Eight Indian songs dubbed ‘copies’ of Pakistani tracks

From 'Munni Badnaam Hui' to the recent 'Piya Re Piya' here are our top picks

After singer, songwriter and music composer Shuja Haider called out India’s Rashid Khan and Yasser Desai for copying his work on the OST of Qandeel Baloch’s biographical drama Baaghi, it’s understandable if you’re wondering what other songs have been picked up and used without credit on the other side of the border. In order to satisfy your curiosity, we have compiled a list of songs that are copies of famous Pakistani tracks.

From Munni Badnaam Hui being ripped off from Umer Sharif’s 1992 film Mr Charlie, to Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan classic Mera Piya Ghar Aaya being picked up and morphed into its Indian version featuring Madhuri Dixit, here are our top picks for songs/music videos that are claimed to have been copied from Pakistani artists.

Piya Re Piya (2022)

Original: Baaghi OST by Shuja Haider (2017)

“Indian Music directors Yasser Desai and Rashid Khan copied my original song Baaghi,” Haider recently claimed on Twitter. And before anyone could ask him to take it in his stride or worse, feel proud that ‘someone in India replicated his work,’ the composer shared, “and I am not proud of it. Absolutely not!”

Mood Happy (2021)

Original: Ki Jaana by Shani Arshad (2020)

The line between imitation and flattery is a thin one, and Indian singer Brham Darya definitely crossed it. His music video titled Mood Happy is a frame by frame copy of Pakistani musician Shani Arshad’s video for his song Ki Jana. Arshad’s video, directed by Nabeel Qureshi and starring actors Sonya Hussyn and Mohsin Abbas Haider was released in July of 2020.

Munni Badnaam Hui (2010)

Original: Larka Badnaam Hua from Mr Charlie (1992)

This famous item number from Bollywood blockbuster Dabangg bears a strong resemblance to the qawwali Larka Badnam Hua Haseena Tere Liye from the 1992 Pakistani film Mr Charlie, which starred the late comedian Umer Sharif.

Mein Na Jhoot Bolun (1991)

Original: Dilan Teer Bija by Zahoor Khan Zeibi (1980s)

This song from the 1991 Amitabh-starrer Indrajeet may not be familiar to most, but we are sure that very few will be able to miss the unmistakable beat in the background. Created in the 1980s by the late composer Zahoor Khan Zeibi, this is the music that is characteristic of every Pakistan People’s Party election campaign and rally.

Mera Piya Ghar Aaya (1995)

Original: Mera Piya Ghar Aaya by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan (1991)

This 1995 film may not have been very memorable, but Madhuri's dance steps in Mera Piya Ghar Aaya O Raam Ji remained in the hearts of her fans for quite some time. The Bollywood song bears striking resemblance to Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s qawwali Mera Piya Ghar Aya which was first heard two years prior, originally written by Baba Bulleh Shah.

Tu Cheez Bari Hai Mast (1994)

Original: Dam Mast Qalandar by various artists

The chemistry between Akshay Kumar and Raveena Tandon set the screen on fire in this song from the 1994 blockbuster Mohra. The Pakistani inspiration turned out to be the Sufi song Dam Mast Qalandar Mast Mast, which had been set to music by several artists including Abida Parveen, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, the Sabri Brothers, Reshma and Madam Noor Jehan.

Dil Dil Hindustan (1991)

Original: Dil Dil Pakistan by Vital Signs (1987)  

You’d think a song with as much patriotic value as this would have been left alone? Guess again. Check out this track from the little-known 1991 film Yaadon Ke Mausam. The song sounds very similar to the Vital Signs hit Dil Dil Pakistan. 

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