Why is the song "Dhurandhar" reportedly banned in several Middle Eastern countries? Is it due to specific lyrical content cultural sensitivities or political reasons related to the artist or message?

This is a complex and sensitive issue. The song "Dhurandhar" is from the Marathi film "Lal Bawta" and is performed by the popular actor-singer Sharad Kelkar. The reported bans in countries like the UAE, Qatar, and Kuwait appear to stem from a combination of factors, primarily cultural and religious sensitivities, rather than the artist himself.

1. Lyrical Content and Imagery: The song is a powerful, aggressive rallying cry depicting a warrior spirit. While the lyrics are in Marathi, words and phrases that translate to "war," "attack," "strength," and "victory" are prevalent. The music video features strong martial arts-inspired choreography and warrior imagery. In conservative Gulf nations, media regulations are strict about content that could be seen as promoting violence, aggression, or war-like sentiment, regardless of artistic or cinematic context.
2. The Title & Name "Dhurandhar": This is crucial. "Dhurandhar" is not just a word; it is another name for Lord Shiva in his fierce, powerful aspect. The song's theme is essentially a devotion to this form of Shiva as the ultimate warrior. Any depiction or invocation of deities from other religions, especially in a forceful, militant context, can be viewed as problematic under the media laws of these Islamic nations, which prohibit content deemed offensive to Islamic values or that promotes other religions.
3. No Official Political Statement: There's no clear indication the ban is directly about Indian politics or a message against the Indian state. It seems to be a standard regulatory action by the Gulf countries' National Media Councils or censorship bodies based on their content guidelines. Movies and songs get banned or edited for release there frequently for similar reasons (e.g., depictions of mythology, violence, or romantic content).

So, in short, it's likely banned because local censors interpreted its aggressive tone and Hindu deity references as content that doesn't align with their cultural and religious broadcasting standards.