Punjabi music has gone global, blaring in clubs from Chandigarh to Canada, fuelling reels, weddings, gym sessions, and car karaoke. But it’s 2025, and somehow, the men behind the mics are still stuck in 2005, playing out the same outdated, sexist script. They spit rhymes that treat women like car-seat accessories or trophies to be bought and flaunted. And if you thought this conversation was old news, think again. The sexism in Punjabi music is back in the headlines thanks to Karan Aujla and Honey Singh. Their tracks MF Gabhru and Millionaire have been slammed by the Punjab State Women’s Commission for promoting misogyny and objectifying women. The Commission has even demanded apologies and lyric revisions. But they aren’t the only ones to blame, there is a long list of artists that keep degrading women with every song they make.

1. Get Up Jawani

Honey Singh has practically built his career on controversy, but Get Up Jawani pushes the limits even by his standards. It’s packed with lyrics that not only objectify women but treat them like toys for male amusement.

“Gaana baje toh naache baby doll

Ko tappe khilaun jaise basketball”

This isn’t just one problematic line. The entire track, like most of his songs, is a masterclass in how not to talk about women.

2. Pata Chalega

We all have danced and screamed at Imran Khan’s songs without ever realising what he was saying. So, today is the day you understand what he was actually saying all this while.

“Pata ve chal gaya ke dillan di tu chor

Yaar nu chhad ke tu aa gai saaday kol”

Translation: Now I know that you are an unfaithful lover, you left your lover behind and came to me.

The whole song is just one long stereotype, painting women as unfaithful, gold-digging, money-chasing creatures. Apparently, women only go ‘where the dollars are’?

3. 4MenDown

Love vibing to Milind Gaba’s tracks? Well, 4MenDown might make you hit skip next time.

“Bak bak bak bak chor chumi

nona oh, nona oh, nona yeh, la ke do, nona

bas kar chain ke do pal jeene de”

Translation: Stop with your talking, bring me this bring me that, stop it now and let me have some peace.

Under that catchy production lies a classic stereotype: the “nagging girlfriend” trope, complete with objectification.

4. Kya Baat Ay

At first listen, it sounds like a sweet love song. But listen again:

“Lakk ni paiyaan, paiyaan badi hot marjaniye,

Tainu takk ke, mainu aande gande thought marjaniye”

Translation: Your curves are so hot, looking at you gives me dirty thoughts.

Erm… excuse us? That’s not romance. That’s literally blaming a woman for your own pervy imagination.

5. Top Tucker

Badshah’s lyrics are a masterclass in ignoring consent. And this one is no different:

“Already boyfriend, I don’t mind mama,

Face, base, lips, hips, sab superfine mama”

So, she has a boyfriend, and you “don’t mind”? Great. Who needs mutual respect or boundaries when you’ve got rhymes this entitled?

6. Mercy

At this point, we’ve come to expect a certain level of cringe from Badshah—but Mercy really said: hold my mic. This one takes the award for the most confusing way to compare a woman to a rodent’s fur.

“Jaise hilti hai waise mat hila kar…Body teri hotter than Chinchilla fur”

No really, what even is this line? And why was this allowed to exist? Someone, please explain.

7. Mitran De Boot

At first listen, it might sound like a playful duet, but pay attention to the lyrics and it is bizarre, but this line crosses a limit:

“Chup kar ja kann te maaru“

The line literally means, shut up or I’ll slap you. In the entire song, the male singer is trying to demean the woman, insulting her looks and belittling her clothes and makeup. When she says men stare at her when she leaves the house, he says “Just shut up or I’ll slap you.”

8. Jaguar

This song literally is about a woman asking for a Jaguar in exchange for her love.

“Kudi kendi baby pehla Jaguar lai lo

Phir jinna marji pyaar lai lo”

Translation: She says buy a Jaguar first, then take as much love as you want.

And she goes on threatening to leave him if he doesn’t give in to her demandein. Sukh-E is one of the top contenders when it comes to making sexist music. And with every song he makes, he climbs the ladder. Jaguar is just another song in his arsenal of degrading songs.

This list is not exhaustive, not even close, but these are some of the most popular songs we keep humming without knowing the meaning. Sexism in Punjabi music is rampant, and it’s time we stop vibing to the beat and actually pay attention to the lyrics.

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