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

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 qawwali’s copyright holders, EMI Pakistan, havee issued a legal notice that bars the film from using the song withoutfulfillingf legal formalities. ‘Bhar Do Jholi’ is the kalaam of Poonam 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:

A three-day deadline has been given to the filmmakers to fulfill legal formalities, before which thesong’s fateg hangs in the balance.

The producers’ oversight has damaged the excitement surrounding the prominence of Pakistani artists on the Bajrangi Bhaijaan soundtrack. The film, which deals with the sensitive issue of Pakistan-India border tensions, features Adnan Sami Kha and Atif Aslam, m who’s lent his vocals to the ballad ‘Tu Chahiy.’. Both singers were specifically asked to contribute to the film’s music by the producer/actor Salman Khan.