Mera Naseeb: Pakistani writer accused of plagiarism by Indian author
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Award winning script-writer, Samira Fazal is in hot waters as acclaimed Indian author, Chitra B. Divakaruni is holding her responsible for allegedly plagiarising the script of her Pakistani drama serial Mera Naseeb from Chitra's book, "Sister of My Heart".
Chitra tweeted about the alleged plagiarism, which was also pointed out by Indian TV producer Manish Goswami, who actually has the rights for making a serial on Chitra's book, Times of India reported.
"I should have been the first to tell that story on Indian television. This is nothing short of copyright infringement," raged Goswami.
Goswami also received a mail from Chitra's manager stating, "As the current rights holder, would you approach the producer first to tell them to cease and desist? I'll write in as well to support the fact that we have a license."
Goswami intends to take legal action, if necessary.
"We have to fight this out. I have informed the broadcasters in question that they should pull the show off-air," added Goswami.
Mera Naseeb was first aired on Hum TV on April 1, 2011. Writer Samira Fazal, has also won an award for the screenplay. The drama serial is currently being aired on India's Zindagi TV channel, which was launched a few months ago to give Indians the best Pakistani TV dramas on offer.
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On DawnNews
Comments (57) Closed
Oct 02, 2014 01:26pm
And what about stolen songs by indian movie makers?
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Oct 02, 2014 01:30pm
Alright, now all the pakistani artists should also do the same thing. Pakistani music have been plagiarised by the indian industry since decades and that have been done pretty shamelessly.
Back then there was no awareness about the copyright thing,its the time to do that now.
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Oct 02, 2014 01:44pm
Good reason to Ban HUM TV in India..
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Oct 02, 2014 01:48pm
I have my doubts that Samira Fazal plagiarized Chitra's book. Very often the stories are very similar in the sub continent.
But India is no stranger to plagiarism. Isn't another term for plagiarism "inspired by" ?
You must have seen Indian version of Pakistani Classic Ankahi. Word for word script was copied. See also Indian film Chal Mere Bhai. Were these works plagiarized or "inspired by" Ankahi.
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Oct 02, 2014 02:11pm
Ms. Divakaruni please first define 'Plagiarism'. Please define with the consideration of Sub-Continent.
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Oct 02, 2014 02:12pm
I am sorry. but the word inspired could also be used bringing peace between two writers. I remember the Indian drama, Kuch toh Log Kahegay not to forget it was also inspired by an amazing Pakistani drama, Dhoop Kinarey. But we didn't create a fuss about it and blamed them for stealing our ideas. What about bollywood movies remake, some of them are inspired by hollywood movies. Plus talent is appreciated everywhere and many of Indian Pakistani stories are similar.
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Oct 02, 2014 02:48pm
@IMRAN, OK ban HUM TV in India. What else can you do.
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Oct 02, 2014 03:11pm
@Asrar Khan Cool down dear!! These are commercial issues. Why you bring national sentiments? Don't you realize why these issues are raked up. Money brother!
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Oct 02, 2014 03:30pm
Pakistani drama WAS getting a hype in India and this news piece is the turning point of this drama. Ok , you don't want to accept , we are better off in Drama, plz dont accept . live happily in your dream land.
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Oct 02, 2014 03:53pm
How knows these books and authors anyway , nobody will read either books , so why all the drama , to promote the book of course.
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Oct 02, 2014 03:56pm
@NZ Two wrongs never makes one right :) effect is always compounded
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Oct 02, 2014 03:57pm
I have read this novel but did not have the patience and frankly lost interest to finish it. But my question is hasn't she woken up a bit late.
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Oct 02, 2014 03:59pm
@NZ : For every Pakistani song, the Indian directors buy copyrights. Please educate yourself a bit before posting the hate comments against anyone.
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Oct 02, 2014 04:00pm
Interesting someone woke up to defend their copyrights.
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Oct 02, 2014 04:01pm
@Asrar Khan : Yes please go ahead with that. After you file the case, you'll probably come to know that indian directors buy copyrights of these songs from pakistani artists.
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Oct 02, 2014 04:14pm
What about the much 'acclaimed' movie Black starring Amitabh Bachan??? Its a complete scene to scene copy of a brilliant non-commercial TV movie ' The Miracle Worker' starring, Jesse Eisenberg's lil' sister Hallie Kate Eisenberg!
Its a pandora's box guys, don't open it. While on the other hand, if its true, then its really shameful on behalf of Samira Fazal.
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Oct 02, 2014 05:04pm
@Tina
Here's a bit of education for you Tina. They don't buy copyrights. They now make the tunes very similar to the Pakistani songs. Remember the "baby doll" song. Now do you recall the Alif Allah, Jugni, Arif Lohar & Meesha, Coke Studio Pakistan, Season 3. I bet you've never hear of the Pakistanis sufi song. Baby doll gets its inspiration from Alif Allah.
Go back to 1960s and 19702 songs the story is the same.
For films; Pati Patni Ur Towaif was a copy of Pakistani film Bazar-e-Hussan. Do you want more. There is a flood of these.
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Oct 02, 2014 05:07pm
Everything Pakistanis make is out of Plagirism, the entire acadmic system is plagirized, pirated software is used in every single home and office, this is nothing new.
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Oct 02, 2014 05:34pm
Copyrights is a serious issue, its better for us in Pakistan to deal with it, stronger copyrights will bring original ideas and better image for Pakistan.
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Oct 02, 2014 05:40pm
just a cheap way to get attention and defame pakistani dramas that are getting popular in India.
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Oct 02, 2014 05:55pm
So what is Samira doing about it. A person has to be real stupid to plagiarize and expect to get away in literary work. There are so many sites where the entire text can be checked for plagiarism.
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Oct 02, 2014 06:34pm
Actually the PAKISTANI dramas are getting much fame and popularity in India now-a-days. so this writer is little bit touchy and scared of it ..:)
Be patient Ms Chitra B. Divakaruni ...If we start counting the list of dramas n songs tht you people have copied definitely you will feel sorry...
DOnt spread these sentiments - ENJOY the play Mera NAseeb
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Oct 02, 2014 06:40pm
It means war :)
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Oct 02, 2014 06:49pm
Look who is accusing who of plagiarism. LOL.
Bollywood is completely copied from Hollywood.
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Oct 02, 2014 07:52pm
There is no copy right law between Pakistan and India. So, all is well.
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Oct 02, 2014 07:58pm
Copyright...................what copyright! In America Indian grocery store are selling for $2/= latest Indian films justreleased in there country.
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Oct 02, 2014 09:07pm
Indian makes lot of noise but they themselves copy from hollywood movies, Pakistani songs and dramas, object when you yourself follow copyrights strictly.
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Oct 02, 2014 09:12pm
Perhaps Indians should come clean about the plagiarism they do of Pakistani dramas.
Samira has done a great job with the drama and now she is being accused of plagiarism.
When are indians going to wake up and record the plagiarism they are doing of pakistani songs, dramas etc.
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Oct 02, 2014 09:47pm
@SAL : Copy right?......Bollywood movies are freely pirated in Pakistan.
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Oct 02, 2014 10:18pm
They should just give the Lux award to her to make her happy. Plagiarism? Claimed by an Indian? LOL. Have you ever seen your movies or songs? Word to word, scene to scene in any given movie is plagiarized from some Hollywood script. All your songs are lip synced meaning someone other than the owner of the product, a song in this case is using it for commercial gains. You should be the last person on earth crying afoul about plagiarism.
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Oct 02, 2014 11:18pm
@SAL ..Yes it is done. .But it is still stealing somebody's property. Please report violations!!!
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Oct 02, 2014 11:46pm
@Striver i agree 100% as this lady just wants another $2 from a Pakistani network
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Oct 03, 2014 12:07am
@Ahmer Chitra Divakauni is based in USA and if she takes it up here the show will not air here and those responsible for the theft will be caught if they land in USA.
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Oct 03, 2014 12:52am
@javed qamer This is a matter of one author suing another of possible plagiarism. Why do you make it a India / Pakistan thing...
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Oct 03, 2014 01:33am
@Tamilselvan For your informative it is a civil matter. And there has to be a judgement from US court to collect money. First some one has to have money in the bank here. and then they can go back to the court to collect money. I am with the original author. This is her intellectual property. She can geta judgement from an Indian court and money made in india with this drama and they can claim all
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Oct 03, 2014 01:33am
@NZ : well this is not justification...
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Oct 03, 2014 02:38am
this is actually halirious .......i am serious its funny ........few year ago i watched a indian movie for 5min by accident after long long time ....... and guess what after 2 shots of movies i realised that i am watching a english move ... and only send later the name poped up ... its was carbin copy move called "i am sam".... with addition of the main character having more friends
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Oct 03, 2014 04:46am
If there's plagiarism on either side on any issue, the rightful owners should definitely sort it out legally but if the plagarism extends beyond both the countries i.e multi plagarism then another new problem arises. However it's true, it has been happening left, right and centre since ages.
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Oct 03, 2014 04:51am
Mera Naseeb is based on an old urdu novel. I suggest Dawn cobducts some more research and prove that the Indian writer is a plagiarist and not the other way around.
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Oct 03, 2014 05:00am
Chitra Divakaruni is based in the US. She is not very well known, but reasonably known. If the story is indeed plagiarized, then that was stupid, because it was guranteed that this would be discovered - because of Divakaruni's fame.
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Oct 03, 2014 05:20am
"Pot calling the kettle black" . At least a third of Indian movies are copied from Hollywood (can you say Wanna-bees?) You never know they 'may' be right, but seriously, look in the mirror before you decide to point fingers.
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Oct 03, 2014 06:38am
Look who's talking. LOL. Indian industry complaining of plagiarism. 70-80-- + movies are copies--- from all over the world. And songs too.
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Oct 03, 2014 07:45am
Really??!! The entire Indian film industry is based on plagiarism.
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Oct 03, 2014 09:08am
These are two individuals fighting on their rights. No need to drag industry or countries into it.
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Oct 03, 2014 10:22am
@Striver : you are free to file a case against those. Do not try to justify your negative with mine. And yes i am quite educated already. Making similar things is nt called plagiarism. Copying everything is called plagiarism
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Oct 03, 2014 11:10am
So what Indians; make one of your own too. If you directed better than Pakistan; it will pay you more than anything else. Indian directors/musicians, a multi billion film industry, have stolen music from different parts of the world especially from Pakistan. No one bothers, so chillax India.
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Oct 03, 2014 12:24pm
Everyone who is jumping the gun and blaming the author, I request you to open wikipedia and read the plot section of both Mera Naseeb and Sister of my heart. Then you will understand the magnitude of plagiarism done. And the author is no where related to Bollywood, so where is the question of 'Pot calling the kettle black'???
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Oct 03, 2014 12:57pm
This is the immediate effect of success of "Zindagi Gulzar Hay" in India.
Now can anyone recall how many of Bollywood movies are carbon copy of Hollywood movies, Pakistani Dramas. How many of superhit bollywood songs were plagiarized from Pakistani songs. People still remember Movie 'Saajan' and its superhit songs..!
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Oct 03, 2014 01:08pm
Shameful. We have to stop this obsession with India.
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Oct 03, 2014 03:28pm
Now i know the definition of Bigotry and i can use it in a Sentence.
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Oct 03, 2014 09:03pm
I was really waiting for this moment, when the typical indian mind will create fuss about our dramas on Zee zindagi. I bet story of 60% of famous Indian dramas and movies and also songs are copied from Hollywood and Pakistani content. Ttheir blockbuster movie Baghbaan is the as it's copy of old Pakistani movie starring Sabiha khanum and Agha Talish, I don't exactly remember the name I think Angan. Its time to sue Indian writers, directors and composers for every copy they made since decade.
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Oct 03, 2014 11:17pm
after 3 years mention about this very2 nice,Old story is past no need to dig out from the past.pointless in point of my view
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Oct 04, 2014 01:12am
I really don't think that "Pakistani URDU Novel writers" read ENGLISH NOVELS of any author...First you will have to prove that each and everything is copied from that Indian book then go ga-ga over this....i haven't read that indian novel and neither i have seen that pakistani drama but whatever i heard about the story where two people's kismat affect each other is a common Sub-continent thing. That Indian author will have to read that urdu Novel of Pakistani Author and will have to see the Whole pakistani drama before shouting over things.
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Oct 04, 2014 11:53pm
Alert! Troll attack from Eastern horizon.
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Oct 05, 2014 02:30am
Ya because Indians have never plagiarized anything........ Not ! What a joke. Everything from their ancient Vedic-aryan religion, language and the modern nation state of India is plagiarized. Ignore them! Such unnecessary news article
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Oct 05, 2014 11:06am
Nobody knows about hindi movies in Pakistan. Lol
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Oct 06, 2014 11:41pm
@Shakeela Khan The makers of Kuchh Toh Log Kahenge never said the script was theirs, unlike in this case. The always publicly acknowledged that it was based on Dhoop Kinarey. In fact "based on Pakistani show Dhoop Kinarey" was the first thing that used to appear in its starting credits.
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