Showing posts with label Charanjit Singh Maakar. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Charanjit Singh Maakar. Show all posts
Now Sony Music claims it never gave Mundian To Bach Ke rights to T-Series
7:22 AM
Sanyukta Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 16, 2018)
A day after Mirror reported that writer-lyricist Charanjit Singh Maakar aka Channi Khannewala had sent legal notices to producer Sajid Nadiadwala, director Ahmed Khan, music label T-Series, lyricist Ginni Diwan, music director Sandeep Shirodkar, singers Navraj Hans and Palak Muchhal and leading man Tiger Shroff for allegedly plagiarising his song, “Mundiyan To Bach Ke Rahin,” for their film, Baaghi 2, Sony Music India has issued a legal notice to T-Series.
The latest development comes after a Baaghi 2 spokesperson refuted Channi’s claims in the Mirror report (March 15), saying T-Series had acquired all required rights to the song from Sony Music, who, in its legal notice, denies this, stating that the music label has no authority to use track.
A Sony Music India spokesperson revealed to Mirror that their rights to the song expired in the early 2000s and they had turned down a request from T-Series to remix the track during the song’s pre-production stages. “We have not given permission to T-series and have already issued a take-down notice to them,” the spokesperson said. Mirror reached out to both T-Series and the Baaghi 2 team multiple times via call and message but they chose not to respond.
Mundian To Bach Ke lyricist Charanjit Singh Maakar sues Baaghi 2 makers for copyright infringement
8:13 AM
Sanyukta Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 15, 2018)
Writer-lyricist Charanjit Singh Maakar, known in Punjabi folk circles as
Channi Khannewala, collaborated with the late singer Labh Janjua on the
song “Mundian To Bach Ke Rahin” in 1996. It was released by the music
label MC Punjabi, and by 2002, it had become a worldwide sensation as
British-Punjabi singer Rajinder Singh Rai’s bhangra remix for the same
label. That’s when Channi and Labh decided to safeguard their rights and notarized the track on October 23, 2002, whereby it could not be
reused, recreated, filmed or composed in any other language without
their written permission.
“So imagine my shock when I was home in Punjab and saw a Hindi version of our song, 'Mundiyan', playing on TV. The words of the first two lines and the last stanza had been changed but it was still our song,” Channi said about the new version that features in the Tiger Shroff-starrer Baaghi 2, adding that he contacted several people associated with the film, including producer Sajid Nadiadwala, who refused to entertain him. Ten days of unattended calls later, Channi sent notices to Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment, director Ahmed Khan, music label T-Series, lyricist Ginni Diwan, music director Sandeep Shirodkar, singers Navraj Hans and Palak Muchhal and Tiger.
“The noticees deliberately deprived me of my royalty. It is not only cheating, but also disrespecting a legend like Labh,” Channi said angrily. He has also reached out to the Indian Performing Rights Society Ltd., which has been paying him royalties for every time his song is used, for 16 years now, and the Central Board of Film Certification chief Prasoon Joshi.
Channi’s lawyer Ashu Latawa, has also filed a suit alleging plagiarism against the Baaghi 2 makers for altering the lyrics. Channi has demanded damages amounting to Rs 5 crore for Indian and international territories and that the song be immediately removed from audio-video promotions of the film. “Our next step will be seeking criminal and civil action since we have all appropriate documentation to obtain injunction and compliance orders,” he told Mirror.
In 2003, Kaizad Gustad’s Ayesha Shroff production, Boom, had featured a similar remix. “Labh and I had challenged the makers in court. They had to finally drop the song from their film,” Channi recalled, adding that when American rapper and music mogul Jay Z had wanted to use the track in an album, he’d sought their permission and they continue to receive royalties even today.
Actor-filmmaker Sandeep Kalhotra, who was Labh Janjua’s friend and neighbour in Mumbai, recalled, “I was in the city when Labh ji passed away in his sleep. I’d reached out to many singers and composers he had worked with, as well as two superstars, who didn’t even show up at his funeral. The Mumbai police helped us with the arrangements for the post-mortem, while I made sure his wife, Daljeet Kaur, and son, Kulvinder, who was only eight at the time, reached the city in time.”
While they fight the case, Kalhotra and Channi are also putting together a tribute to Labh’s musical journey featuring hits like “Bair Bura Hunda Jatt da”, and “Soni De Nakhre” (from Salman Khan and Govinda’s Partner). “The proceeds will be given to Daljeet, who had to resort to sewing clothes to put their son through school,” Kalhotra informed, promising that the duo will see the fight against the Baaghi 2 makers till the end.
When Mirror contacted the film’s team, a spokesperson said, “T-Series has acquired all the required rights to the song from Sony Music.”
Sony Music was also the music label behind Boom.
Writer-lyricist Charanjit Singh Maakar, known in Punjabi folk circles as
Channi Khannewala, collaborated with the late singer Labh Janjua on the
song “Mundian To Bach Ke Rahin” in 1996. It was released by the music
label MC Punjabi, and by 2002, it had become a worldwide sensation as
British-Punjabi singer Rajinder Singh Rai’s bhangra remix for the same
label. That’s when Channi and Labh decided to safeguard their rights and notarized the track on October 23, 2002, whereby it could not be
reused, recreated, filmed or composed in any other language without
their written permission.“So imagine my shock when I was home in Punjab and saw a Hindi version of our song, 'Mundiyan', playing on TV. The words of the first two lines and the last stanza had been changed but it was still our song,” Channi said about the new version that features in the Tiger Shroff-starrer Baaghi 2, adding that he contacted several people associated with the film, including producer Sajid Nadiadwala, who refused to entertain him. Ten days of unattended calls later, Channi sent notices to Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment, director Ahmed Khan, music label T-Series, lyricist Ginni Diwan, music director Sandeep Shirodkar, singers Navraj Hans and Palak Muchhal and Tiger.
“The noticees deliberately deprived me of my royalty. It is not only cheating, but also disrespecting a legend like Labh,” Channi said angrily. He has also reached out to the Indian Performing Rights Society Ltd., which has been paying him royalties for every time his song is used, for 16 years now, and the Central Board of Film Certification chief Prasoon Joshi.
Channi’s lawyer Ashu Latawa, has also filed a suit alleging plagiarism against the Baaghi 2 makers for altering the lyrics. Channi has demanded damages amounting to Rs 5 crore for Indian and international territories and that the song be immediately removed from audio-video promotions of the film. “Our next step will be seeking criminal and civil action since we have all appropriate documentation to obtain injunction and compliance orders,” he told Mirror.
In 2003, Kaizad Gustad’s Ayesha Shroff production, Boom, had featured a similar remix. “Labh and I had challenged the makers in court. They had to finally drop the song from their film,” Channi recalled, adding that when American rapper and music mogul Jay Z had wanted to use the track in an album, he’d sought their permission and they continue to receive royalties even today.
Actor-filmmaker Sandeep Kalhotra, who was Labh Janjua’s friend and neighbour in Mumbai, recalled, “I was in the city when Labh ji passed away in his sleep. I’d reached out to many singers and composers he had worked with, as well as two superstars, who didn’t even show up at his funeral. The Mumbai police helped us with the arrangements for the post-mortem, while I made sure his wife, Daljeet Kaur, and son, Kulvinder, who was only eight at the time, reached the city in time.”
While they fight the case, Kalhotra and Channi are also putting together a tribute to Labh’s musical journey featuring hits like “Bair Bura Hunda Jatt da”, and “Soni De Nakhre” (from Salman Khan and Govinda’s Partner). “The proceeds will be given to Daljeet, who had to resort to sewing clothes to put their son through school,” Kalhotra informed, promising that the duo will see the fight against the Baaghi 2 makers till the end.
When Mirror contacted the film’s team, a spokesperson said, “T-Series has acquired all the required rights to the song from Sony Music.”
Sony Music was also the music label behind Boom.
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