Nitu Chandra Files PIL Against Honey Singh’s ‘Maniac’ for Vulgarity and Sexualising Women

Actress Nitu Chandra has filed a public interest litigation (PIL) in the Patna High Court against singer and rapper Honey Singh, accusing him of vulgarity and objectifying women in his latest song, ‘Maniac’. The PIL also names lyricist Leo Grewal and Bhojpuri singers Ragini Vishwakarma and Arjun Ajanabi, who collaborated on the track. The case is expected to be heard later this month.

Chandra, known for her work in Bollywood and critically acclaimed Bhojpuri and Maithili films, has argued that it promotes "overt sexualisation" and reduces “women to just sex objects”. In her petition, the actor, a native of Bihar’s capital Patna, has sought a direction from the court to the respondents to “amend the lyrics”.

She also raised concerns about the use of Bhojpuri in the song, stating that it normalises vulgarity and undermines women’s empowerment. In an interview with ‘Bihar Tak’, she said, "The song is encouraging people who have an evil eye towards women. It makes women and young girls walk with their heads down due to the impact such lyrics have on their confidence."

Chandra further questioned why the controversial lyrics were in Bhojpuri rather than Honey Singh’s native Punjabi, which is also featured in the track. "Why did those lines have to be in Bhojpuri? It’s because we Biharis don’t say anything or object…let them play with our language, it’s like it has no respect," she remarked.

When asked whether similar Bhojpuri songs contribute to women's safety concerns, Chandra admitted she was unaware of them but emphasized that the culture surrounding such lyrics is fostering a dangerous environment for women.