Opinion: Why Sonu Nigam shouldn’t have sung hosannas for Radhe Maa

I have been a great fan of Sonu Nigam and his songs always work like an instant pick-me-up. But what is this he is crooning of late?

 

This new song where he sings hosannas for Bollywood-styled  (Bollywood-styled because from the rouge on her cheeks and scarlet lehengas to the loads of jewellery and her rise to fame, hers is no less of a filmy tale) godwoman Radhe Maa cuts no ice with me.

The colour red never entertained me so much until I chanced upon this #YoSoRed lady:

Well, yes, my wardrobe, that boasts of some good LBDs would like to have a cherry-red mini-skirt like hers. And I don’t care a fig about whether that nosy boy next-door would sneakily take my pic and post it on Facebook, or my cantankerous guardian named ‘Society’ would charge me for not complying with the morally-approved length rules for wearing a skirt. As long as I am very much myself, my real self—and not a wolf in disguise– in that red skirt, I will continue wearing it.

But what would you call me if I slip into an Indian garb to veil my actual miniskirt-loving self, appear as a ‘pure and pious’ soul and hoodwink the masses while the very next-moment I strut my stuff in a thigh-high skirt when I am on a fancy-free tour away from the public gaze? Fashionably-flexible or a hypocrite?

Just my 2 pence. Kaali Maa is depicted in lesser clothes than Radhey Maa. Interesting that this country wants to sue a woman for her clothes

— Sonu Nigam (@sonunigam) August 16, 2015

The likes of Sonu may have the gall to call it ‘Naga’ or ‘Kumbh Mela’ fashion or an inspiration drawn from Goddess ‘Kaali’, but let me tell the morons, Digambara is a way of living for Jain monks. They abandon clothes because they consider it parigraha (possession) and not to up their glam quotient.

But I must agree, in the entire letter if there’s anything that makes sense is this question: Why a person’s spiritual consciousness be defined by his/her clothes? A pertinent question, in fact.

Anyway, minus the saffron veils and bearded masks what are these godmen and godwomen but mere flesh and blood! They, in the guise of saints, do their tricks to fool us. C’mon, we have seen enough of Asaram here! Odisha’s Sarathi Baba is yet another shocker.

However, on a lighter note, if we are to take Sonu’s words seriously, won’t it be fun to see all the upcoming Babas and Maas rocking in jeans and cocktail dresses?

Dear Sonu, don’t get me wrong. I am not a skirt-objecting moral cop. But I doubt your skills of judging talents. If you compare this #YoSeRed lady’s footwork antics to Hema Malini’s great performances, Radhe Maa save you! Even Nach Baliye would give up on you as their next show judge!

Jokes apart, this lady has got some chops in other stuff. Her website says: “Any devotee who with a pure body and mind attended nine chowkis of Maa Durga and followed it with a darshan of Mamtamai Shri Radhe Guru Maa would have all his wishes granted by Lord Shiva.”

True magic that is!

But I wonder what she was doing when her village Gurdaspur was bleeding post the terrorist attack? Where were her supernatural powers?! Gone for a refill?

Perhaps she was too busy in giving Jadu Ki Pappis (she kisses her devotees as a way of blessing them) and when got tired, went into hibernation mode in her ‘gufa’ (her shelter is called so)!

Wake up, India! All this while she has been doing this:

Alright I admit it,I am obsessed with the pure & pious Radhe Maa who literally seems to apply 'chuna' on her face and to the public

— Twinkle Khanna (@mrsfunnybones) August 12, 2015

For the likes of Sonu, here is something that you should watch before coming up with such lame comments:

Just for fun: Her sidekick is called Talli Baba. Talli Baba! Did you read it right?

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not reflect the views of Folomojo.com

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This dubsmash perfectly sums up how you felt when you heard Radhe Maa say ‘Pure and Pious’