Ali Fazal is miffed that the Prakash Raj directorial, which also features Taapsee Pannu, is being promoted even though its cast and crew are yet to be paid in full
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 3, 2019)

On August 1, Zee Music Company launched the song, “Khainch Le Qashh”, from Prakash Raj’s first Hindi film as a director, Tadka. Ali Fazal, Taapsee Pannu and Shriya Saran—the film’s lead actors—and its music team were tagged in the post. Soon after, Ali responded, stating, “There’s a court case on the producers of this film as far as I remember. Cheques had bounced. Actors and crew still haven’t gotten paid. Surprised to see a promotional song coming out from the film.”

When Mirror reached out to the 32-year-old actor, who was on his way to Canada, sounded upset. “An entire crew, including my staff, is yet to be paid. When we (the cast) were called to shoot the last portion, we made it clear to the producers that we would do so only after our dues were cleared. But they requested us to shoot, promising to pay later. I was working on another project at the time and had to leave it for three-four days for this film. I got a cheque a day after we shot, but it bounced. Since then I have got several WhatsApp messages from my producer Jatish Varma, promising me that he will pay up but it has yet to happen. My tweet was not against Zee but against these guys who made the film,” Ali ranted.

The film, which also features Nana Patekar, has been produced by Jatish Varma, Sameer Dixit, and Zee Studios. When Mirror reached out to producer Jatish, he said, “The film’s release date is yet to be finalised. Only the last payment, which is made after the promotions, remains. The rest has been cleared on time for every member associated with the film.”

When asked why Zee Music Company had released the song, Jatish said, “This song was released without our permission. We share a great relationship with Anurag Bedi, the head of Zee Music Company, who is keen to release our film’s music even if Zee Studios disassociates itself with the project as he has invested time and energy in it. We want to go ahead with Zee Music as well, but we cannot sign a deal as of now as there is an ongoing legal battle between Prakash Raj and Zee Studios (over the film).”

When asked if he’ll promote the film, Ali said, “My heart is not in this film now. Taapsee is a friend and I can speak for her. I don’t think either of us would be interested in promoting it.”

Sonil Dedhia (MID-DAY; June 20, 2019)

Even as filmmakers and artistes hail the freedom of expression that online platforms offer owing to its censorship- free stance, The Voice (2015) contestant and singer Piyush Ambhore had an unexpected run-in with YouTube.

Three days after its release last week, the video of his debut single, Tujhe Jaana Hai Toh Jaa, was pulled down from the streaming platform owing to its "objectionable content". Ambhore says the bone of contention was a scene that sees the protagonist indulging in substance abuse. "It's not the first time that a video has a snorting sequence," retorts the singer, pointing out how similar scenes have remained unscathed in the past.

"A recent example is Kabir Singh. Udta Punjab [2016] and Dev D [2009] have also depicted similar stuff. This is my first single and it is disheartening to get such a treatment." The number, Ambhore claims, had been given a clean chit by the Central Board of Film Certification for airing on television.

"The officials at Zee Music were shocked [at the development] as the video had got a U/A certificate from the Censor Board. The label had got the CBFC nod as it was planning to air the song on TV channels. When they questioned YouTube India, all they got was lame excuses."

However, he is thankful to the label for its unflinching support to his first creation. "They sent the video back to the editing table. Now, the objectionable portions have been blurred, and we have put up a disclaimer as well. We re-released the video three days ago."

Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; March 19, 2018)

"Dreams do come true,” says Souvik Ganguli at the onset of our chat. The Kolkata-based security guard has reason to believe in the saying, given that he has recently made his singing debut with Zee Music.

It only took a Facebook post featuring Ganguli belting out select tracks to change his life. “I often sing Arijit Singh’s songs. A few months ago, someone recorded it and put it up on social media. An event-based company came across the video, and suggested my name to Zee. The next thing I know, I’m in Mumbai pursuing my dream of becoming a singer.”

Dhaga Dhaga, which released on the company’s YouTube channel on March 15, pairs Ganguli with singer Aakanksha Sharma. “The company is pitching the song for a film,” says Ganguli, adding that he has shot for the video in Dubai. He has also lent his vocals to two more cover versions, including Raees’s (2017) Zaalima and Rustom’s (2016) Tere Sang Yaara. What makes his achievement commendable is that Ganguli hasn’t received professional training in singing. “Now, the company has enrolled me into a training institute.”

This isn’t his first tryst with fame. In 2016, his singing skills caught the attention of social media users. Ganguli was soon giving interviews on news channels, but his career didn’t take off.

Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; October 6, 2016)

Shortly after a teaser for upcoming release, Rock On 2 hit the Internet, the makers announced a US tour that the star cast of the film, wearing the garb of band Magik, would pull off. The plan was for a three-city tour across Houston, New Jersey and California scheduled for October 14, 15 and 16 where Farhan Akhtar, Arjun Rampal, Purab Kohli, Shraddha Kapoor and composer trio Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy would perform. Tickets were priced at $35, $55, $75, $100 and $300. The tour, however, now stands cancelled because sponsors allegedly pulled out. A look at the events listing page for Oracle Arena in Oakland (California), the venue for the Magik Tour on October 15, carries a ‘cancelled’ notice, with the assurance that the ticket money will be refunded.

A source said, “The sponsors pulled out after the film’s music received a lukewarm response. Dream Tour [the recent Katrina Kaif-Varun Dhawan-Arjun Kapoor-Alia Bhatt featuring US tour] had a more Bollywood feel to it. Rock On is not perceived as a quintessential desi film, and the Indian rock music it has to offer has few takers in the US.”

However, the film’s spokesperson defends saying, “It was a strategic decision so that Magik can plan more shows in India.” She told hitlist, cancelling the US tour was a strategic decision taken by the distribution partner (Eros International). “ Instead, a 12-city India tour is being planned,” the source said.

Although Indian rock fans are loving the beats of the sequel’s music, it has niche appeal. A source at Zee Music, requesting anonymity, said, “The current crop of college students aren’t familiar with the popularity of Magik. They are warming up to the music. Jaago is faring well across radio channels and is ranked among the top 50 songs on Itunes which is a stable start. But, rest of the songs feature nowhere since the music released a few weeks ago. The [India] concerts could pump new energy and help the film’s buzz.”

A source at Wizcraft, event organisers for the US tour, said, “We were asked to organise the tour, which we were ready to do. When we were told it was called off, that was that. It was the production’s call.” When we contacted the media wing of Sun National Bank Center, the venue for the show in New Jersey (October 14) , they told us, “The promoter asked for it to be cancelled. They take care of the sponsors. But, any show being cancelled is a branding loss for the promoter and its artistes. Bollywood fans were surely disappointed.” Their Houston promoter Rajender Singh, remained unavailable for comment despite repeated calls.

Text messages to co-producers Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar went unanswered, too.

Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; February 25, 2016)

Mirror (February 16) had reported that his rift with Zee resulted in Sonu Nigam being replaced by Nakash Aziz and Javed Ali in a song, "Ishq Ki Baarish", which he had recorded for Ishq Forever after Zee Music bought the film's music rights. A repeat was on the cards when Suhaib Ilyasi, who was in a negotiation with the music label for his film, Ghar Wapsi, was told to get the singer's voice dubbed in the song "Kita Pyaara Yeh Bandhan Hai". He refused.

"I met the Zee management 20 days ago and they loved all the four songs and were happy to come on board. Their only demand was that I should replace Sonu. I turned it down because it is ethically wrong," he reasons.

The romantic track filmed on his lead pair, Harsh Nagar and Srishti Gautam, was recorded four months ago in a suburban studio. Sonu loved the RayNBrotherhood composition and sang it. "I ran into Salman Khan at the studio after the recording. He had met Sonu a few minutes before and he'd been raving about the song so much that he too wanted to hear the track," reminisces the former host of the crime show India's Most Wanted.

Have they discussed the incident? "No, I didn't want to hurt Sonu but I'm told he is aware of this issue," says Ilyasi, whose film is about a couple and how they adjust to new cultures, societies and different upbringings.

Singer's beef with a music company has resulted in him being cut off from a film's soundtrack
Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; February 16, 2016)

Almost a year after he was banned by Zee for voicing his support for the disgraced Aam Aadmi Party leader Kumar Vishwas, comes the news that singer Sonu Nigam has been replaced in a song for an upcoming film, Ishq Forever. Incidentally, Zee Music has the film's music rights.

A video of the 42-year-old singer recording the song, titled "Ishq Ki Barish", with Shreya Ghoshal has been doing the rounds on the social media. But Mirror has learnt that Sonu's voice has since been dubbed by Nakash Aziz and Javed Ali.

When quizzed on the subject, Sonu said he wasn't aware of the development. "Yes, I've been told that I've been replaced. It has happened to me a lot in the recent past so I'm not surprised. Zee has a problem with me and last April had announced that they will never work with me again," admitted the singer, who had been roped in to sing a couple of songs for the film, which opens this Friday.

He pointed out he had sung a few numbers for Vikas Bahl's Alia Bhatt-Shahid Kapoor-starrer Shaandaar too, including the chart-topping "Gulabo" but was replaced at the last minute. "The makers of this film could have leaked the video of me recording the song," he adds.

Shabbir Boxwala, one of the film's producers, added, "I love Sonu's voice and have been his admirer for years. I would have loved to retain his song but we have sold the music rights to Zee and it's up to them to do what they want to with the songs."

It seems the music company that banned Sonu Nigam last year still holds a grudge against him
Shaheen Parkar (MID-DAY; January 6, 2016)

Two songs that Sonu Nigam had rendered in the upcoming Lisa Ray and Jaaved Jaaferi-starrer 'Ishq Forever' have had to be re-recorded. Reason? The singer is facing the consequences of his apparent spat with entertainment head honcho, Subhash Chandra Goel, last year.

Sources suggest the film's makers had roped in Sonu for the songs, unaware that the music rights lies with Goel's company, Zee Musoc Company, which has allegedly banned him. The two sparred at a bash hosted by politico Amar Singh last April — Goel apparently told the singer that his channel had created him and he must acknowledge the fact. Sonu then said he has never shied away from accepting that, but maybe, Goel had not heard him say so. Sources say the retort upset the media mogul.

Later that month, Sonu claimed that Goel's company had banned him for tweeting in support of Aam Aadmi Party leader and 'poet friend' Kumar Vishwas, who was embroiled in a controversy for alleged insensitivity over a farmer’s suicide at a rally. He suggested that a news channel owned by Goel may have wrongly portrayed Vishwas.

Says a source, "The makers of 'Ishq Forever' got other singers on board as soon as they realised that Sonu's numbers would not be included in the film." Nadeem (of Nadeem-Shravan) has scored the music for the film.

Sonu stuck to a "no comments" stance while Shabbir Boxwala, producer of the film, confirms the story and says, "Yes, we have re-done two of our songs with Javed Ali and another singer. When we recorded the songs with Sonu, we were unaware of the ban."