Mumbai: Singer Sona Mohapatra, known for her controversial statements, stirred up another row with her insensitive post on late Shefali Jariwala.
After Shefali’s sudden demise, the directors of ‘Kaanta Laga’ remix Radhika and Vinay said they will not make a sequel to the song and Shefali would forever be the ‘Kaanta Laga’ girl.
Criticising Vinay and Radhika for trying to hog attention using Shefali’s name, Sona took to her Instagram Stories and wrote, “3 legends created Kaanta Laga. Composer, lyricist, and singer: RD Burman, Majrooh Sultanpuri, Lata Mangeshkar.”
“This utterly misplaced ‘retirement’ by people calling themselves ‘makers’ to get some PR out of a death nothing less (Viral B is a paid site largely),” the singer added, while referring to photographer Viral Bhayani, who shared a post about Radhika and Vinay ‘retiring’ the ‘Kaanta Laga’ song.
The post was shared on Reddit with the title: ‘Let her die peacefully Sona…’
The Redditor further wrote, “Sona Mohapatra lashes out Makers of Kaanta Laga new version and also disrespects Late Shefali Jariwala. Looks like targeted hate on Shefali.”
As soon as the post became viral, netizens took to the comments section to call out Sona for her ‘insensitive’ and ‘hurtful’ post on Shefali.
“This is so unnecessary and insensitive, especially if Shefali’s loved ones read it. ‘RIP and all to the 42-year-old lady’, she can’t even say her name?! This woman is always salty about something, especially things that don’t concern her. She needs to get a life,” one user commented.
Another user wrote, “This is actually so insensitive and hurtful for her close one. Also, there is no need to be rude to a person who is no more here to defend herself.”
One comment read, “Being jealous with a dead person is a new low I saw today.”
A section of users were also offended with Sona as she addressed Shefali as a ’42-year-old lady’ and not by her name in the post.
“These two only created a smutty video with a remix with a 19-year-old (of course no permission from legends required for their xx interpretation). RIP and all for the 42-year-old lady but legacy???” Sona wrote.
One user commented, “That’s honestly such a disgusting way to talk about someone who did no harm and is not even between us anymore. That song started Shefali’s career, and she was proud of it. She literally owned her beginnings, which not many do out of embarrassment. How could this vile woman even think of posting this story wow!”
Pointing out that Sona had lent voice to several remixes, one person stated, “KABHI AAR KABHI PAAR (ft Deepal Shaw) remix version was sung by Sona Mohapatra. How is that video/ song any different than Kata Laga? What is this hypocrisy, madam?”
Following the severe backlash, Sona took to her X handle on Saturday and clapped back at the trolls.
“To all those trolling me about being insensitive, are we okay with RD, Lata, Majrooh who are the bedrock of our musical heritage fading & getting disconnected from their own creations. Cheap Paid PR to milk someone’s death to call yourself the ‘makers’ of Kaanta Laga is okay?” she questioned.
“Make more new age original songs with beats if you like beats & ‘appreciate’ the Shefali video, your choice of course but don’t be ok with ppl calling themselves ‘makers’ of a song when they didn’t make the song? difficult to read the paid PR post I’m criticising? Millennial much?”
Clarifying that her post was not about Shefali, but about people misusing the musical legacy, she wrote, “Interesting insight into the online world: ppl openly troll me on a post which was anguish about our musical legacy being usurped by the wrong people (makers of a remix video doing paid PR) & not about the deceased BUT equal no. +ve messages are private DM’s only? Why #India?”
Shefali passed away last week reportedly due to a cardiac arrest. She was rushed to the hospital by her husband Parag Tyagi after complaining of uneasiness, but was declared dead on arrival.
Shefali became popular overnight after featuring in DJ Doll’s ‘Kaanta Laga’ remix in 2002.
The original song, sung by Lata Mangeshkar, was part of the 1972 film ‘Samadhi’.
