Pippa apologises for the controversy over AR Rahman’s cover of the Bengali song ‘Karar Oi Louho Kopat’ by Nazrul Islam

New Delhi: After receiving criticism over AR Rahman’s cover of “Karar Oi Louho Kopat,” the creators of the newly released biographical war picture Pippa issued an apology on Monday.

The military drama sparked controversy as Rahman recorded a cover of the patriotic song Karar Oi Louho Kopat by Bengali poet Kazi Nazrul Islam.

Considering the backlash over AR Rahman’s cover of the song, the production company Roy Kapur Films issued an apology on Instagram on Monday.

 

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After the late poet’s grandson and painter Kazi Anirban claimed the family had granted the makers permission to use the song, but not to modify the melody and rhythm, the Pippa makers issued a statement clarifying their artistic interpretation of the song.

The makers of Pippa, RSVP, and Roy Kapur Films, released a statement on X expressing their great appreciation for Kazi Nazrul Islam and his incalculable impact on the musical, political, and social landscape of the Indian subcontinent. They said that the Song served as a memorial to the heroes who freed Bangladesh.

“In light of the current discourse surrounding the song Karar Oi Louho Kopat, the producers, director and music composer of the film Pippa wish to clarify that our rendition of the song is a sincere artistic interpretation, embarked upon only after securing the necessary adaptation rights from the estate of the Late Mr. Kazi Nazrul Islam,” the release stated.

They claimed that by using the words with a new arrangement, they could respect our agreement and give tribute to the song’s cultural value.

While acknowledging that all art is subjective, the creators said they are sorry if their take on Karar Oi Louho Kopat offended anybody, “We understand the emotional attachment that audiences may have to the original composition, and while all art is inherently subjective if our interpretation has hurt sentiments or caused unintended distress, we offer our sincere apologies”, they added.

Statement from the team of Pippa. pic.twitter.com/UpVe0qTj4G

— RSVP (@RSVPMovies) November 13, 2023

About the Song – Karar Oi Louho Kopat

After A R Rahman’s rendering of the popular ‘Nazrul Giti’ sparked criticism for its alleged “distortion,” the film’s crew claimed that the new rendition of the song in Pippa was done after getting the required adaptation rights. The song was featured in Nazrul Islam’s collection of poetry Bhangar Gaan, which was initially published in Banglar Katha magazine in 1922. A well-known label initially recorded it in 1949, and a second label did so again in 1952.

About the Film – Pippa

The film is directed by Raja Krishna Menon and produced by Ronnie Screwvala of RSVP Movies and Siddharth Roy Kapur of Roy Kapur Films.

The screenplay was written by Menon, Tanmay Mohan, and Ravinder Randhawa, and it is based on Brigadier Balram Singh Mehta’s book The Burning Chaffees.

Ishaan Khatter and Mrunal Thakur feature in this film; set during the 1971 India-Pakistan conflict. On November 10, Prime Video unveiled Pippa for streaming.