Who is the singer behind the song 'Sarke Chunar', and does lyricist Rakib Alam have a long-standing association with 'double-meaning' songs?

The song ‘Sarke Chunar Teri Sarke’ from Sanjay Dutt and Shilpa Shetty’s film KD: The Devil has landed in controversy. Nora Fatehi and Sanjay Dutt feature in the dance sequence for this track. Amid talk of potential action being taken regarding the song, the filmmakers have removed it from social media platforms. Following its release, users subjected the song to heavy criticism. In light of this, let’s find out who is behind the song.

Who are the Song’s Lyricist and Singer?

The Hindi lyrics for ‘Sarke Chunar Teri Sarke’ were not penned by just any ordinary person; rather, they were written by the very lyricist whose songs adorned the Oscar-winning film, Slumdog Millionaire. This lyricist is Rakib Alam. The song has been sung by the renowned vocalist Mangli.

Rakib Did Not Want to Write the song.

Following the controversy surrounding ‘Sarke Chunar’—the song he wrote—Rakib Alam stated that he initially did not wish to write the track; however, at the director’s behest, he performed a word-for-word translation of the original Kannada version. Rakib Alam is a well-known lyricist in Hindi cinema, having penned songs for numerous blockbuster films. However, it remains unclear who wrote the original Kannada lyrics for the song.

Are Rakib’s Lyrics Typically Bold?

‘Sarke Chunar’ is not the first song by Rakib Alam to feature rather bold lyrics. He previously wrote the famous track ‘Ring Ring Ringa’ for the film Slumdog Millionaire. The lyrics of that song—which are quite bold in nature—go something like this: “I lay upon the cot, deep in slumber’s hold; what more can I tell you, my friend? A clever bedbug appeared, setting its sights on me; slowly, it crept beneath my veil…” Interestingly, that particular song did not spark any controversy.

The First Song to Be Mired in Controversy

The song ‘Sarke Chunar’ was sung by Satyavathi Rathod, popularly known as Mangli. Mangli is a renowned folk singer from Telangana. She sings in Tamil, Telugu, and various other languages. This song marked her debut in Hindi-language music. His very first Hindi song has already landed in controversy. He has also sung the Telugu version of the song for the same film.