Kanika Kapoor Responds To Hadiqa Kiani’s Claim Of Boohey Barian’s Theft

In the most unexpected twist to this peculiar saga, Kanika Kapoor has responded to Hadiqa Kiani claiming that her song “Boohey Barian” was stolen, with regards to a rendition perfomed by the Indian artist, posted on Saregama Music’s YouTube channel.

Context

Hadiqa Kiani recently took to her stories to address the “thieving” of her song. Kanika Kapoor’s rendition of Boohey Barian, titled Buhe Baariyan, became the focal point of Hadiqa’s anger. Posted on Saregama Music’s YouTube channel, the song has credited Gourov Dasgupta and Shruti Rane as composers, with lyrics being credited to Kunwar Juneja. Hadiqa Kiani was not been mentioned anywhere.

Now, it’s no secret that in 1998, Hadiqa Kiani released her second album, Roshni, that featured Boohey Barian as the sixth single on the album, and it is still considered to be one of the most well-known Pakistani songs.

The Reaction

As a result, with the involvement of Hadiqa Kiani, director Nabeel Qureshi, and Indian digital platform Diet Sabya, the conversation catapulted into Hadiqa Kiani clarifying that the rights to the song have not been sold, and Kanika Kapoor’s version can, therefore, be considered the theft of the song in question.

Kanika Kapoor’s Take

In an interview with Times of India, Kanika Kapoor has issued a statement, claiming that while she and everyone she knows are huge fans of music from Pakistan, Afghanistan, North of India and Punjab, “it is just sad that there is so much hatred on a topic, which we don’t even know what is right and what is wrong.”

She goes on to state the following:

“I mean, for me, we made an original song Juneja ji has written the song, Shruti has composed this song with Gourov Dasgupta, and have used a line of an old Punjabi folk song that being heard. So actually it is not a cover version, it’s a new song completely. If anyone listens to this and it’s just a little hook line, we used from an old Punjabi folk song, which I have seen more than 60 versions of on YouTube.”

Kanika Kapoor then claims to not know where the song comes from or originated, and doubles down on the fact that Saregama is a “respectable” label.

“None of us have any intention of stealing anybody’s work or not crediting anybody. And if they feel that way, then it makes us very sad and we feel very sorry. But to be honest, we also find out because none of us know the truth behind copyright.”

Kanika then goes on in the interview to state the following:

“And not just this song, many, many folks that we all love, have the same plan, there’s nothing that we know of it. So if someone is claiming right over them, it’s not something I can do anything about. But I had no intentions of upsetting anybody. I have a lot of love and respect for all fellows singers in Pakistan, and I will continue to follow and love their music. Also, I think, people should not bring religion and country and craft in middle of a song. They should not create so much hatred, you know, maybe sometimes you can deal with things with more love than hatred and that’s what the world needs today.”

Well – Hadiqa has yet to respond, but what do you make of the answer?