Academy Award To award winning singer and composer AR Rahman Bollywood for rendering a popular Bengali song for a film of Bangladesh There is a severe reaction from the people.
for ‘mutilating’ the ‘spirit’ of the revolutionary anthem ‘Karar Oi Loho Kopit’ (which translates to ‘bars of prison’) in his version of the song used in the Hindi film Pippa. Musician faced criticism.
The protest was led by the children of Bangladesh’s national poet Qazi Nazrul Islam, who wrote the poem in 1922. When the British arrested Mujahid Azadi Chitranjandas and sent him to jail, Nazrul Islam wrote this song in protest.
This poem asks people to break the iron gates of the prison. Known as a revolutionary poet, Nazrul Islam was also arrested by the British colonialists in 1923 on charges of sedition.
The song got its famous tune in 1949 when singer Geran Chakraborty first recorded it.
Relatives of the great poet and Bengalis from Bangladesh and India’s eastern state of West Bengal have accused Rahman of tampering with the tone of the original song.
The filmmakers issued an apology on Tuesday following the backlash, clarifying that ‘the intention was to honor the cultural significance of the song while adhering to the terms stipulated in our contract.’
Roy Kapur Films said in a statement: ‘We understand the emotional attachment of the audience to the original creation and since all art is inherently subjective, if our interpretation has hurt feelings or unintentionally hurt, We apologize.’
The filmmakers claimed that they faithfully followed the letter of the song and the spirit of the ‘Lyrics Agreement’ signed by Kalyani Qazi and witnessed by Anrban Qazi.
The poet’s daughter-in-law Kalyani Qazi died this year. Before his death, he licensed the ‘literary work’ to a Bollywood production house in 2021 for Rs 2 lakh (£1,928), The Times of India reported.
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According to the agreement, these rights were assigned to the production house to use, alter and reproduce the ‘literary work’ as part of a musical composition and to ‘edit, modify and/or modify the literary work for the said purpose. Cut it short.’
New Jersey-based Kalyani Qazi’s daughter, Anandata Qazi, alleged that she was never told regarding such a deal.
Speaking to The Times of India, he said, ‘I understand now when the world is protesting once morest the mutilation of a famous song.
‘People are throwing hate bombs at me for being a party to this deal and trading song rights for money. I want to make it clear that I am not a party to this. I strongly oppose what Rehman has done.’
Anrban Qazi, grandson of Nazrul Islam, said he had expressed his reservations regarding the song’s re-creation and would continue the protest.
The Dhaka-based poet’s granddaughter Masti Qazi said, ‘I am very ashamed. How can an artist of Rahman’s caliber distort such a popular song that has so influenced people and generations across the world?’
Subhash Chandra Bose’s grandson Chandra Kumar Bose said, ‘To distort a revolutionary song, which inspired many freedom fighters including the ‘Bose brothers, Sirt and Subhash’, is sacrilegious. Strong condemnation from Bose.’
Rahman has not issued any statement yet.
Directed by Raja Menon, Pippa starred Ishaan Khattar, Murnal Thakur and Prenshu Panioli in lead roles.
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2024-07-08 16:12:14
