After MNS issues warning, T-Series removes Atif Aslam’s song and issues apology

By Sohani Mittal On Wednesday, Music record label and film production company, T-Series, removed a song by Atif Aslam, a Pakistani singer, from their YouTube channel after objections from Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS).    On Saturday, 20 June 2020, T-Series released Atif's version of 'Kinna Sona' track from, Marjaavaan, last year's action-drama on their YouTube channel.  In a letter addressed to MNS chief Raj Thackeray, T-Series said the track was erroneously uploaded on their YouTube channel. "The said song, sung by Atif Aslam, was put out on the YouTube channel of T-Series by one of our employees. He was unaware of his actions, which led to the mistake. We deeply regret this and apologise for the same.” "We assure you that the song won't release on our platform and we won't promote it either. We are taking down the song and reassure you that we won't be assisting any Pakistani singers," the letter read. The statement comes after the hashtag ‘take down Atif Aslam song’ began trending on social media, and a stern warning from MNS Cinema Wing president Ameya Khopkar, who had tweeted, “WARNING TO TSERIES Take down Pakistani singer Atif-Aslam song from your TSeries youtube channel immediately else we will take a major action against @TSeries. #TakeDownAtifAslamSong @itsbhushankumar @mnsadhikrut @rajupatilmanase.” Following the Pulwama terror attack last year, MNS had asked music companies to stop working with Pakistani singers. Pakistani actors faced an identical ban in 2016 after the Uri: The Surgical Strike. Filmmaker Karan Johar's film, Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, faced difficulties in its release for featuring Fawad Khan. The film released after the director apologised and promised to never work with Pakistani actors again. Bollywood producers have avoided working with actors from across the border after the controversy. The song can still be heard on Atif Aslam's YouTube channel. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4aMsYCHGGwk&list=RD4aMsYCHGGwk&start_radio=1[/embed]