Why a Bollywood song in an Odisha textbook is drawing fire

A Bollywood hit featuring Aishwarya Rai and Salman Khan has appeared in a Class 5 English textbook in Odisha, and the reaction online has been swift.

The song, "Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam" from the 1999 film of the same name, was included as a reading passage in the "My English Reader" book published by the Odisha State Bureau of Textbook Preparation and Production. The passage describes the song's lyrics and the film's romantic plot.

Social media users flagged the inclusion as inappropriate for a primary school textbook. Critics argued that a song from a commercial Bollywood film, even a popular one, does not belong in a curriculum meant for 10- and 11-year-olds. Some pointed out that the passage focuses on romantic themes rather than educational content.

Others defended the move, saying the song is a cultural touchstone and that exposing children to popular art forms is not harmful. The debate has split along familiar lines: those who see it as harmless fun versus those who see it as a dilution of academic standards.

The Odisha textbook bureau has not issued a statement on the controversy. The passage remains in the current edition of the book.

This is not the first time a state textbook board has faced criticism for content choices. Previous controversies have involved historical figures, religious references, and political messaging. The Bollywood song inclusion adds a pop-culture dimension to an ongoing debate about what belongs in India's school curriculum.