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Daler Mehndi takes on Yash Raj
Daler Mehndi has taken on the most powerful film production company in Bollywood, Yash Raj Productions.
Daler Mehndi has taken on the most powerful film production company in Bollywood, Yash Raj Productions.
The Bhangra pop singer had sung the title track of Abhishek-Preity-Bobby-Lara starrer, Jhoom Barabar Jhoom. But when the album was out, it was Shankar Mahadevan, who was singing the now superhit title track and not him. Miffed Daler then sent a legal notice to the film's producer Yash Chopra seeking damages of Rs 1 crore for criminal breach of trust. He also sent notices to the film's director Shaad Ali, lyricist Gulzar and singer Shanker Mahadevan, demanding an unconditional apology within 15 days.
Yash Raj had issued an official statement in regard of the song stating, "Yash Raj Films had got Daler Mehendi to sing for one of the Jhoom (Punjabi version) songs, but the terms and conditions did not work out, and thus we were informed by Daler's secretary that we should remove his voice, which we then did and used Shankar Mahadevan's instead. The matter was closed approximately 11 months ago, and so we are surprised that Daler Mehendi is bringing this up now."
Reacting to this, Daler told us, "I am completely shocked at their statement 'but the terms and conditions did not work out' - what terms are they talking about? All discussions were happening with me, the song was discussed with me then which secretary did they oblige? The entire industry knows that I deal directly and have no secretary."
When did he come to know that the song was recorded again in Shankar's voice? "When the office staff procured Jhoom Barabar Jhoom's CD from the market on 15th May (the day it was released). First, we found out that my name was not there in the credits. We heard the song and were shocked to find out that my vocals were removed and that Shankar Mahadevan (He is also the music director of the film as part of the Shankar-Ehsaan and Loy trio) has tried to imitate my style of singing. This song has sufi type lyrics and has half Punjabi and half Urdu words."
"I was specially invited by Shaad Ali, son of Muzaffar Ali, to sing this song. I had performed at the Jahane Khusrau at the Humayun's Tomb, New Delhi for Muzaffar Ali after which Shaad approached me, saying that he had heard a lot about my Sufi performance from his father and thus wanted me to sing the song. He also told me that Gulzarji is specially writing lyrics for me - The Punjabi Urdu mixed, which only I can do justice to. These were telephonic discussions between me and Shaad Ali" reveals Daler.
Ehsaan the music director of the trio, recently said in a daily that Daler had sung the song earlier but it was re-recorded by Shankar Mahadevan later. But when queried about it, Ehsaan clarified, "Actually Mr Bachchan asked for the change as he did not want to break the series of hits he has got with Shankar as the singer in songs like Kajra Re (Bunty Aur Babli) and Rock N Roll Soniye (Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna)."
Daler had earlier shared a very nice rapport with Amitabh Bachchan. Daler and Amitabh even shared screen space in the song Na Na Na Re from the film Mrityudaata. About the Big B interference in the song, Daler tells us, "I am sure that Mr. Bachchan could have never asked anyone to remove my vocals. I became famous with Bolo Ta Ra Ra in 1995, Dardi Rab Rab in 1996, following which I became a Superhit Pop Star and was approached by Mr. Bachchan to perform with him in his comeback film, Mrityudata on the song Na Na Na Re, which was composed by me. "
He further informs, "During the time of recording the song, Gulzar sahab, recordist Shantanu, Shankar, Ehsaan, Loy, Shaad Ali were all present. They were all very pleased and ecstatic. After I finished recording the song, they all were very happy with the end result. I went to meet Mr. Yash Chopra and even he was very pleased. I went out of respect, leaving my work behind, to sing this song for Yashji, and Gulzar Sahab as they are very senior members of the Film Industry."
When questioned why he kept quite all this time when the incident happened 11 months ago, Daler retorts "I found out about this only on the 15 th of this month - the day the Music of Jhoom Barabar Jhoom was released."
Yash Raj had issued an official statement in regard of the song stating, "Yash Raj Films had got Daler Mehendi to sing for one of the Jhoom (Punjabi version) songs, but the terms and conditions did not work out, and thus we were informed by Daler's secretary that we should remove his voice, which we then did and used Shankar Mahadevan's instead. The matter was closed approximately 11 months ago, and so we are surprised that Daler Mehendi is bringing this up now."
Reacting to this, Daler told us, "I am completely shocked at their statement 'but the terms and conditions did not work out' - what terms are they talking about? All discussions were happening with me, the song was discussed with me then which secretary did they oblige? The entire industry knows that I deal directly and have no secretary."
When did he come to know that the song was recorded again in Shankar's voice? "When the office staff procured Jhoom Barabar Jhoom's CD from the market on 15th May (the day it was released). First, we found out that my name was not there in the credits. We heard the song and were shocked to find out that my vocals were removed and that Shankar Mahadevan (He is also the music director of the film as part of the Shankar-Ehsaan and Loy trio) has tried to imitate my style of singing. This song has sufi type lyrics and has half Punjabi and half Urdu words."
"I was specially invited by Shaad Ali, son of Muzaffar Ali, to sing this song. I had performed at the Jahane Khusrau at the Humayun's Tomb, New Delhi for Muzaffar Ali after which Shaad approached me, saying that he had heard a lot about my Sufi performance from his father and thus wanted me to sing the song. He also told me that Gulzarji is specially writing lyrics for me - The Punjabi Urdu mixed, which only I can do justice to. These were telephonic discussions between me and Shaad Ali" reveals Daler.
Ehsaan the music director of the trio, recently said in a daily that Daler had sung the song earlier but it was re-recorded by Shankar Mahadevan later. But when queried about it, Ehsaan clarified, "Actually Mr Bachchan asked for the change as he did not want to break the series of hits he has got with Shankar as the singer in songs like Kajra Re (Bunty Aur Babli) and Rock N Roll Soniye (Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna)."
Daler had earlier shared a very nice rapport with Amitabh Bachchan. Daler and Amitabh even shared screen space in the song Na Na Na Re from the film Mrityudaata. About the Big B interference in the song, Daler tells us, "I am sure that Mr. Bachchan could have never asked anyone to remove my vocals. I became famous with Bolo Ta Ra Ra in 1995, Dardi Rab Rab in 1996, following which I became a Superhit Pop Star and was approached by Mr. Bachchan to perform with him in his comeback film, Mrityudata on the song Na Na Na Re, which was composed by me. "
He further informs, "During the time of recording the song, Gulzar sahab, recordist Shantanu, Shankar, Ehsaan, Loy, Shaad Ali were all present. They were all very pleased and ecstatic. After I finished recording the song, they all were very happy with the end result. I went to meet Mr. Yash Chopra and even he was very pleased. I went out of respect, leaving my work behind, to sing this song for Yashji, and Gulzar Sahab as they are very senior members of the Film Industry."
When questioned why he kept quite all this time when the incident happened 11 months ago, Daler retorts "I found out about this only on the 15 th of this month - the day the Music of Jhoom Barabar Jhoom was released."
| Wednesday, 30 May, 2007 |
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