Remember when, back in 2017, Coke Studio released a modified version of Junoon's Sayonee featuring Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and Ali Noor? The track had been produced by Strings and the music directed by Junoon's very own Salman Ahmed. Remember all the memes, the outrage and sheer disappointment fans expressed, seeing one of the most popular Pakistani songs ever get rehashed? Well, let's just say the 2017 version would be nothing compared to a recently-released Bollywood version of the 1997 super hit.
Sung by the ever-popular Indian playback artist Arijit Singh, the new Sayonee has been produced by Lucky Nadiadwala and directed by Nitin Kumar Gupta and Abhay Singhal. According to India Times, the music of the song has been composed by Joy-Anjan, while Alaukik Rahi penned the lyrics.
A clip from the track has been circulating on social media and it has taken no time for fans to recognise the tune and call out the plagiarism. Here's what Pakistanis have had to say about the new Sayonee.
Is this revenge for what we did to Abhinandan? https://t.co/yKd9kaHfzd
— Quentin Quarantino (@HadesInShades) November 3, 2020
Honestly, I'll personally bully you into deleting this. Pewdiepie was nothing.
— Shumail (@Shumyl) November 3, 2020
Humarey song ko srf hm bigaaar skte Hain koi or nh https://t.co/zsD9Mbxmyu
— Albatross🕊 (@Faiza_Iqbaal) November 4, 2020
I personally sue them for ruining my best memories of growing up. https://t.co/LCVlZDZ0wY
— فروا رضوی | Farwa Rizvi (@farwarizzvi) November 4, 2020
Bollywood just ruined a beautiful song of ours. Cringefest https://t.co/GzWY2mWlI0
— Syed Ramiz Sami (@SyedRamizSami) November 4, 2020
Not just Pakistanis, few Indians shared similar thoughts.
Dear Pakistanis, even we Indians are not liking this. We actually find this garbage and T-Series has been well known to turn old master pieces into garbage. Such a garbage that it doesn't even deserve a dustbin 🤦♂️
— Manpreet Singh (@montysinghg) November 3, 2020
Junoon version only for me please. Sayonee was my first into to Junoon and I got obsessed with them!!!
— Piyush Patel (@PiyushP) November 3, 2020
If Pakistan goes to war with India over this. I see no wrong. https://t.co/NtEpDEhLCV
— Clive (@_vanillawallah) November 3, 2020
Old Wounds:
The Coke Studio version of the song was heavily criticised as well. So much so, that Rahat and Ali resorted to addressing the matter as well.
Talking to the media, the qawwal addressed the criticism he has faced on his Coke Studio cover of Junoon’s Sayonee. “I actually like the interesting feedback. Some people like it, some don’t. I feel like there are some anti-Pakistan opinions in there too. I personally liked the song, especially the ending,” he said.
“I feel Sayonee suited my voice well. Many other songs have been covered so many times, like Main Tenu Samjhawan ki and Khan sahib’s Rashk-e-Qamar. This is the song that elevated Junoon back then. People cover Noor Jehan and other artists too. So, we shouldn’t think about who did it better. It’s a tribute to them and we should take it this way. Music should be free from hate and arguments.”
When asked as to what his retort to the critics would be, the Manwa Re crooner asserted, "I think what's important to say over here is that I believe that this song is absolutely, absolutely meant for Ali Azmat's voice. My relationship with both Salman Ahmed and Ali is very very old, it's almost five, six years even before Noori."
Our sentiments in one tweet:
There are some things that should not be attempted.
— Hasan Abbas (@hasabs1214) November 3, 2020
This is one of them. https://t.co/KgriJ5bMbV
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