Interesting headline.

You should check out a site called http://www.itwofs.com. It’s run by a guy called Karthik whom I was in touch with briefly. You can find the original-copied versions of most Indian film songs over there.

Then, I’m a big fan of ARR and deep inside don’t bother much about his copying bits or as Dee said, midi’s which might be available legally. As long a the tunes remain original, it’s okay.

Only that we feel a bit embarrassed only when we by any chance come across the so called original versions.

Although we say that he has taken bits and tits from other famous bands, he has never been landed publicly in any such allegation like some others for e.g. Anu Mallik/Pritham.

Pritham lately confesses that he had copied some tunes – might be, he is a regular viewer of you tube, and afraid of being caught some day.

Anu Malik still claims that he is 99% original and admits that he copies only 1% due to pressure from directors

I am not going to look within India, as you know many have been recycled into other songs.

All I would say, lets be pragmatic.. music composition is an art which many people in this world have, its just like making a painting, and one painter uses the same color as other he cannot be considered as cheater, but yes, if he copies the whole painting and publishes with his own name he is a cheater for sure.

So, including some MIDI arrangements which are offcourse shared and also can be bought by one composer from other, is not at all a malpractice.

Also, there is a particular pattern in percussion called ‘Bandish’, and from this one pattern I can create 1000s of songs, so that does not mean I have ‘Lifted’ the whole song, it just mean that my composition is based on some bandish and rag.

I myself collect MIDIs and try to sew them to make my own compositions.

ARR is the *most* genuine and innovative music composer in the world of modern music and I would say the bravest as he has experimented with the music keeping his career at stake, everytime his new work comes in the market.

We must give some flexibility to the composers but yes, I strongly oppose the composers who have lifted the whole song and composition as it is.

Regards,
Dee

I am a big fan of ARR, but I heard the “Aint talkin bout dub” and decided to figure out, why sounded like the background rhythm of Shakalaka Baby, on doing quite some research I figured that this bit was used in more than “Aint Talkin”.

It looks like most of these bit are sold as Midi libraries, which ARR apparently has been collecting and seems to have one of the largest.

Having said that Grusin’s Memphis Stomp, definitely inspired Hello Mr.

Like Prashanth said while some bit are included, the tunes remain original

- Sid

A R Rahman also lifts some music around the world, but he uses it in his songs intelligently, most often they are used in opening bits, or in between.

Sagar has a full collection of AR’s so called songs ‘inspired’ from others, so I dont really have much songs left..anyway I got the following

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPnp3CsBci0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjJwqDa1QVI

The link you posted really surprised me!

Some more examples for acts of our copycats are…

Copied Tracks Original

1. Bheegi Bheegi ( Film Gangster ) Bhebe dekhechho ki ( by the Bengali band Mohiner Ghoraguli ).
2. Shikdum ( Film Dhoom ) Sikidim ( a persian song )
3. Kya mujhe pyaar hai ( Film Woh Lamhe ) Tak Bisakah ( by the indonesian band Peter Pan )
4. Pehli Nazar ( Film Race ) Sarang hae yo ( a korean song )
5 Hello Mr. ethirkatchi (Film Iruvar) Dave Grusin’s Memphis Stomp
6. Kuluvalile (Film Muthu) Fontella Bass’s ‘rescue me’
7. Akkadannu naanga (Film Indian) Paul Young’s ‘Love of common people’
8. Anbae anbae (Film Jeans) Peter Gabriel’s ‘Of these, hope’
9. Shakalaka Baby (Film Mudhalvan) Apollo 440 ‘Aint talkin bout dub’
10. Thillana thillana (Film Muthu) Deep Forests ‘Night Bird’

http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=BBmu9i3vQlA ~ Another famous song from race.

Now for some songs which have gone the other way round, India to Abroad

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=U5fcH8ZgNJQ