Bollywood's new hit track faces copying charges

MUMBAI: Another hit Bollywood song, another accusation of plagiarism. The chart-bursting Kambakht Ishq number of this summer's hit flick Pyar Tune Kya Kiya is soaring every countdown. But the song has drawn plagiarism accusations for composer Sandeep Chowta.

Critics, some of whose comments led to headlines like "Kambakht Ripoff" in local papers, say Chowta lifted the tunes for the song from a CD called Liquid Grooves.

But Chowta vehemently defends his creation, saying the critics don't know what they are talking about.

"Liquid Grooves is a CD-ROM manufactured by Spectrasonics, which contains rhythm loops and textures to be used by musicians all over the world. The minute a musician purchases a copy of the original CD-ROM Liquid Grooves from Spectrasonics as I have in Pyar Tune Kya Kiya, he's automatically entitled to use the samples," said Chennai-based Chowta.

"Many eminent musicians from all over the world including Sting, in his album Brand New Day, have used these samples. Liquid Grooves isn't a pop or rock group as this critic claims," Chowta added.

He said his song was a raging success and he had done nothing wrong. "Some ill-informed self styled critics seem to be grinding their axe over my creativity. All I'm guilty of is honesty regarding my source material. That's being twisted to the convenience of some people.

"My song is a resounding success and so is the film, but some people have to make a noise about it. For their information the film has earned nearly an Rs 100 million at the Delhi circuit alone. People are entitled to their opinion on the film and music. But shouldn't journalists in Mumbai at least get their basic information right before damning me?

"This critic who damned my music obviously didn't know the difference between an artiste and a CD-ROM," he said.

The composer said the burden of trying to handle numerous assignments at the same time had led to plagiarizing in the industry. "If a composer has 10-15 assignments together the easiest and most convenient route to success would be to get reference CDs and rip off the material."

But he added he had preferred to cut down on work rather than compromise on quality. "I can't do that. I therefore take on only a couple of assignments at a time. At the same time I must add in this era of global sounds we can't afford to be squeamish or secretive about outsourced materials for music. Should I be punished and ridiculed for my honesty?

"I've unhesitatingly told anyone who has asked me about my sources. If I play you the original, unacknowledged sources of some of Hindi films classic songs you'll be shocked. I can't hide my sources and trouble my conscience. I can't sit smugly and take full credit for someone else's composition. I mean we all are inspired by music that has come before us. Let's be magnanimous about it. And let's not let some ignoramus spoil it for us."

In the past, top music directors like Nadeem and Shravan have faced charges of plagiarism.

Two of their hit numbers, Dil ne yeh kaha hai dil se and Aksar is duniya mein, from the awards-nominated film Dhadkan, have been accused of being ripped off from tunes of Saudi Arabian singer Abdul Majeed Abdullah and Lebanese crooner Najwa Karam.

Nadeem Saifi claims he is innocent. But distinguished composer Pandit Hridayanath Mangeshkar begs to differ. "I used to like some of Nadeem-Shravan's earlier songs, until I got to know they were directly lifted from Pakistani compositions. I don't think deriving songs from other sources is a wrong practice per se, as long as the original composer is credited," said Mangeshkar.