"Pritam hasn't stolen any song" - Pawan Kaul 
By Joginder Tuteja, March 7, 2008 - 17:26 IST
Director Pawan Kaul is a hurt man. He suddenly finds himself embroiled into the center of controversy in the time when he would
have rather worked on the promotion of his upcoming release Bhram.
For those who came late, around a week back there were allegations on film's composer Pritam around lifting from a Bengali song
'Ghare Pheraar Gaan' for one of his compositions 'Jaane Kyun Tanha Ho Gaye'. Pritam however denied the charge
and clarified that he had officially bought all the rights for the original source of the song. Since he had kept, Pawan Kaul in loop
all along, he felt that the director should have informed the producers about the same.
"Director Pawan Kaul liked the particular song 'Ghare Pheraar Gaan' and wanted it in the film. He all along knew that it is a
Bengali song by late Gautam Chatterjee", said Pritam, "After completion of this project, I tried calling Mr. Pawan Kaul umpteen
times to know what was happening on the album because I wanted proper credits to be given to Gautamda. I had no contact with
the producers as I was mostly dealing with Mr. Kaul."
Pawan Kaul reasons though, "I am clueless that why am I being made the villain of the piece. Have I mentioned even once that
Pritam has lifted the song? There are all sorts of reports coming from media but whoever has approached me directly, I have
always stood by Pritam. I have maintained that Pritam has bought the rights from the music company. As a director, this is the
maximum I can do that if and when someone seeks my comment, I give the true picture. To set the records straight, Pritam hasn't
stolen any song. I guess things are just being blown out of proportion for no rhyme or reason."
From where does he feel is the controversy originating? Why is Magna Films not coming out and issuing a note about the
authenticity of the deal around purchase of right? "I seriously have no clue around who started it off, who is carrying a
misunderstanding or if there is any controversy at all! I guess it is just a matter of misunderstanding between different people. Let
me tell you the exact story around how the song came into picture."
Please carry on - we are all ears!
"I distinctly remember when Pritam first played 'Ghare Pheraar Gaan' to me. It was on his laptop and we felt that the song
was not just melodious but also suited the mood of the situation. Pritam proposed that he would get the rights from the original
makers of the song. This was said in the presence of Navneet Sevlani, Line Producer - Magna Films and Vishal Nadkarni, Executive
Producer - Magna Films. Everyone was in agreement around this and Pritam went on to create 'Jaane Kyun Tanha Ho Gaye'
while also going ahead on the deal with Asha audio, which holds the rights of the original,” details Kaul.
In that case, from where did the gap in communication come really? Since Magna people were already in the meeting, wasn't the
loop complete? "I felt so myself but got to know that these two people had left the company after a while. I guess there was a
handover issue due to which Magna Films were not informed by them about the deal", wonders Kaul whose last directorial outing
was Sssshhh...
Exasperated, Kaul goes on to say, "I did check with Navneet who told me that he had informed Santosh from the Accounts
department of Magna Films about this. Beyond this, I don't see to that extent should I be checking for details. I am not the
producer of the film that I would go around checking the minutest details on what all is happening on the production front. As a
director, I make a film and inform people about proceedings as and when they take place. As a professional entrusted with a job, it
is certainly not my responsibility to look at any further aspects or do any running around."
While Mr. Lahiri from Asha Audio has already given a clean chit to Pritam stating, “He bought the rights from us and is being
unnecessarily being cornered.” Ms. Shikha Singhi, Head of Films Acquisition, Times Music (the label on which Bhram
arrives) also concurs, “I am aware that Pritam had communicated to Pawan Kaul about the song being bought from the original
artiste. We got the label on the album cover citing the credits and at Times Music; we have absolutely no problems and see this as
a non-issue!”
Pritam too heaves a sigh of relief, "One does tend to react when charged with something as severe as this. However, now since all
stakeholders involved understand that this was a non-issue to begin with and are on the same page, I am a relieved man." With
things being open in black and white, he forces a smile on his face, "Last one week was quite horrendous for me, but I guess it's
time to get back to some serious work."
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