Adding to the controversy over the 'beep song', renowned music composer Ilayaraja on Thursday got into a verbal argument with a journalist in Chennai and snubbed him for asking him a question related to the song.
The question was posed to him after a college function, by a Tamil television channel, soon after he began interacting with the media.The channel sought his reaction to the song.
"Do you have any sense?, answer me first, do you have senses, why do you pose this question to me, have we come here over this issue," a PTI report quotes him as saying.
The report also adds that those who had come with him pacified Ilayaraja and told the scribe that "there is a time and place for everything" and this was not the occasion for it.
The Consortium of Journalists in India (CJI) have come out and condemned the veteran music composer's statement.
"If he (Ilayarajah) didn’t want to respond, he should have avoided replying to the question. Instead, he degraded his credibility by abusing the journalist, which cannot be accepted by any media personality. Every journalist, who was there at the event covering the programme, was surprised to see Ilayarajah in extreme anger spilling harsh words at the journalist," CJI said in a statement.
"As the ‘Beep’ song row is in news for the controversial lyrics, the journalist questioned the maestro, whom he expected him as a better critic about this issue and not to annoy or rope him into fresh trouble," the statement added.
Tamil actor Simbu and music composer R Anirudh have been in trouble ever since the controversial song, which is about break-up of a couple and has many cuss words incorporated in it, was leaked on YouTube on December 11. The song went viral on social media, offending fans of both artists.
The song also had some highly objectionable references to women, which triggered outrage on social media.
The police have also filed a case against the duo following a complaint.
Simbu's lawyer has since put out a statement saying: “The song which is going viral on YouTube & WhatsApp is not the official version, moreover the lyrics seems to be misunderstood as my clients, actor Simbu & music director Anirudh are shocked. My clients strongly feel it might have been motivated leak by some unknown persons with malafide intentions & ulterior motives to tarnish the image & cause reputation damage.”
Anirudh had outright denied composing the song, while Simbu said that it was not released officially and was for his private consumption.
Simbu has been asked to appear before police in Coimbatore on December 19 for an inquiry with regard to the song.
A video of the music composer's confrontation with the journalist has also emerged since.
Stupid irritating media making Ilayaraja's response for beep song as a big issue which again popularizing the beep song among general public
— கார்த்திக் சந்திரன் (@KarthickCdm) December 18, 2015
When will indian media learn to ask sensible questions. That to Ilayaraja the greatest indian composer
— Bharathi (@BobbyInfoscion) December 18, 2015
Reporters like the guy who asked Ilayaraja about beep song - at a flood relief function - are a shame on journalistic fraternity.
— Dinakaran Rengachary (@dinakaran) December 17, 2015
Has Kamal Hassan been asked if what Ilayaraja did was right? #LongLiveModernJournalism
— Local Tea Party (@localteaparty) December 18, 2015
This s basically wat happened!!Oru vithvaana paathu kaekkara kelvi aa da ithu #BeepSong #Ilayaraja pic.twitter.com/KremgL9tni
— Vasanthan (@vasanttan) December 18, 2015