'Boycott Ae Dil Hai Mushkil': Top Goa Cop Objects to Line on Mohd Rafi

New Delhi: Goa's Director General of Police is among several online and off it who have been incensed by a dialogue in Karan Johar's film Ae Dil Hai Mushkil that they say insults legendary singer Mohd Rafi.

A tweet from Muktesh Chander, DGP, Goa, appeals to Rafi fans to boycott Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, which released last Friday. "Md Rafi was one of the greatest singers of India and needs no certificate from anyone. If you are a Rafi fan, boycott this movie," he tweeted.

Speaking to NDTV on the phone, Mr Chander said, "I am a music lover and an admirer of Rafi. If there is anything unpleasant people should not see it. In my personal capacity, I will not see it. This hurts millions of Rafi's fans including me. These are my personal views as a music lover and not in my capacity as DGP of Goa."

He also posted a second tweet:
 

I am musically connected to Rafi Saheb & play his songs on flute. Any uttrance against a great singer hurts his millions of fans like me.

- Muktesh Chander IPS (@mukteshchander) November 2, 2016

Mr Chander and others are upset over a line spoken by actress Anushka Sharma that equates Rafi's singing to crying. "Mohammad Rafi? Woh gaate kam, rote zyada the na?" Anushka's character tells Ranbir Kapoor, who plays an aspiring singer in the film. Ae Dil Hai Mushkil borrows its title from a song sung by Mohd Rafi in the 1956 film CID.

Shahid Rafi, the late singer's son, yesterday demanded a public apology from Karan Johar and wants the scene deleted. "Karan Johar is a great filmmaker, I don't know how he used this line. He should have thought about it as he is the director. I did not expect this from Karan. I am ashamed of him, he is supposed to be a good director," Shahid Rafi told news agency PTI.

"I saw the clipping. I haven't seen the film, so let me see the film first then I will think what to do. But a public apology (from Johar) is appreciated, and also removal of the scene. Although the damage is done. Let's see what he can do from his side," he added.

Singer Sonu Nigam, who presumably hasn't seen the movie yet, tweeted asking if it was true about the Rafi-related line.
 

Is it true that there is a a dialogue in Ai dil hai mushkil that says Mohd Rafi gaate kum rote zyaada thhey?

- Sonu Nigam (@sonunigam) October 31, 2016

Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, which also stars Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, opened last week after much ado over the presence of Pakistani actor Fawad Khan. Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra Navnirman Sena protested against Fawad's special appearance in the film after the Uri attacks and Ae Dil Hai Mushkil released after an intervention by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

The film has received very mixed reviews but is doing well at the box office.