Music composer AR Rahman is facing backlash over his rendition of a popular patriotic song by legendary Bengali poet Kazi Nazrul Islam. The song was used in the latest Bollywood film ‘Pippa’ starring Ishaan Khatter and Mrunal Thakur.
The family members of the late poet have expressed their discontent over what they perceive as a “distortion” in the rhythm and tunes of the song.
The song in question, ‘Karar oi louho kopat’ (Iron bars of a jail), was featured in the war movie ‘Pippa’, which is based on real-life events that took place during the 1971 India-Pakistan war, which led to the birth of Bangladesh.
Kazi Anirban, Islam’s grandson, expressed his shock at the changes made to the song and called it “injustice”. He stated that while his mother had given consent for the song to be used in the movie, she did not approve of any alterations to the tunes.
“The way the song has been dished out with the change in rhythm and tunes is shocking. My mother, when she was alive, used to look after the legalities of contracts. I have to check that once, as she is not alive anymore. I will have to check what is in the contract and then speak to my family members, and take the next step,” he said.
“The song was rendered with a background of fighting the British. It inspired freedom fighters. I don’t know why Rahman sir did this, it’s injustice. I appeal that this song is dropped. He (Rahman) didn’t understand either the lyrics or the background of the song,” he added.
Kazi Nazrul Islam, often referred to as the ‘rebel poet’, was born in 1899 in what is now West Bengal’s Paschim Bardhaman district. His songs, known as ‘Nazrul geeti’, are immensely popular in Bengal, second only to those of Rabindranath Tagore.
Anindita Kazi, Islam’s granddaughter, also voiced her disapproval of the changes. She demanded that the altered version of the song be removed from the film and the public domain immediately.
Bangladeshi singer Khilkhil Kazi, another granddaughter of the poet, echoed these sentiments, adding that during her visit to Kolkata on November 12, she plans to meet singers and artists to voice their protest against the changes, according to PTI.
Haimanti Shukla, a popular Bengali singer, also expressed her outrage at this “act of sacrilege”. She questioned how a composer of AR Rahman’s stature could allow such changes to be made to the song.
AR Rahman is yet to comment on the matter.
Basant Kasayap is an entertainment aficionado who delves into the glitz and glamour of the entertainment industry. From Hollywood to Bollywood to regional cinema, she offers readers an insider’s perspective on the world of movies, music, and pop culture.
