Salman Khan’s Bajrangi Bhaijaan Faces Legal Trouble From Pakistan

A popular qawwali singer from Pakistan, Amjad Sabri and also, Pakistan’s largest record brand called EMI Pakistan are planning to sue the qawali song ‘Bhar Do Jholi Meri’ from Salman Khan starrer Bajrangi Bhaijaan, claiming that they own the copyright to the song. EMI Pakistan said that they will soon be sending separate notices to the producers- Salman Khan Films, Kabir Khan Films; Media Concepts, who aired the song in Pakistan; and the companies, 8xM, and Jalwa music channels, which are subsidiaries for Media Concept. Performed by Sabri Brothers in 1975, it is said the original qawwali was written by Purnam Allahabadi and is a composition of Maqbool Sabri.

“Revamping the qawwali without my permission or consent is simply unethical and inappropriate. It is the property of my family and will continue to be so for the coming seven generations. This is an asset of my father Ghulam Farid Sabri and my uncle Maqbool Sabri”, told Amjad Sabri to Urdu newspaper Daily Express.

On the other hand, Zeeshan Chaudhry, general manager of EMI Pakistan told The Express Tribune, “The qawwali ‘Bhar do jholi’ is an EMI product, not only released by us but also recorded and produced under our banner. None of the authorities involved in the making of Bajrangi Bhaijan approached us to acquire the rights. So, we have sent them legal notices”.