Masoom Sharma's Banned Haryanvi Songs Hit Billboard's Top 20 Charts

In a surprising twist that has left Haryana officials red-faced, singer Masoom Sharma's songs have rocketed to Billboard's coveted charts - including one that was officially banned by the state government. 

The Haryana government had earlier banned seven of Masoom's songs, citing concerns about promoting "gun culture." The move sparked heated debates across the state, with fans and free speech advocates criticizing government 's overreach. 

But the ban seems to have backfired spectacularly. Billboard India's latest charts show three of Masoom's tracks ranking in the Top 20. "Pistol" and "Chambal Ke Daku" have secured spots in the Top 10, while "Khatola-2" - one of the banned songs - is trending at number 14. 

"This proves music can't be silenced by paperwork," said music critic Rahul Sharma (no relation to the artist). "The government wanted to limit his reach in Haryana, but now he's playing everywhere from Punjab to Rajasthan." 

The success is particularly noteworthy because Billboard charts rarely feature Haryanvi music. The platform is typically dominated by Bollywood hits and occasional Punjabi tracks. 

Music industry experts point out that streaming data from Spotify confirms his growing popularity, with Masoom's songs trending across multiple states, not just his home territory.

Last year, another Haryanvi artist, Dhanda Nyoliwala, made it to Billboard's Top 20 with his hit "Russian Bandana." However, having three songs simultaneously charting represents an unprecedented achievement for Haryana's regional music scene. 

The cultural analysts suggest the ban might have created a "forbidden fruit" effect, drawing more attention to the very content officials hoped to suppress. 

"When you tell people not to listen to something, that's exactly what they want to hear," explains social media analyst Priya Malik. "The ban transformed regional songs into national curiosities."