Sofia Ashraf

Sofia Ashraf (born 1987) is an Indian rapper and singer. Her songs address the negligence of corporations that fail to clean up industrial disasters. Her 2008 song Don't Work for Dow criticizes Dow's failure to compensate victims of the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy in India. In 2015, she released Kodaikanal Won't, a music video addressing mercury pollution in Kodaikanal from a thermometer factory owned by Unilever, a multinational consumer goods company.

In June 2016, she released "Dow vs. Bhopal: a Toxic Rap Battle".[1]

Early life

In 1987, Sofia Ashraf was born and brought up in an orthodox Malayali Muslim household in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Sofia was part of a Muslim youth group in Chennai, and studied Islamic History and Philosophy ardently. She studied graphic design in Stella Maris College, Chennai, where she used to zealously participate in extracurricular activities. She began rapping on stage during a college festival, where she donned a Hijab and rapped to her own lyrics in which she questioned the people's attitude towards Muslims after September 11 attacks. The press referred to her as "The Burqa Rapper" after the incident.[2] Despite this she now identifies as atheist and has several tattoos.[3]

Career

Ashraf worked as a creative supervisor for Ogilvy & Mather, a global advertising firm that counts Unilever as one of its clients. She quit the firm in 2015, a few months before making the hit single "Kodaikanal Won't". O&M executive chairman Piyush Pandey said the firm had wanted Ashraf to stay on, but that she left to pursue a new career path in 2015.[4]

In 2008, she sang "Don't Work for Dow" while wearing a hijab to criticize Dow for its response to the Bhopal disaster in 1984.[5]

In July 2015, she released the single "Kodaikanal Won't" to protest the pollution of a river in Kodaikanal.[6] In the song she appeals to Unilever to help former workers in Kodaikanal, whose river was contaminated 14 years before with mercury from a thermometer plant owned by Unilever. Ashraf released a YouTube video of the song to campaign against the mercury poisoning. Ashraf used the Nicki Minaj tune "Anaconda" as the beat for "Kodaikanal Won't."[5][7] In 2015, she collaborated with Chennai-based singer Maalavika Manoj and Sapta on the song Deen. The song was written by Ashraf to combat moral policing and insist the faith must be a choice, not an imposition.[8]

Ashraf has recorded a song each in the Bollywood movie Jab Tak Hai Jaan and the Tamil movie Maryan (film), for music director A. R. Rahman,[9][10] and also for Santhosh Kumar in his Tamil film Inimey Ippadithan.[11]

References

  1. ^ "Indian Rapper Targets US Chemical Giant in Bid for Damages". AP. 10 July 2016. Retrieved 10 July 2016 – via The New York Times.
  2. ^ "Meet firebrand rapper Sofia Ashraf who is all set for her maiden performance in Mumbai". Daily News & Analysis.
  3. ^ "bpb's Book of Tattoos: Sofia Ashraf, Copywriter, O&M". Brown Paper Bag. 19 February 2015.
  4. ^ Balakrishnan, Ravi (4 August 2015). "O&M ex-employee Sofia Ashraf takes on Unilever's Kodaikanal plant for alleged "environment pollution"". The Economic Times. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
  5. ^ a b Mackey, Robert (31 July 2015). "Indian Rapper Calls Out Unilever to a Nicki Minaj Beat". The New York Times. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
  6. ^ Larson, Selena (1 August 2015). "Indian rapper protests corporation's toxic waste dump with "Anaconda" remix". Daily Dot. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
  7. ^ "Unilever poisoning Kodaikanal with Mercury". Business Standard. 13 January 2013. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
  8. ^ Fathima, Hafsa (20 November 2015). "Sapta and Sofia Ashraf create a tuneful conversation". The Hindu. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
  9. ^ Ayub, Jamal (3 December 2012). "Sofia Ashraf: Rapping for a cause". The Times of India.
  10. ^ "'Burqa rapper' Sofia Ashraf is face of viral Nicky Minaj parody video". The Indian Express. 7 August 2015. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  11. ^ Srinivasan, Karthik (23 May 2015). "Hitman". The Hindu.

Read other articles:

Larry Flynt - Oltre lo scandalo

Larry Flynt - Oltre lo scandaloLarry Flynt (Woody Harrelson) arringa la follaTitolo originaleThe People vs. Larry Flynt Paese di produzioneStati Uniti d'America Anno1996 Durata129 min Rapporto2,40:1 Generebiografico, commedia, drammatico RegiaMiloš Forman SceneggiaturaScott Alexander, Larry Karaszewski ProduttoreOliver Stone, Michael Hausman, Janet Yang FotografiaPhilippe Rousselot MontaggioChristopher Tellefsen Effetti specialiRodman Kiser MusicheThomas Newman ScenografiaPatrizia vo...

 

 

Slapstick

Style of comedy This article is about the style of comedy. For other uses, see Slapstick (disambiguation). A slapstick scene from the 1915 Charlie Chaplin film His New Job. Chaplin started his film career as a physical comedian, and his later work continued to contain elements of slapstick. A slap stick Slapstick is a style of humor involving exaggerated physical activity that exceeds the boundaries of normal physical comedy.[1] Slapstick may involve both intentional violence and viol...

 

 

Vanessa Paradis

Vanessa Chantal Paradis, (nama belakang diucapkan Para-DEE) (lahir 22 Desember 1972) adalah seorang penyanyi dan aktris Prancis. Vanessa ParadisParadis pada tahun 2012LahirVanessa Chantal Paradis22 Desember 1972 (umur 51)Saint-Maur-des-Fossés, Val-de-Marne, PrancisPekerjaanPenyanyiPenulis LaguAktrisModelTahun aktif1981–sekarangSuami/istriSamuel Benchetrit ​ ​(m. 2018)​PasanganJohnny Depp(1998–2012)Anak2; Lily-Rose Depp, John Christopher Depp I...

Teluk Bajur

Untuk kegunaan lain, lihat Teluk Bayur (disambiguasi). Teluk BajurAlbum studio karya Ernie DjohanDirilis1967GenrePopDurasi21:46LabelRemacoKronologi Ernie Djohan Ernie(1966)Ernie1966 Teluk Bajur(1967) Mutiara Jang Hilang(1968)Mutiara Jang Hilang1968 Teluk Bajur adalah album dari penyanyi Ernie Djohan, dibantu oleh grup Zaenal Combo pimpinan Zaenal Arifin yang dirilis pada tahun 1967 di bawah label Remaco. Album Teluk Bajur ditempatkan pada peringkat ke-132 dalam daftar 150 Album Indonesia ...

 

 

باليني

بالّيني ΠαλλήνηPallini (باليونانية: Παλλήνη)‏    الموقع الجغرافي تقسيم إداري البلد اليونان[1] عاصمة لـ أتيكا الشرقية  المنطقة الإدارية أتيكا أتيكا الشرقية خصائص جغرافية إحداثيات 38°00′09″N 23°52′26″E / 38.0025°N 23.873888888889°E / 38.0025; 23.873888888889   الأرض 18.7 كم² الارت...

 

 

Ray Eddy

American college basketball coach Ray EddyPersonal informationBorn(1911-04-13)April 13, 1911[1]Columbus, Indiana, U.S.DiedSeptember 20, 1986(1986-09-20) (aged 75)[2]Lafayette, Indiana, U.S.Listed height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)Listed weight180 lb (82 kg)Career informationHigh schoolColumbus (Columbus, Indiana)CollegePurdue (1932–1934)PositionForwardNumber12Career historyAs coach:1934–1939Tell City Marksmen1939–1950Madison Cubs1950–1965Purdue Care...

Mountain View, California

Mountain View, CaliforniaKota Clockwise: Shoreline Park from the San Francisco Bay; Googleplex (Google HQ); Downtown; Computer History Museum; City Hall & Performing Arts Center.Location within Santa Clara CountyMountain View city map, California, USAMountain ViewLocation within CaliforniaTampilkan peta CaliforniaMountain ViewLocation within the United StatesTampilkan peta Amerika SerikatKoordinat: 37°23′22″N 122°4′55″W / 37.38944°N 122.08194°W / 37.389...

 

 

Containment

American Cold War foreign policy against the spread of communism This article is about the United States policy. For other uses, see Containment (disambiguation). United States Information Service propaganda poster distributed in Asia depicting Juan dela Cruz ready to defend the Philippines from the threat of communism Containment was a geopolitical strategic foreign policy pursued by the United States during the Cold War to prevent the spread of communism after the end of World War II. The n...

 

 

André Béguin

Pour les articles homonymes, voir Béguin. André BéguinAndré Béguin en 2011.FonctionPrésidentLa Jeune Gravure contemporaineRaoul Pradeau (d)Pierre Sanchez (d)BiographieNaissance 28 avril 1927BloisDécès 24 septembre 2021 (à 94 ans)14e arrondissement de ParisSépulture Cimetière du MontparnasseNom de naissance André Louis Henri Roger BéguinNationalité françaiseActivités Historien, graveur, imprimeur, éditeur, dessinateurAutres informationsMembre de La Jeune Gravure contempo...

Raid on Żejtun

Attack by Ottoman Empire on Malta Raid on ŻejtunPart of the Ottoman-Habsburg warsOttoman-Maltese warsChurch of St. Gregory (then parish church of St. Catherine), which was sacked by the OttomansDate6–7 July 1614 (2 days)LocationSouth Eastern Malta (mainly Żejtun)Result Maltese victoryBelligerents  Ottoman Empire Order of Saint John Maltese civiliansCommanders and leaders Khalil Pasha Alof de Wignacourt Cav. MendesStrength 5,000–6,000 men c. 6,000–8,000 menCasualties and losses So...

 

 

Pino sulla Sponda del Lago Maggiore

Pino sulla Sponda del Lago Maggiore municipioabolished municipality in Italy Tempat Negara berdaulatItaliaDaerah di ItaliaLombardyProvinsi di ItaliaProvinsi VareseKomune di ItaliaMaccagno con Pino e Veddasca NegaraItalia PendudukTotal230  (2008 )GeografiLuas wilayah7,11 km² [convert: unit tak dikenal]Ketinggian289 m Berbatasan denganTronzano Lago Maggiore Veddasca Maccagno Brissago Gambarogno Informasi tambahanKode pos21010 Zona waktuUTC+1 UTC+2 Kode telepon0332 ID ISTAT012112 Kode...

 

 

Військово-музичне управління Збройних сил України

Військово-музичне управління Збройних сил України Тип військове формуванняЗасновано 1992Країна  Україна Емблема управління Військово-музичне управління Збройних сил України — структурний підрозділ Генерального штабу Збройних сил України призначений для планува...

乔冠华

乔冠华 中华人民共和国外交部部长 中国人民对外友好协会顾问 任期1974年11月—1976年12月总理周恩来 → 华国锋前任姬鹏飞继任黄华 个人资料性别男出生(1913-03-28)1913年3月28日 中華民國江蘇省盐城县逝世1983年9月22日(1983歲—09—22)（70歲） 中华人民共和国北京市籍贯江蘇鹽城国籍 中华人民共和国政党 中国共产党配偶明仁（1940年病逝） 龚澎（1970年病逝） 章含�...

 

 

Guy de Maupassant

French writer (1850–1893) In this article, the surname is Maupassant, not de Maupassant. Guy de MaupassantPhotograph by NadarBornHenri René Albert Guy de Maupassant(1850-08-05)5 August 1850Tourville-sur-Arques, Normandy, FranceDied6 July 1893(1893-07-06) (aged 42)Passy, Paris, FranceResting placeMontparnasse Cemetery, ParisPen nameGuy de Valmont, Joseph PrunierOccupationNovelist, short story writer, poet, comedianGenreNaturalism, RealismSignature Henri René Albert Guy de Maupassant (...

 

 

Biloxi, Mississippi

City in Mississippi, United States Biloxi redirects here. For other uses, see Biloxi (disambiguation). City in Mississippi, United StatesBiloxi, MississippiCityThe Biloxi Visitors Center and the Biloxi Lighthouse, the city's signature landmark, in November 2011 FlagLogoLocation in Harrison County and the state of MississippiBiloxi, MississippiLocation in the United StatesCoordinates: 30°24′43″N 88°55′40″W / 30.41194°N 88.92778°W / 30.41194; -88.92778Country...

خلف الأبواب المغلقة (رياضة)

  لمعانٍ أخرى، طالع خلف الأبواب المغلقة (توضيح). هذه المقالة بحاجة لصندوق معلومات. فضلًا ساعد في تحسين هذه المقالة بإضافة صندوق معلومات مخصص إليها. يستخدم مصطلح خلف الأبواب المغلقة (بالإنجليزية: Behind closed doors) في العديد من الألعاب الرياضية، خاصة في كرة القدم،[1] لوصف ا�...

 

 

The U.S. vs. John Lennon (soundtrack)

2006 soundtrack album by John LennonThe U.S. vs. John LennonSoundtrack album by John LennonReleased25 September 2006Recorded1968–1980GenreRockLength75:27LabelParlophone, Capitol, EMIProducerJohn Lennon, Yoko Ono, Phil Spector, David Leaf, Lisa WohlJohn Lennon chronology Working Class Hero: The Definitive Lennon(2005) The U.S. vs. John Lennon(2006) Gimme Some Truth(2010) Professional ratingsReview scoresSourceRatingAllMusic[1]The Music Box[2]The Rolling Stone Album G...

 

 

1991 European Cup Winners' Cup final

Football match1991 European Cup Winners' Cup finalMatch programme coverEvent1990–91 European Cup Winners' Cup Manchester United Barcelona 2 1 Date15 May 1991VenueStadion Feijenoord, RotterdamRefereeBo Karlsson (Sweden)Attendance43,500← 1990 1992 → The 1991 European Cup Winners' Cup final was a football match played between Manchester United and Barcelona on 15 May 1991 at Feijenoord Stadion, Rotterdam. It was the final match of the 1990–91 European Cup Winners' Cup and the 31s...

黎巴嫩

黎巴嫩共和国الجمهوريّة اللبنانيّة‎（阿拉伯语）al-Jumhūrīyah al-LubnānīyahRépublique libanaise（法语） 国旗 国徽 国歌：《黎巴嫩国歌》（النشيد الوطني اللبناني‎）首都暨最大城市貝鲁特官方语言阿拉伯語法語官方文字阿拉伯文法文族群黎巴嫩人宗教54% 伊斯蘭教 41% 基督教 5% 德魯茲教政治體制单一制議會共和制法律體系欧陆法系领导人• 总统 空...

 

 

Ligue des champions de l'UEFA 2023-2024

Ligue des champions de l'UEFA 2023-2024 Généralités Sport Football Organisateur(s) UEFA Édition 69e Lieu(x) Finale : Stade de Wembley,Londres, Angleterre Date Phase qualificative (2023) :27 juin - 30 aoûtPhase de groupes (2023) :19 septembre - 13 décembrePhase à élimination directe (2024) :13 février - 1er juin Participants 78 clubs européens en qualification Site web officiel Site officiel Hiérarchie Hiérarchie C1 Niveau inférieur Ligue Europa 2023-2024 Palm...