Pippa apologizes after backlash over AR Rahman's song

Pippa team apologizes after facing backlash over Indian singer AR Rahman’s song performance of Bengali poet. AR Rahman recently made a version of Bengali poet Nazrul Islam’s patriotic song Karar Oi Louho Kopat for the biographical film “Pippa”.

Pippa’s action drama movie just after its release on November 10, 2023, started to gain criticism over Rahman’s version of Nazrul Islam’s patriotic song. Afterward, production house Roy Kapur Films issued an apology on Instagram for the controversy surrounding AR Rehman’s performance of Nazrul Islam’s patriotic song.

According to a released statement, the producers, directors, and music composers of the film Pippa wish to clarify that their version of the song is a sincere artistic interpretation. It began only after obtaining the necessary adaptation rights from the estate of the Late Mr.Kazi Nazrul Islam.

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Why AR Rahman is facing backlash?

The family and supporters of poet Kazi Nazrul Islam opposed AR Rahman’s version of the song “Karar Oi Louho Kopat”. They are angry by the distortions made in the rhythms and tunes of this song composed by Rahman.

They believe Rahman has reduced the song to a Bengali folk song. Despite the fact that it is supposed to reflect the revolutionary enthusiasm of independence fighters.

Pippa apologizes after backlash over AR Rahman’s song

The grandson of Kazi, Anirban called the song an insult to the good faith. For which they granted a recreation license to the production house. In response, he wishes to have his family’s name removed from the film’s credits. Afterward, the production house Raj Kapur Films issued an apologetic statement.

Historic background of the song “Karar Oi Louho Kopat”

Nazrul Islam poet composed the song “Karar Oi Louho Kopat” for the first time on June 20, 1922. When freedom fighter Chittaranjan Das was imprisoned, his wife asked Nazrul to write something for her husband. So Nazrul wrote this song to honor her request.

This is not the first time AR Rahman has recreated this song. Debona Bhulite, Shovan, Timir, Imran, Kinjil, and Tirtha recreated in 2017.

Pippa is a 2023 Indian Hindi-language biographical war film based on the life of Captain Balram Singh Mehta of the Indian army. He served India on the eastern front during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 along with his siblings.