Legacy doesn't exempt artists from accountability: Sona Mohapatra on Daler Mehndi row

Singer Sona Mohapatra has weighed in on the controversy surrounding Daler Mehndi’s performance at a Navratri event in Uttarakhand, raising questions about professional accountability and the responsibility of artists towards their audiences. At the event, BJP MLA Subodh Uniyal accused him of being intoxicated on stage. Recalling an incident at a music festival earlier this year, Sona said she and her team had remained silent despite being uncomfortable with what they witnessed during the veteran singer’s performance.In an 11-slide Instagram post, Sona shared her experience at the Sufi Heritage Festival in Delhi, where she performed on February 28, 2026. Daler was scheduled to perform the following evening, on March 1. She said she had stayed back to watch him perform a Sufi-oriented set but was left disappointed by what unfolded on stage.Sharing the post, Sona wrote, "pov : When does respect become silence? And when does silence become complicity? #respectisatwowaystreet @sufiheritagefestival @yasminkidwai @himanshuanand."In her note, Sona said she wanted to share her experience not to disrespect the veteran singer but to raise a larger question about the performing arts. "Artists rarely stay back after their own shows. We are usually on the next flight out. But Yasmin & Himanshu and their wonderful organising team very kindly accommodated our request to stay another night. We were genuinely excited to watch a legend perform what we had been told would be a very different, Sufi-oriented set. What unfolded was heartbreaking," she wrote.Recalling the response of her team, Sona said there was disbelief among them. She added that she felt particularly sorry for the organisers, who had invested their resources and reputations in presenting a respected artist. She also clarified that she had no knowledge of Daler's personal circumstances or health and would not presume to diagnose what she had witnessed. "I also believe that publicly humiliating an artist is no solution," she wrote.However, the singer questioned whether the respect shown to a veteran artist could sometimes prevent people from raising legitimate concerns."And yet, none of us said anything. Not my team, not me. We stood there, uncomfortable and saddened, but silent. Out of respect. Which brings me to the uncomfortable part. Was that really respect? Or were we, through our silence, enabling something that deserved to be questioned?" she asked.Sona Mohapatra says audiences deserve respect tooReferring to the ongoing controversy in Uttarakhand, Sona said much of the discussion had focused on the indignity suffered by Daler, while the expectations of the audience and the responsibilities of those accepting professional fees had received less attention.She acknowledged that veteran artists deserved dignity and empathy but argued that audiences also had a right to expect a professional performance."Two things can be true. A veteran deserves dignity, empathy and gratitude for a lifetime of contribution. And an audience deserves an honest performance, or at the very least, an honest acknowledgement when that is no longer possible," she wrote.Here's the post: Sona added that if an artist was unwell, the situation should be handled with compassion and responsibility. However, she cautioned against repeatedly leaving audiences and organisers to deal with the consequences while those around the artist remained silent.Addressing the role of Uttarakhand Forest Minister Subodh Uniyal, who confronted Daler on stage, Sona said she did not know whether the minister had handled the situation appropriately. However, she questioned whether the manner in which he raised his objection should automatically invalidate the complaint itself."Respect is not a one-way entitlement. It is a relationship of reciprocity," she wrote.Emphasising that age, legacy and stature should not exempt anyone from professional accountability, Sona also acknowledged her own silence during the performance in Delhi.She concluded her note by saying she was sharing her experience with sadness rather than malice, while maintaining her respect for Daler's contribution to music. "But surely, we owe our audiences some - respect too?" she added.How the Daler Mehndi controversy beganThe controversy erupted after videos of Daler Mehndi's performance at the Kunjapuri Mela in Narendra Nagar, Tehri, Uttarakhand, surfaced online. The clips showed MLA Subodh Uniyal confronting the singer on stage and questioning his ability to perform.The minister objected to Daler's apparent condition and argued that performing under the influence of alcohol was inappropriate at a Navratri event dedicated to Goddess Durga. However, the allegation about alcohol consumption remains disputed.Several celebrities have since come out in support of the veteran singer, including actor Anupam Kher, rapper Badshah, singer Mika Singh and comedian-actor Kapil Sharma.Mika, who said his brother was recovering from surgery, strongly defended Daler. He even declared that he would quit singing if anyone could prove that the veteran singer had consumed alcohol.The controversy has since sparked a wider discussion about the treatment of senior artists, the conduct expected at public performances and the responsibility of organisers towards audiences.- Ends