One of the most shocking names that had come out during last year’s #MeToo wave was popular music director Anu Malik. But what surprised many across India was when he was reinstated as a judge on the 11th season of singing reality show Indian Idol. Along with many angered Twitter users, even singer Sona Mohapatra took to the microblogging site to express her shock and displeasure at seeing Malik reprising his role as a judge on such a popular TV show. She stated how unfortunate it was that a predator was put in a position of power again. She also recalled how she was thrown out of the reality show Sa Re Ga Ma Pa overnight when she spoke out against Anu Malik.
Now, Anu Malik has been ousted from Indian Idol and Sona calls this a symbolic victory. Speaking to IANS she shared how even though it took long she was happy there was some action taken.
She said:
It’s great news. Sony TV took a long time to do this but I am happy that he has finally stepped down from the show. It’s a battle of the whole country. There are so many people who did not want to see this person (Malik) flaunting himself on national television because it gives a lot of wrong messages to predators that they can also get away with such a thing.
She further added:
I was fighting for fairness and justice. Now, after hearing this news, I think it is a victory for everybody — not just me but also for all other women who were badly treated by him. It is a symbolic victory. Our fight is not over yet, it’s just a start. We are not going to sit here and let people take us for granted.
Like Sona mentioned, we’re happy some action has been taken by the channel to rectify their mistake.