MUMBAI: It is not wrong to claim that Bollywood movies lack romance if Pakistani crooner Atif Aslam does not lend his sensational voice. His tracks Paanion Sa, Dekhte Dekhte and just released Tera Hua have become the chartbusters.
Whereas, on the other hand, the trend of remixing old songs is taking B-town into storms, which disturbs many veteran singers.
Lately, Aslam has sung a classic hit entitled Chalte Chalte for Mitron, upon which he is being panned by legendary Lata Mangeshkar, the singer of the original version, reported sources.
In this context, a source quoted Lata as saying, “I don’t want to hear it. This trend of remixing old songs saddens me. Where is the creativity in simply lifting acknowledged, beloved classics and shuffling the notes around?”
“I’ve even heard that the lyrics are changed in the remixes. By whose consent? The original poets and composers wrote what they had to. Nobody has the right to tamper with the creativity of these great composers and lyricists.”
Indian singer and politician Babul Supriyo, who has been criticizing Pakistani artists for quite some time, also went ahead to lament, “Today, even the poetic term ‘artistic liberty’ is at the verge of extinction. With due respect to Atif Aslam, as a singer myself, I will observe a two-minute silence to mourn rather than offer a comment.”
Whereas, singer Alka Yagnik whose song Dilbar Dilbar was remixed in Satyameva Jayate is of the view, “Why don’t they make a new song into a hit, instead of picking up an already super hit song, distorting it, and releasing it again. And then they say that it’s become so popular.”
“While it is okay that this is happening with my songs but it is unbelievable that the younger crop of musicians has the audacity to remix Lata’s songs.”
1972 Bollywood classic Pakeezah featured Chalte Chalte, which was being picturized on the tragedy queen Meena Kumari. As a matter of fact, people love to hum this song to this day.
On the other hand, fans of Atif, while eulogizing the singer, keep on sharing their takes on the criticism.
“Lata is Lata and Atif is Atif, just because someone was great singer once, it shouldn’t mean no one should attempt to sing their song, I don’t understand why people just not enjoy the music without criticizing others.”
“O m g.. he is great.. but why Lata Mangeshkar Ji got angry or upset with him….. Don’t know… Both old and new versions are magical.”
It is pertinent to mention here that when it comes to take consent for using anyone’s songs, filmmakers are supposed to do so. Thus, in actuality, filmmakers, composers and lyricists are the ones who are supposed to be slammed for remixing a classic hit and not the singer.
