The North News
Chandigarh, August 8
Controversy seems to have found a familiar home with Yo Yo Honey Singh. The chart-topping pop star, no stranger to public scrutiny, has once again landed in the eye of a storm — this time summoned by the Punjab State Women’s Commission over allegations of misogynistic lyrics in his latest track “Millionaire.”
Alongside fellow artist Karan Aujla, whose new single “MF Gabharu” has also come under fire, Honey Singh has been called to appear before the commission on August 11. The body has accused both singers of using language that objectifies women and promotes harmful gender stereotypes in their songs — allegations that reignite long-standing concerns about the tone and content of popular Punjabi music.
Raj Lali Gill, chairperson of the commission, confirmed that the decision to issue summons followed a wave of public complaints. “We received a large number of representations from citizens disturbed by the lyrics,” she said, adding that a formal letter has also been sent to the Director General of Police demanding immediate action.
The songs in question — “Millionaire” from Singh’s album Glory’s, and Aujla’s “MF Gabharu” from P-Pop Culture — have garnered millions of views online, but also triggered backlash over what critics describe as the routine commodification of women in music videos and lyrics.
The Commission has made its position clear: if both singers do not issue a public apology and agree to remove the offensive lyrics, further legal steps will follow. “This is not just about music; it’s about the kind of message we are sending to our youth and children,” Gill said.
The latest row has once again ignited a debate that resurfaces every few years in Indian pop culture: where does one draw the line between artistic freedom and social accountability? And more pressingly — should influential artists bear a greater responsibility for what their art promotes?
As August 11 approaches, all eyes are on how Honey Singh — a figure both celebrated and criticised in equal measure — will respond to yet another reckoning with the power and pitfalls of his words.
