, and they come to me saying, ‘Oh, we love your song! Can we sing it for you?’ and I feel very embarrassed. A little girl, just five or six years old, singing those lyrics—it doesn’t sound good,” she shared.
A Woman’s Perspective Would Make Lyrics More Graceful
Furthermore, Shreya believes that if women wrote these songs, the lyrics would be more refined. She stated, “Talking about being sexy or sensuous isn’t wrong, but the way it’s written matters. If a woman had written it, she would have done so in a more graceful manner.”
Since films and music shape society, she stressed the importance of setting higher standards. “It’s all about perspective, and in our society, especially in India, it’s important to set certain benchmarks,” she added. Moreover, she pointed out that blockbuster songs and films leave a lasting impact. “I don’t want to be part of that kind of history,” she concluded.
Fans React with Mixed Opinions
After a Reddit user shared Shreya’s interview clip, fans responded with divided opinions. On one hand, some agreed with her. One user commented, “Shreya is right. Chikni Chameli is outright crass and tacky. I never liked Katrina in it.”
On the other hand, others criticized her for hypocrisy. Some pointed out that she recently performed the song on Indian Idol and seemed to enjoy it. Similarly, another user wrote, “I have attended her concerts, and she sang Chikni Chameli in both of them!”
Additionally, some fans recalled that she performed the song in the U.S. last year. One user strongly criticized her, stating, “Very recently, she sang a Telugu song where the lyrics suggest a woman telling a man to use her body however he likes. It’s all money-driven.”
About “Chikni Chameli”
Chikni Chameli is a popular item song from the 2012 Bollywood film Agneepath. The movie starred Hrithik Roshan, Priyanka Chopra, and Sanjay Dutt. The song, featuring Katrina Kaif, became a massive hit. Shreya Ghoshal sang it, while Ajay-Atul composed the music and Amitabh Bhattacharya wrote the lyrics.
