While the rapper claims that he ‘sampled’ the folk song, other musicians disagree
Debarati. Sen (BOMBAY TIMES; April 1, 2020)

Rapper Badshah finds himself in the eye of a storm over his latest single, Genda Phool, a duet with Payal Dev, which he released earlier this week. Music lovers have slammed him for not giving credit to folk singer Ratan Kahar, who had originally sung and written the 48-year-old Bengali song, Boro Loker Beti Lo, which has inspired the new single.

The track became popular when it was adapted and rendered by well-known lokgeeti (Bengali folk music) singer, Swapna Chakraborty, in the 70s.

Last evening, Badshah went live on Instagram to give his side of the story about the song picturised on Jacqueline Fernandez and him. He said, “I was aware that it is a Bengali folk song. I had checked YouTube and found that the song had been recreated many times earlier, but Ratan Kahar’s name was not mentioned anywhere. As an artiste, I just wanted to sample this beautiful piece of music in a song and make the world listen to it. Aaj hum iss mukaam par hain ki log hamare gaane sunte hain. I want people to reach out to Ratan Kahar and tell him that I would love to help him.” Talking to BT, Badshah had said that the song is not a remix of the Bengali folk song.

Speaking about the controversy, musicians Jeet Gannguli and Palash Sen both agreed that using the song the way Badshah has, can't be called sampling.

Jeet stated, "When someone uses another composer's tune to a large extent, it cannot be called sampling. Credit should be given where it is due."

Palash, meanwhile, reminded, "When a verse from the song Kaliyon Ka Chaman, was used by an American rapper, Bappi Lahiri sued him and reportedly won the case."

I DESERVE TO GET RECOGNITION AND RESPECT FOR MY WORK: RATAN KAHAR
While speaking to BT, folk artiste Ratan Kahar, who lives in the Birbhum district of West Bengal, said, “I wrote this song in 1972. Swapna Chakraborty sang it in 1976 and it became famous. But even then, I did not get credit for it. I have heard the latest version (Badshah’s song). I don’t know him and haven’t heard of him, but he has used my song without taking my permission for it. I am an artiste and I deserve to get respect and recognition for my work. Besides, he has twisted the song so badly, how can people, who love Bengali music and culture, allow this?”