Bollywood, in the name of ‘Music has no boundaries’, has virtually robbed our singers and insult the same behind their back when all our singers do is lend a helping hand to keep Bollywood alive or else, it would’ve succumed to Hollywood-copied themes, lack of lyrics and music and non-originality. In fact, the Bollywood today is living on item numbers only! And then singers like Sonu Nigam, say a public statement, “Pakistani singers should thank us at least once because of the respect they get in India. Why do all Pakistani singers take money for concerts in cash, and do they pay taxes? All the money they get is black money.”
Singrs everywhere take money for concerts. It’s not just Pakistani singers doing concerts in India. But that’s the result of following the statement; ‘Music has no boundaries.’ In fact, Bughal Mein Churri, Mun Mein Raam Raam’ is very much fit on such attitude by the Indian singers who should at least be thankful for our singers’ contribution in Bollywood flick. Every other popular number is of Rahat Fateh Ali Khan. What else do they want anyway? There was a time that the songs of our singers were copied for the Indian films. And even if they were taken as it is, our singers were never credited. But now things have changed, but mentality of Bollywood hasn’t.The lead singer of former band Fuzon and a damn good classical singer of Pakistan, who got aclaim for Ankhon Ke Saager, Khamaj and Akhiyan, also sang ‘Phir Wohi Raastey’ for a Pakistani film named Ramchand Pakistani. However, what most don’t know is that he was also the voice behind Mitwa for the Indian film Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna that topped charts for weeks and ‘Bin tere’ in the recent ‘I hate love stories’.The song Yeh Honsla was also not sung by some Indian patriot but was sung by the same singer for the Bollywood film Dor. He also sang background score for the films Hello, Mumbai Cuttings and Aashayen.
Similarly, talking of Rahat Fateh Ali Khan of Pakistan, the list of song contribution for Bollywood flicks is endless. Laal(Alaap) and Mann Ki Lagan for Paap in 2004, Jiya Dhadak Dhadak Jaaye and and Tujhe Dekh Dekhfor Kalyug in 2005, Naina for Omkara in 2006, Jhoom Barabar Jhoom and Bol Na Halke Halke for Jhoom Barabar Jhoom in 2007, Jag Soona Soona Lage for Om Shanti Om in 2007, Main Jahaan Rahoon for Namaste London also in 2007, O Re Piya in Aaja Nachchle, again in 2007 have been just half the songs the singer has sung for Bollywood.More favours done for Bollywood, by the given singer, remain Teri Ore, TeriOre and Haal-E-Dil Haal-E-Dil for Singh is King, Koi Chala Ja Raha Hai,for Woodstock Villa and Dil Kabaddi for Dil Kabaddi Zindagi Yeh in 2008, Man Bawra for Aasma Man Bawra, Rabba for Main Aurr Mrs Khanna, Jahoon Kahan for Billu Barber, Kal Ajj Din Chadheya for Love Aaj Kal, Aankhon Mein Kyon (Unplugged), Sapne Bhaye Hain and Jag Jeondeyan De Mele (Punjabi), Khwab Jo for London Dreams Rishte Nate for De Dana Dan and Surili Akhiyon Wale (Duet) for Veer, all in just 2009.Most recently, in 2010, he also sung Sajda for My Name Is Khan, Dil To Bachcha Hai Ji for Ishqiya and Phir Se for Toh Baat Pakki.
Atif Aslam, also of Pakistan, on the other hand, sang Pehli Nazar Mein in Race, Tere Bin in Bas Ek Pal, Bakuda Tum Hi Ho in Kismat Konnection, Tera Hone Laga Hoon and Tu Jaane Na in Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani, all of which have been very well-received by the Indian audience. His last Indian venture was Prince in which he sang four songs, Tere Liye, Aa Bhi Ja Sanam, Kaun Hoon Main and O Mere Khuda. He also performed background vocals for scenes in Prince, a fact which most are unaware of. Similarly, our Ali Azmat made his Bollywood debut with the song Garaj Baraj that was chosen by Pooja Bhatt. The song was
picturized on John Abraham. Apart from that, Azmat also sang Balma for Tera Kya Hoga Johnny though the film never made it to the limelight.And that’s not all. Adnan Sami Khan and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan has been singing and composing numerous numbers for Bollywood flicks, time and time again. In just 2010, only a handful of flicks of Bollywood flicks are worth mentioning including Lafangey Parindey, We are Family, Guzarish and Knock Out. Only a handful of Lollywood flicks are reached each year but each one is a major hit. So who says we are not in competition?
And if all these songs not to mention many others too, are sung by Pakistani gem of singers and all Bollywood themes are copied from Hollywood flicks and Bollywood is surviving on item numbers only and vulgarity to be exact, making use of actors who are mostly Muslims or Christian in case of John Abraham, what are Bollywood singers proud of anyway? They copied Munni Badnam Hui in Akrosh from old Lollywood film Mr.Charlie, Larka Badnam Huya Haseena Tere Liye, picturized on Umar Sharif and yet the film was a major flock as it had nothing to offer anyway.The voice of our singers are quite in sync with the Bollywood actors and match their act well. But singers like Sonu Nigam who has a feminish face, and Kailash Kher who has a wailing voice or then again, Hamesh Raishmya who doesn’t sing for films if he is not casted in the same, have a long way to go where Pakistani music scene is not to talk of matching the international scene for that matter. It is high time that we and the singers of Pakistan, stop doing favours for Bollywood, leaving all our projects aside and helping Bollywood staggering to survive on their own and put all our energies in Lollywood instead, which won’t be thankless at least! We’ve got great actors and combined with amazing scores, we would go miles in no time! And let’s start believing now that music but, has it’s set of boundaries that the Bollywood believes but has no guts to admit – Dailymailnews
