The Beep controversy: Kolaveri composer Anirudh, actor Simbu face trouble over 'vulgar' song

Popular Tamil hero Silambarasan aka Simbu, is known as controversy’s child in the Tamil film industry. Son of veteran actor T Rajendran, it would be safe to say that Simbu lives on the edge. His love affairs with leading ladies and subsequent break-ups, and a controversial video with a heroine that went viral notwithstanding, his competition with Dhanush has once again landed him in a controversy. This time one of his songs (he is a part time composer and singer as well) which he composed along with Tamil cinema’s leading music director Anirudh at a private jam session, has gone viral for the wrong reasons. The ‘Beep Song’ is being considered outrightly sexist, vulgar and anti-women. It is about break-ups and has many cuss words incorporated in it. Though the offensive words have been beeped out, one can clearly understand them. [caption id=“attachment_2545930” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  A file image of Simbu and music composer Anirudh.[/caption] The Beep song was first leaked on YouTube and it subsequently went viral, offending fans of both artists and also stirred quite a bit of unrest among social activists. The Coimbatore police have registered a case against Simbu and Anirudh on a complaint filed by All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIWDA). They wanted action to be taken against the duo for composing a song which “allegedly denigrates women”. Simbu initially took a defiant attitude and said in a interview, “How can someone invade my privacy and steal a song that I composed with Anirudh for fun a few years back, during one of our jam sessions criticize for the cuss words used in it? We have been working on it for the last few years during our free time and some idiot has stole it from my phone and posted it on the net. I owe no explanation nor am I answerable to anyone regarding this. This song is neither official and it is not meant to be used in any film album.” Anirudh who is currently in Toronto doing his concert for Chennai’s flood victims denied his association with the controversial song. Anirudh clarified on social media, by saying “Hello all. I was preoccupied with my concert in Toronto dedicated to the flood victims in Tamil Nadu. I would like to clarify my stand on the subject of the beep song. It is neither my composition nor my lyrics and I am not the singer. Unfortunately, and to my dismay, my name has been dragged into this controversy. I have the greatest regard and respect for women as can be clearly seen in many of my own compositions. I deeply regret this undesirable situation and want to put an end to all speculations regarding the same”. Meanwhile, after initially putting up a brave front, Simbu vanished when the police came knocking on his door. T Rajendar, Simbu’s dad, (and actor turned politician) has sent a clarification statement to Chennai Police Commissioner saying that the song was just a rough track composed by his son and Anirudh, but someone has misused it by leaking it online. Now the blame game has started between Rajendran and those supporting Anirudh. At the same time, a Police team from Coimbatore served summons to Simbu and Anirudh to appear before Coimbatore Commissioner on December 19. Unfortunately for Simbu fans, this time he finds himself in a sticky wicket, as the controversy around the Beep song refuses to die down.