How Original!

I first heard Shantanu Moitra’s music with the soundtrack of Parineeta, which I absolutely loved. And of course, I was happy for the fact that he had given credit to the Tagore song on which he had based the song 'Piya Bole'. I learned recently that the song 'Kaisi Paheli Zindagani' was a rip off from the Louis Armstrong song 'A kiss to build a dream on'. No credit given anywhere.

Then came Lage Raho Munnabhai. Shantanu Moitra very nicely acknowledged basing 'Bande Mein Tha Dum' on ‘Vande Matram’ (which sparked off a separate controversary). However, what he completely forgot to mention that the song 'Pal Pal' was “borrowed” from Cliff Richard's 'Theme for a Dream'.

I was listening to the soundtrack of 'Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi' the other day. I love this soundtrack -- I think it has some of the best songs that I’ve heard. What I didn't know is that the music director is Shantanu Moitra... now that I do know, I really shudder to think which 'original' source the music is based on.

Meanwhile, of course, Mr. Moitra himself continues to draw accolades for being versatile and original and providing music that is so ‘fresh’.