‘Dying shouldn't erase uncomfortable chapters...’ Sona Mohapatra backs Tanushree Dutta

Singer Sona Mohapatra has come out in support of Tanushree Dutta after the actress faced criticism for her reaction to Nana Patekar’s death. In a video shared on X on Friday, Sona questioned why Tanushree was being targeted for speaking about her past experiences, arguing that mourning a celebrated actor should not mean dismissing a woman’s allegations against him.

Sona’s comments come amid a fresh wave of debate over Tanushree’s remarks following Nana’s death on October 8, aged 75. The actress had previously accused him of sexual harassment, and her recent comments about his death drew criticism online. The All Indian Cine Workers Association (AICWA) also condemned her remarks, adding to the controversy.
In her video, Sona said she had often found herself unpopular for speaking out against things she believed were wrong. She acknowledged that people were mourning Nana Patekar but questioned why that had led to attacks on Tanushree.

She said, “I've practically earned a PhD in being the most unpopular person in a room, not because I enjoy it, nobody does, but because I've never mastered the art of keeping quiet when something is deeply wrong. So here goes. Nana Patekar passed away yesterday. A celebrated actor, people are mourning him, understandably so, I have no issues with that. What's disturbing me is the way people are attacking Tanushree Dutta. Seriously, what do you expect from her? This woman spoke up about her sexual harassment on sets with this gentleman, fought an exhausting battle, faced public humiliation and professional consequences, and now she is expected to forget her experience and perform what for you? Grief. That'll comfort you”.

Sona also criticised women influencers and content creators who, she said, were among those attacking Tanushree and appeared to be seeking attention through the controversy.

“Is humiliating another woman your idea of engagement? I was amongst the working artists at that point of time, during India's #MeToo movement. I was removed from a national television reality show because other working women who are really not wanting to have any say in the game, nobody wants to take any chances. Nobody really spoke up at that point. But after shooting nearly 19 episodes, I was thrown out. I know what speaking up costs a woman. And people ask, why didn't you go to court? Where is the proof? Do women go to work wearing hidden cameras in such situations? Does harassment conveniently happen before witnesses? #MeToo happened because power, fear, and retaliation made speaking up so difficult. And India, here is my question. Why do we associate old age with virtue and death with sainthood? Growing old doesn't make anyone morally infallible. Dying shouldn't erase uncomfortable chapters of someone's life. You can celebrate an artist's work, mourn his passing, and offer his family compassion”.

‘Death deserves dignity. So do the living’

Sona went on to argue that people can mourn an actor and appreciate his work without expecting someone who accused him of harassment to set aside her own experience.

“But you cannot demand that a woman rewrite her own history to make your mourning uncomfortable. So you are entitled to your grief. Please go ahead and cry. Please put up your reels of all the great straight-forward stuff he has said because only men are celebrated for being downright rude, not women. Tanushree Dutta is entitled to her account of what happened. And if your compassion requires humiliating a woman who spoke up, perhaps, I mean, it's definitely not compassion”.

She summed up her position by saying, “It's hypocrisy. Death deserves dignity. So do the living. Please note. Guess what? In other news, Anu Malik is being platformed on big live stages. Some festival is by my own breath and people actually like, did not think twice, have amnesia. He is back in the industry in every possible way. So short memories, you all (sic)”.

Her reference to Anu Malik was part of a wider criticism of what she sees as inconsistent responses to allegations of misconduct in the entertainment industry.

What happened between Tanushree Dutta and Nana Patekar?

Tanushree’s allegations against Nana Patekar date back to 2008, when the two were associated with the film ‘Horn 'Ok' Pleassss’. She alleged that Nana behaved inappropriately towards her during a song shoot and that she faced pressure after objecting to the situation.

The issue returned to national attention in 2018, when Tanushree spoke publicly about her experience during India’s #MeToo movement. She filed a police complaint, and an FIR was registered against Nana and three others connected with the film.

Nana denied the allegations. The controversy became a significant moment in the conversation around sexual harassment and workplace safety in the Indian film industry. 

Following Nana’s death, Tanushree initially said she had heard the news and needed time to process it, while also offering condolences to his family. She later made sharper comments about him, including the phrase “evil dead”, which triggered further criticism. She subsequently defended her response by asking people to consider her perspective and the experiences she had described.

With IANS inputs