Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, Oct 9: Playback singer Sona Mohapatra has come out in support of actress Tanushree Dutta, who faced criticism over her remarks following the reported demise of actor Nana Patekar.
While expressing condolences to the actor’s bereaved family, Tanushree had also said that the news of his death would affect her professional commitments.
On Friday, Sona took to Instagram and shared a video in which she defended Tanushree and her anger, questioning the criticism directed at the actress in the wake of her past allegations of sexual harassment.
“I've practically earned a PhD in being the most unpopular person in a room, not because I enjoy it, nobody does, but because I've never mastered the art of keeping quiet when something is deeply wrong. So here goes. Nana Patekar passed away yesterday. A celebrated actor, people are mourning him, understandably so, I have no issues with that. What's disturbing me is the way people are attacking Tanushree Dutta,” Sona said in the video.
She questioned what people expected from Tanushree, recalling that the actress had spoken about alleged sexual harassment on film sets involving Patekar and had subsequently faced a prolonged struggle, public humiliation and professional consequences.
“This woman spoke up about her sexual harassment on sets with this gentleman, fought an exhausting battle, faced public humiliation and professional consequences, and now she is expected to forget her experience and perform what for you? Grief. That'll comfort you,” she said.
Sona also criticised some of the women influencers and content creators who had attacked Tanushree, accusing them of seeking attention by humiliating another woman.
“Is humiliating another woman your idea of engagement?” she asked.
Recalling her own experience during India's #MeToo movement, Sona said she was among the working artistes at the time and had faced professional repercussions after speaking up.
She alleged that she was removed from a national television reality show after nearly 19 episodes because other women involved in the programme were unwilling to take risks by supporting her.
“I know what speaking up costs a woman. And people ask, why didn't you go to court? Where is the proof? Do women go to work wearing hidden cameras in such situations? Does harassment conveniently happen before witnesses?” she said.
Sona argued that the #MeToo movement had emerged because power, fear and the threat of retaliation made it difficult for women to speak about their experiences.
She also questioned the tendency to associate old age with virtue and death with sainthood, saying that a person's passing should not erase uncomfortable chapters of their life.
“Growing old doesn't make anyone morally infallible. Dying shouldn't erase uncomfortable chapters of someone's life. You can celebrate an artist's work, mourn his passing, and offer his family compassion,” she said.
Sona added that people could grieve for an artist while respecting a woman's right to speak about her own experiences.
“But you cannot demand that a woman rewrite her own history to make your mourning uncomfortable. So you are entitled to your grief. Please go ahead and cry. Please put up your reels of all the great straight-forward stuff he has said because only men are celebrated for being downright rude, not women. Tanushree Dutta is entitled to her account of what happened. And if your compassion requires humiliating a woman who spoke up, perhaps, I mean, it's definitely not compassion,” she said.
“It's hypocrisy. Death deserves dignity. So do the living,” she added.
Sona also referred to music composer Anu Malik, alleging that he continued to receive prominent live performance opportunities despite past controversy surrounding him.
“In other news, Anu Malik is being platformed on big live stages. Some festival is by my own breath and people actually like, did not think twice, have amnesia. He is back in the industry in every possible way. So short memories, you all,” she said.