Plagiarism in music is not what it’s like in the field of linguistics and literature: You can put the words side by side and show the overlap. But can you do the same comparison with notes and chords? Rules that govern notes and chords are far more constraining than those that govern linguistics.
Each era and period has its own popular music and departure from the popular ‘style’ directly translates into a “failure” for the musician and nobody actually dares to defy the ‘popular taste’. Though we all like a touch of freshness, very few sequences of tones and chords sound “right,” while others seem “wrong.” So if you come up with a sequence of chords that sounds good, it’s very likely that someone else has already used it.
Music psychologists also talk about the possibility of unconscious influence. As a listener or musicians, you absorb, imitate, and reconstitute what others have produced. This “harmonic map” of chord relationships is imprinted in neurons of the prefrontal cortex – part of the brain that processes harmony. Both musicians and listeners end up sticking to it. This ‘creative laziness’ precludes innovation Both musicians and listeners end up sticking to it. This ‘creative laziness’ precludes innovation and results in what we term as ‘plagiarism’.
Several Indian songs have also been “inspired” by Pakistani musicians. But again, we share the same culture and the sequences and frameworks of notes and ragas are same, and so is the taste. Does similarity qualify as plagiarism? The world of music is more complicated than is thought.
Here is a list of Indian music composers ripped off from Pakistan. The complete list consists of hundreds of songs over the span of at least five decades, but this countdown consists of only some of them.
1) Jadon Holi Jayi (Probably the first one that Bollywood copied from Pakistani song)
Music: Bakhshi Wazir
Film: Utt Khuda Da Wair
Year: 1970
Copied in Bollywood’s movie ‘Moam Ki Gurrya’ (1972) – Baaghon Main Bahaar Aayi –
2) Raat De Baara Wajjay
Music: M. Ashraf
Film: Zabardast
Year: 1989
https://youtu.be/E6WvaZc8uSU
Copied in Bollywood’s movie ‘Khalnayak’ (1993) – Choli Ke Peechay –
https://youtu.be/8nd5NLbUu44
3) Neendran Nahi Aundiyan
Music: Wazir Afzal
Film: Gamma B.A
Year: 1976
https://youtu.be/Z_0k5_O0olY
Copied in Bollywood’s movie ‘Aaj Ka Arjun’ (1990) – Gori Hain Kalaiyan –
Woh Mera Ho Na Saka
Music: Nashaad
Film: Azmat
Year: 1973
https://youtu.be/mAHJp00HrR0
Copied in Bollywood’s movie ‘Qasoor’ – Dil Mera Tod Diya Us Ne –
https://youtu.be/4BsefMSIdbU
5) Yeh Rangeeni-e-Naubahar
Music: Wazir Afzal
Poet: Ameer Khusroo
https://youtu.be/Fa8d2gOLOKU
Copied in Bollywood’s movie ‘Jeena Sirf Mere Liye’ (2002) – Mujhko Milgaya Mere Pyar –
https://youtu.be/vFcDVDeoeMs
6) Boohay Bariyan
Year: 1998
Copied in Bollywood’s film ‘Dil Hai Tumhara’ (2002) – Dil Laga Liya Hai –
https://youtu.be/e_jHG3zU2cc
7) Ae Mohabbat Tere Anjaam Pe
Singer/Music: Begum Akhtar
Poet: Shakeel Badayuni
Copied in Bollywood’s movie ‘Raaz’ (2002) – Kitna Pyara Hai Yeh Chehra –
https://youtu.be/BnpDaubXTmI
8) Baray Be-Murawwat Hain Yeh Husn Walay
Singer: Suraiya Multanikar
Movie: Badnaam
Year: 1966
https://youtu.be/UAAR3Qc1izY
Copied in Bollywood’s song ‘Gumnaa’ (2008) – Mohabbat Se Zyada –
9) Way Main Chori Chori
Singer: Reshman
Lyrics: Mansoor Jhalla
Copied in Bollywood’s movie ‘Lekin’ (1990) – ‘Yaara Sili Sili Birha Ki Raat’ –
https://youtu.be/TYNu_smRQLg
10) Ja Ajj Ton Mein Teri
Music: Wazir Afzal
Film: Yaar Mastanay
Year: 1974
Copied in Bollywood’s Movie ‘Beta’ – Sajna Main Teri Tu Mera –
https://youtu.be/2hW6fmMxVic
11) Mujhe Dekh Ke Been Bajayen
Music: M. Ashraf
Film: Himmatwala
Year: 1983
https://youtu.be/IHd5GOXZVAo
Copied in Bollywood’s movie ‘Phool Aur Kantay’ (1991) – Main Ne Pyar Tumhi Se Kiya –
https://youtu.be/SpZrZUy8wp4
12) Bohat Khoobsurat Hai Mera Sanam
Music: M. Ashraf
Film: Aabshaar
Year: 1978
https://youtu.be/k0Vy0cRYwnY
Copied in Bollywood’s movie ‘Saajan’ (1991) – Bohat Pyar Karte Hain
https://youtu.be/KdtlfPMbKGs
13) Kundi Na Kharka Sohneya
Film: Desan Da Raja
Year: 1984
https://youtu.be/DU_vN-kLuSM
Copied in Bollywood’s movie ‘Gabbar is Back’ (2015) – Kundi Mat Kharkao Raja –
14) Larka Badnaam Hua Haseena
Film: Mr Charlie
Year: 1992
Copied in Bollywood’s movie ‘Dabang’ (2010) – Munni Badnaam Hui Darling –
15) Naye Kapray Badal Kar Jaun Kahan
Singer: Khalil Haider
Year: 1990s
Copied in Bollywood’s movie ‘Andaaz’ (2003) – Aayega Maza Ab Barsaat Ka –
Interestingly, many ‘cultural tunes’ and styles of poetry that are deeply ingrained in our cultural ethos (imprinted in our ‘collective memory’) are often exempted from accusations of plagiarism. Famous Punjabi folk numbers such as heer, soohey ve cheeray waleya, chitta kukkar baneray te, sadke sadke jandi ae, etc are performed and liked by people of both Punjabs.
Following are few examples of it:
https://youtu.be/x0Va68pBXO0