While the furore caused by the #MeToo movement last year in India has ebbed somewhat, women continue to fight against their oppressors. After singer Sona Mohapatra was targeted by trolls on social media for raising her complaint against music composer Anu Malik, singer Neha Bhasin has added her voice in support.
Bhasin also revealed her own experience of what she described as the predatory behaviour of Malik.
Sharing her experience, the former Viva band member said, "We do live in a very sexist world. Anu Malik is a predator, I too have run away from his strange moves when I was 21. I didn't let myself get into a sticky situation beyond him lying on a sofa in front of me talking about my eyes in a studio. I fled lying [that] my mum's waiting below. He even messaged and called me after that to which I stopped responding," she said in a post that has created a stir online.
I agee with you. We do live in a very sexist world. Anu Malik is a predetor, i too have run away from his strange moves when i was 21. I didn't let myself get into a sticky situation beyond him lying on a sofa in front of me talking about my eyes in a studio. I fleed lying https://t.co/tQgStLrYyT
— Neha Bhasin (@nehabhasin4u) October 30, 2019
I fleed lying my mums waiting below. He even msgd and called me after that to which i stopped responding. The point is i went to give him my cd and hope for a chance at a song. He was older and shouldnt have behaved the way he did. @The_AnuMalik is an ugly pervert and does not https://t.co/tQgStLrYyT
— Neha Bhasin (@nehabhasin4u) October 30, 2019
When we were in Viva we met many legendary music directors. Out of which we were warned against two by our very own management n crew and were asked to wear salwar kameez n sit away @The_AnuMalik was one of them. Stop normalizing sleaziness. Stop making it ok@pratichee remember?
— Neha Bhasin (@nehabhasin4u) October 31, 2019
Last year, Anu Malik had had to step down from the popular music talent show Indian Idol following allegations by Mohapatra, Shweta Pandit and Alisha Chinai.
However, Sony TV, in a shocking display of tone-deafness to the issue, reinstated Malik as a judge on the show this year. That decision earned the wrath of Mohapatra, who tagged the channel and the television broadcasting association to question the action.
This. pic.twitter.com/LoZKmiHzEC
— ShutUpSona (@sonamohapatra) October 31, 2019
Mohapatra has also accused Malik's co-judges, singer-composer Vishal Dadlani and actor-singer Sonu Nigam, of supporting him on the show.