My blood boils when some one hums a popular score by Bollywood Music Composer who lifted the score shamelessly from other sources. And majority of the renowned composers are no excpetion to this phenomena. Is it because of the fact that they dont have creativity? They are not capable?
No - They go for shortcuts and easy money.
It pains when I realise that those composers whom I loved and admired also belong to this group. Still, I continue to listen to them for all the original scores they have delivered. Here is an account of twenty songs that belong to this category
Note : I am not including famous numbers which is known to others. Also, famous music lifters like Bappida & Anu Malik are also excluded from the list as it take two years for me to complete any artcile on their adventures.
Rahul Dev Burman: (Selected 5 songs - I can make list long but limiting this to 5)
It is really painful to start this article with his songs but truth is painful.
Mehbooba Mehbooba from Sholay - Totally copied from "Say you love me" by Demis Roussos - Egyptian composer. His voice also resemble voice of RDB.
Listen to the song accessing this link https://youtube.com/watch?v=4UJXgmPqAE4
Dilbar Mere from Satte Pe Satta - Inspired from German Score Zigeynerjunge by Doris Nefdov. Unlike the previous song which was a true lift - in this song the abrubt tones were softened by Pancham. You can listen to the original score using the below link.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=5-1iVCxYK-w
O Maria O Maria from Sagar - It is a score by Paul McCartney (Beatles). I wont call this as a theft / true copy as only the opening score is inspired and rest should be RDB’s score. Listen to the Paul’s score through this link https://youtube.com/watch?v=xbZWZoYQ_Qo
Jaha teri ye nazar hai from Kalia - Inspired from Heleh Maali by Zia Atabey, Persian composer.
Listen to this score through https://youtube.com/watch?v=IHCbwpQ5umI
Tumse Milke from Parinda - Inspired by When I need you by Leo Sayer - Pancham added tempo to the song as the original score was quite slow. Listen to the original score https://youtube.com/watch?v=2Lq4in_4PfM
Laxmikant Pyarelal (Selected two songs)
Kisi Ke Hath na ayegi ye ladki from Chal Baaz inspired by Stevie Wonder’s Part Time Lover. LP did many changes in the tone but the credit goes to the orginal version by Stevie Wonder. Listen to Part Time Lover https://youtube.com/watch?v=OCSWGhPlxcA
Om Shanti Om from Karz - Lord Shorty’s Om Shanti Om - from Album Endless Vibrations. Total copy.
PRITAM CHAKRABORTY - He will surpass Bappida and Anu Malik soon - Almost 75% of his songs are not original - I am just mentioning a few
Pehli Nazar Mein in Race is lifted from Korean Score (vowww, innovation - he didnot even spare Korea). The score can be accessed through the link https://youtube.com/watch?v=RcgqBcpR9hw
Batein Kuch Ankahi si in Life in a Metro - Total lift from ’Ah Reum Dah Oon Sa Ram’ by Seo Yu Seok!. Listen to the original through the link https://youtube.com/watch?v=Lq2q41hCVIA&feature=related
Pritam has got some Korean Connection for sure and he opened a niche for all music chors.
And how shamelessly he is screened in the movie also where in he sings the songs with great passion as if it is his brain child.
O Meri Jaan - from Life in a metro - Original score by Ba’ed El Layali by Amr Diyab. Listen to the score through the link https://youtube.com/watch?v=P2y_Vbev5zs
For a change - Middle East song here - but ofcourse, I give credit to Pritam also as he made many variations.
Now - I am searching the original Punjabi Scores from which inspired him to come up with many sizzling Punjabi Songs.
S D BURMAN - Yes, I am entering to the danger zone - No one even would like to talk about most renowned SDB - but yes, he was also no exception.
Yeh Dil Na Hota Bechara from Jewel Thief - The theme of River Kwai March is the inspiration. Later this famous theme is used in Hindi movies to introduce Elephant, so many cirucus - yes, it is not copy but inspiration only. Here is the River Kwai March Theme for you. https://youtube.com/watch?v=r4tMoebSncQ
Ek Ladki Bhigi Bhagi Si - from Chalti Ka Naam Gadi is inspired by Sixteen Tons. Here is Sixteen Tons for you https://youtube.com/watch?v=NBkrAESUbyI
Those who learned music can catch the similarity but for others it is quite difficult - It is note the music which is copied by the tone, rhythm and tempo - But the Hindi Song is much better than original.
Rajesh Roshan -
Jab Koi Bat Bigad Jaye from Jurm is inspired by a hundred miles’ by Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs. Here also, I give good credit to Rajesh Roshan as he added value to the original score and it is not a 100% lifting act. I am sorry, I dont have link to this song
Dil Na Diya in Krish is a true copy of Turkish march track ’Ceddin deden’. Here also, I dont have link.
Jatin Lalit
Yahan Ke Hum Sikandar from Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar - From Pingball Wizard - Access it right here - https://youtube.com/watch?v=poezx4BSj6Q
Others
"Gawah Hai from Damini" is lifted from the African number Malaika, "Kitna Pyara Tujhe from Raja Hindustani" is a straight lift from Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s Kinna Sona, Cliff Richard’s Bachelor Boy inspired Nadeem Shravan to come up with O Mere Sapno Ke Saudagar, Henry Mancini’s theme for the movie Charade is nothing but our famous song "Gum Naam Hai Koi", Ditto copy of "I just want to say I love you by Stevie Wonder" re incarnated as title music of Meine Pyar Kiya ( a movie with only one or two original scores)-----
The list is long but I need to end somewhere and hence finishing it here. Also, I am trying my level best to see any Indian Songs influenced expats to compose their song - so far - I could not find any thing of this sort ----
Loka Samastha Sukhino Bhavantu