I wanted to set a precedent: Shiraz Uppal on calling out Aima Baig over 'Funkari' credits

Back in July, producer Shiraz Uppal had called out singer Aima Baig for failing to credit him for his significant role in the creation of their song, Funkari, while speaking to a local news outlet. Now, in a candid conversation on the show Bakamal, Uppal has shed light on his decision to “correct” Aima and explained why it would benefit the film and music industry to unlearn a few habits.

Expressing his frustration with the prevalent trend of denying due credit to creators of hit songs, Uppal said he wanted to “set a precedent for newcomers.” Further recounting his extensive experience in the field, Uppal pointed out that when he works on a project, he makes sure to have proof of his involvement.

The producer also raised concerns about the credits on YouTube for a song in the film Bol, composed and produced by him and sung by Atif Aslam. He requested the film’s director, Shoaib Mansoor, to rectify the credits, emphasizing that the world should recognize his contribution to the composition and production of the song.

“People are experts in denying artists credit where it’s due. So, for these newcomers, at least, I wanted to set a precedent,” said Uppal. “The video bite she [Aima] gave, about that song, it was written by me, composed by me and recorded by me. And whenever I do a project, I have proof of it. I simply asked Aima to go through our chat to check when we did this song. And the lyricist she was talking about, Shakeel Sohail, he was one of my best friends and he wrote for me for 20 years. Unfortunately, he passed away two years ago in June, 2020. May Allah bless his soul. And I wrote Funkari in November. So, Aima kept insisting that Sohail sahab has written this. And that annoyed me. Does she think I would do that to a friend? How can someone come out of the grave and write for you? I had to give an answer.”

The host then asked why a song in Bol, composed and produced by Uppal and sung by Atif Aslam, was uploaded on YouTube with only credits for the latter. “I saw this a year ago myself. I’ve never said it to Shoaib [Mansoor] sahab but if he’s watching this, I’d like to request him to kindly fix that credit because the whole world knows that song was composed and produced by me.”

While speaking to a local news outlet in July, Aima had claimed to have co-written Funkari with the late lyricist Shakeel Sohail. But the music video of Funkari uploaded through Baig’s YouTube channel, credits Uppal as the sole writer and composer of Funkari. The song is licensed to Universal Music Group 2023.

The controversy surrounding the song Funkari serves as a stark reminder of the often-unseen battles within the music industry. Uppal's decision to call out Aima Baig is not only a defence of his artistic integrity but also a plea for a more transparent and fair crediting system within the industry. As the story continues to unfold, it prompts a broader conversation about the importance of acknowledging and honouring the contributions of all artists involved in the creation of music.

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