Indian composer accused of plagiarism by Shuja Haider threatens legal action

After musician Shuja Haider accused Indian composer Rashid Khan of allegedly plagiarising his work, the latter has issued a statement demanding an apology from Haider for trying to “tarnish” his image. Khan and Yasser Desai were accused by Haider in a tweet, in which the musician compared the duo’s latest offering Piya Re Piya to his own work. In the case that Haider does not issue an apology, Khan has threatened legal action. 

Speaking to the Hindustan Times, the Indian composer outright denied the claims made by the Baanware singer, stating, “The music and lyrics of my song are starkly different. Yasser Desai, the singer of Piya Re Piya, also matched the notations for both the songs.”

Khan also claimed that actor Imran Abbas does not see any similarity between the two tracks either, “Much like him, my friend Imran Abbas from Pakistan and my guru also feel that dono gaanon mein zameen aasmaan ka farq hai [the two songs are as different as night and day.]” 

He added, “I didn’t even know who [Shuja Haider] was. I’ve never heard his song before. Then how will I plagiarise it? Even if four notations from my composition match with his, I will leave my profession.”

Deeming Haider’s accusation a publicity stunt, Khan continued, “I have composed music for 22 films in my career. I would like to believe that I have some credibility. Har gaana saat suron se hi banta hai, aur usmein se koi ek sur mil gaya toh iska matlab yeh nahin hai ki gaana unka ho gaya. [Every song is made with the same seven notes. If one of these notes matches, that does not mean the song is copied].”

He stated that he will pursue “legal steps of defamation if Haider does not apologise”, adding, “He’s trying to tarnish my image. No one has ever accused me of plagiarism and these claims are an insult to my years of training and experience.”

Khan concluded, “These laws are to protect the rights of musicians. If there were any copyright issues, YouTube would have banned my song.”

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

Haider, who also made his Coke Studio debut in 2016 as a music director and songwriter for Aaqa and Khaki Banda, also shared the Indian track, the originality of which is now in question. Titled Piya Re Piya, the song has been released by Aatma Music. Sung by Desai, it is credited to have been composed by Khan and co-written by Khan and Anjan Sagri.