Hell broke loose after news circulated on social media that Bollywood’s renowned producer Sajid Nadiadwala is geared up to create a remake of Ali Sethi and Shae Gill’s global sensation Pasoori”, for his upcoming film,”Satyaprem Ki Katha”, starring Kartik Aaryan and Kiara Advani. Pakistani fans weren’t happy hearing the news and hoped that the song would remain untouched as they expressed their dissatisfaction over social media.
However, this is not the first time that Bollywood has been accused of copying or ‘taking inspiration’ for their music from Pakistan.
Bollywood’s obsession with Pakistani music:
Over the years we have seen several instances when Bollywood has been accused of copying Pakistani music. This has repeatedly stirred discontent and left a bad taste among Pakistanis who own their songs and art due to their soulful rendition and innovative compositions.
But why is it such a bad thing?
When Indian filmmakers replicate Pakistani songs, they are taking away the recognition that Pakistani’s deserve, and it leads to exploitation of artists and producers who have put their heart and soul in making a song.
Furthermore, this also results in Pakistan getting less international recognition for its body of work and hampers the chances of talented musicians to pave their way to global platforms that not only opens new avenue of opportunities for them but also results in a better image of the country.
Examples of Bollywood Songs Inspired by Pakistani Music
Over the years several popular songs of Bollywood are a remake of Pakistani songs. Before Pasoori, there were claims that Abrar-ul-Haq’s Nach Punjaban was copied into an Indian song. However, the song ‘Punjaabban’ for Karan Johar’s film JugJugg Jeeyo was reproduced the legal way.
A pertinent example here can be of ‘Disco Deewane’ which was sung by brother-sister duo of Nazia and Zoheb Hassan. The song was changed to ‘The Disco Song’ used in another Karan Johar’s film Student of the Year.
Is it the similarities in culture and art that leads to ‘inspiration’:
It is imperative to note here that both countries share history and cultural ties and thus the musical traditions are intertwined. While it not uncommon for artists to draw inspirations from elsewhere and be inspired to create something new, the problem arises when the deserved recognition is not given.
Also, over the past there has been several instances where Indians and Pakistanis have collaborated for various projects together. Not only the artists from the two countries have visited their neighboring country but have also played a vital role in advancing the art and entertainment industry of their neighbors as an aftermath of several successful collaborations and exchange of ideas.
The Way Forward for Pasoori and Beyond:
The bottom line is that when an artist takes inspiration or decides to remake a work of art, they first ensure that they take intellectual rights from the original creator and give due credit.
Lastly, there is no denying the fact that both countries share strong ties due to their shared history. The ideal way forward is to foster good relationships and encourage collaboration between artists. We hope that such integrations continue, as long as they are legal and foster good relationships.
