Star-singer Hadiqa Kiani took to her Instagram stories to address the frequent thieving of her songs. This time around, Bollywood singer Kanika Kapoor’s rendition of Boohey Barian, titled Buhe Baariyan, has become the focal point of Hadiqa’s anger.
Posted on Saregama Music’s YouTube channel, the song has credited Gourov Dasgupta and Shruti Rane as composers, with lyrics being credited to Kunwar Juneja.
Turning to her Instagram stories, the Dobara star spoke out about yet another rendition of her classic ‘Boohey Barian’ by an Indian singer adding to the long list. “Another day and another shameless rendition of the song my mother wrote,” Hadiqa penned along with the clip of Kapoor’s latest release.
In 1998, Hadiqa released her second album, Roshni, that featured songs which still remain etched onto the hearts of music fanatics. Amongst the many songs on the album, Boohey Barian, the sixth single on the album by Kiani, resonated and struck a chord with so many people that it is still considered to be one of the most well-known Pakistani songs.
In her stories, the Zindagi Gulzar Hai crooner addresses how in “another shameless rendition of the song [her] mother wrote,” no one has asked for permission or given her royalties, using the song as an easy “money-making scheme.” She then lists examples of when the song has been stolen.
She mentions that if she can chart the due process of royalties when covering songs, others continue to fall short, especially given that she is alive and well. She talks about how she wants to be flattered by these covers, given that it can be seen as a form of paying tribute, but others profiting off of her work is simply not right. Hadiqa also makes it clear that she has nothing against the singer or anyone else who sings her song – it is the process that irks her. She ends the first story by saying, “Anyways, the theft of Pakistani music continues.”
Ace director Nabeel Qureshi took to his stories to call Kanika Kapoor a “chor,” suggesting that Hadiqa Kiani take action against the song, given the YouTube channel a strike. He stated that the need to take a stand is essential.
The Dobara star took to her stories once again to double down on the fact that she owns all rights to Boohey Barian, stating that with all documents proving her ownership, her team will be taking action. She reiterates that no company or entity has been given masters or rights to the song. She ends her story by stating that she has stayed silent for long enough.
Recently, an Indian influencer Diet Sabya claimed that Saregama owns the rights, whereas another claim stated that the original owner sold the full rights to the master, speculating that Hadiqa’s mother may have sold the rights to a label in Pakistan, which was then probably acquired by Saregama.
This was promptly refuted by Hadiqa, who reiterated that she has never sold any rights to her songs. She went on to mention that many people have illegally claimed her songs since the 90s, but she and her team are now taking appropriate action to prevent this from happening, ensuring justice is served.
Now Kapoor has responded to Kiani’s accusations of plagiarising her popular hit number, Boohey Barian on her social media handle.
Speaking to Hindustan Times, the Baby Doll hit-maker alleged that anyone who heard the song would know that from “antras to everything”, the song is “completely original”.
Kapoor told the publication, “It’s a folk song and there are many that we have heard online and nobody has ever said anything about it.”
The Kamlee crooner also mentioned that they have not “copy-pasted” any old folk song.
“We used two lines as inspiration. It is very unfair to the writer Kunwar Juneja and Shruti Rane who composed this new song. Also, it is unfair to me if anybody says that I am trying to steal someone’s work,” she had explained.
The singer also expressed her disappointment with the allegations about “not giving them right credit”.
She commented, “I think instead of going negative, we have to come together and help each other to grow.”
Adding to this, she also stated that nothing was done intentionally.
“We all are credible people. There has not been any intent of fleecing any videos or stealing anybody’s work,” she noted.
Meanwhile, the Chittiyan Kalaiyan artist extended her apology and said that she was sorry “if they upset anybody’s emotions”.
To this end, Kapoor also said that she had huge respect for “Pakistani singers and music”.
