Abrar-ul-Haq Says India Ban Affected Atif and Rahat’s Careers

Pakistani singer Abrar-ul-Haq recently discussed the decline of prominent artists like Atif Aslam and Rahat Fateh Ali Khan in the music industry, attributing their reduced presence to the ban on Pakistani artists in India and issues related to copyright. Speaking in an interview on the YouTube podcast Excuse Me with Ahmad Ali Butt, Abrar revealed how the Bollywood industry often faces legal challenges over music rights, particularly when songs are used without proper permission.

Abrar explained that in Bollywood, it’s common for songs and stories to be “inspired” or copied. However, if a song is used without proper authorization, it becomes a legal issue. A notable example he cited was the song ‘Nach Punjaban’, originally sung by him, which appeared in the Bollywood film Jug Jugg Jeeyo without his consent. Abrar clarified that he holds the copyright to the song and accused Bollywood of often taking songs from Pakistani artists without offering due credit or compensation. Regarding the ‘Nach Punjaban’ case, he stated, “The case is ongoing. Once proven, everything will be set right. We are fighting to get our songs back from those who have falsely claimed ownership, creating fake documents to retain rights.”

The makers of Jug Jugg Jeeyo claimed in 2022 that they had legally purchased the rights to ‘Nach Punjaban’, despite Abrar’s assertion that he never sold those rights. The film, which starred Anil Kapoor, Neetu Kapoor, Varun Dhawan, and Kiara Advani, was a box-office success, with its songs being particularly popular.

Abrar also touched on the careers of Atif Aslam and Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, explaining why they are no longer as active in the industry. He pointed out that while Atif’s career flourished due to support from the Indian film industry, which provided songwriters and composers, Pakistani artists often have to handle everything themselves. Abrar suggested that when Atif was cut off from the Indian market, his career took a hit. He noted a similar fate for Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, whose recent work has been less prominent, despite his efforts.

TOI