Guru Randhawa, known for his popular music including tracks such as ‘High Rated Gabru’ and ‘Suit Suit,’ is currently facing criticism related to his latest song ‘Azul’. The music video depicts the singer as a photography teacher who appears to be interested in a student wearing a school uniform. Many viewers have expressed concerns that the video inappropriately sexualizes schoolgirls and normalizes a teacher-student relationship, raising significant ethical concerns.
In response to the criticism, Guru Randhawa shared a cryptic message on his Instagram Story. He posted analytics showing ‘Azul’ had over 107,200 views in an hour and 27,000 searches on YouTube, writing: “Azul is Azuling. When God is with you, you only move forward.” The post appeared to emphasize the success of the song, seemingly dismissing the backlash. Randhawa has also turned off comments on the video’s Instagram post.
The controversy around ‘Azul’ centers on claims of sexualizing schoolgirls within the music video. The video features Guru Randhawa as a photographer, taking photographs of schoolgirls, which critics say objectifies minors and promotes harassment. Furthermore, they claim that the lyrics of the song draw comparisons between a woman’s appeal and alcohol, adding to the problematic nature of the song.
In addition to ‘Azul,’ Randhawa’s song ‘Sirra’ has also sparked controversy, with accusations of defamation of the Jatt community. A local court has issued a summons to Guru Randhawa to appear on September 2 after a complaint was filed concerning the alleged derogatory lyrics in ‘Sirra.’ The complainant, Rajdeep Singh Mann, objects to the line mentioning opium. Mann alleges the lyrics are promoting drug culture, and the complaint also includes Apple Music, YouTube, and other streaming platforms.