EMI Pakistan sends legal notice, bars use of 'Bhar Do Jholi' in Bajrangi Bhaijaan

Published July 10, 2015
Adnan Sami in 'Bhar Do Jholi Meri'  — Photograph courtesy Times of India
Adnan Sami in 'Bhar Do Jholi Meri' — Photograph courtesy Times of India

While many were talking about Adnan Sami Khan's comeback in Bajrangi Bhaijaan in the not-so-liked rendition of 'Bhar Do Jholi', it turned out that the singer, filmmakers, distributors as well as music distributors had never acquired the rights to use the popular qawali.

The qawali's copyright holders, EMI Pakistan, has issued a legal notice that bars the film from using the song without the fulfillment of legal formalities. 'Bhar Do Jholi' is the kalaam of Purnam Allahabadi and was first sung by the late Sabri Brothers, Haji Ghulam Fareed Sabri and Haji Maqbool Sabri.

The notice dated July 9 2015 is addressed to Kabir Khan, Salman Khan, Adnan Sami Khan, T-Series and Media Concepts (T-Series' representative in Pakistan). It talks about the popularity of qawali and accepts the practice of their reworking by various artists as long as 'original copyrights get the rightful remunerations for their creations':

An excerpt of the legal notice issued by EMI Pakistan — Courtesy: EMI
An excerpt of the legal notice issued by EMI Pakistan — Courtesy: EMI
An excerpt of the legal notice issued by EMI Pakistan — Courtesy: EMI
An excerpt of the legal notice issued by EMI Pakistan — Courtesy: EMI
An excerpt of the legal notice issued by EMI Pakistan — Courtesy: EMI
An excerpt of the legal notice issued by EMI Pakistan — Courtesy: EMI

A three-day deadline has been given to the filmmakers to fulfill legal formalities, before which the fate of the song hangs in the balance.

The producers' oversight has put a damper on the excitement surrounding the prominence of Pakistani artistes on the Bajrangi Bhaijaan soundtrack. The film, which deals with the sensitive issue of Pakistan-India border tensions, features not only Adnan Sami Khan, but also Atif Aslam who's lent his vocals to the ballad 'Tu Chahiye'. Both singers were specifically asked to contribute to the film's music by the producer/actor Salman Khan.

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