Cinema VinesIndian pop star Guru Randhawa has come under fire after the release of his new track “Fine Shyt.” Fans and social‑media users accused the song of misogyny and called it a “cringe fest,” claiming it sexualises office spaces and treats female colleagues poorly. The backlash erupted on Thursday, the day the track was dropped, and quickly spread across platforms, with many users demanding a response from the singer.
Randhawa, who has not shied away from controversy before—his earlier single “Azul” was similarly criticized for sexualising schoolgirls—addressed the criticism in a calm tone. On Instagram, he posted a video of himself cruising a Porsche down an empty desert road, captioning it, “Guilty as charged of making songs that repeat in your head forever. Low‑key loving the edits though. No bad vibes! It’s just a silly little slang… calm down calm down calm down fam.” The singer called the track “a silly little slang” and urged fans to “calm down.”
Prior to the backlash, Randhawa had been visiting the Golden Temple in Amritsar, posting a photo of himself by the holy Amrit Sarovar. In a caption written in Punjabi, he reflected on faith and resilience, writing, “Whom Waheguru blesses, no storm can ever shake. When Baba Nanak holds someone’s hand, they only keep moving forward.” The post did not directly address the controversy but offered a spiritual perspective on adversity.
The “Fine Shyt” music video opens with a disclaimer that all participants are over 18 and that the content is fictional. The setting is an office where Randhawa plays a senior professional surrounded by young talent, especially female colleagues. While the song’s lyrics and choreography were meant to be playful, viewers felt it objectified women and promoted a sexist narrative. The video’s premise—female coworkers dancing and singing around a male boss—prompted many to question the treatment of women in the workplace.
Not everyone stayed silent. Fellow singer Tony Kakkar poked fun at the situation, posting a video in which he pretended to take a phone call from Randhawa. He joked, “Yes, Guru bhai! What have you done, yaar? You did it all by yourself and didn’t even tell me. Would I have picked up your call? No, no, I don’t answer anyone’s calls, but I would definitely have picked up yours.” The light‑hearted jab highlighted the divide between fans and critics.
Vibha Maru, an assistant editor at Hindustan Times Entertainment, noted that Randhawa’s track is part of a broader pattern of his music drawing scrutiny. While Maru’s role is primarily editorial, her coverage of Bollywood, Hollywood, and web shows provides context for how Indian pop stars navigate public backlash in the digital age.
