Why Sultan, Baadshaho Had Songs Of Rahat Fateh Ali Khan & I Am Being Asked To Remove Questions Shamir Tandon

Composer Shamir Tandon, who got Pakistani singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan to sing for the forthcoming Bollywood film Welcome To New York, has defended the use of the voice from that nation.

“If as a country, or even as an industry, we take a collective stance against working with artistes (who are all blessed by Goddess Saraswati, irrespective of the origin) from across the border, I’m happy to adhere to the same. I will be the first one to refrain,” Tandon said.

He points out that the use of Pakistani voices is again rampant in Bollywood.

“My point is, how come the same Pakistani singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan’s Jag Ghumiya which was used in the film Sultan, Mere Rashke Qamar which was used in Baadshaho, skips this sentiment.

Or for that matter, Atif Aslam’s recently released Dil Diyan Gallan in Tiger Zinda Hai or the Ajay Devgn song Sanu Ek Pal Chain‘ in the film Raid released a couple days ago. Why were these songs not pulled up for using Pakistani voices, while mine has? Because most of those are cover versions and mine is an original?”

Earlier this week, singer-turned-Union minister Babul Supriyo had asked Khan’s voice in the song Ishtehaar from Welcome To New York to be removed and dubbed by someone else.