Pop star Hadiqa Kiani has slammed Indian singer Kanika Kapoor’s rendition of her icon song ‘Boohey Barian’.
The Pakistan singer has expressed her dislike towards “another shameless” rendition of her popular ’90s track ‘Boohey Barian. She also stated that she owns the rights to the song as it belongs to her album Roshni and is based on the poetry written by her mother.
“Another day and another shameless rendition of a song my mother wrote. No one asked for my permission, no one has given me royalties. They just take the song that my mother wrote and I recorded and use it as an easy money-making scheme,” she lashed out on Instagram
“So far, it’s been stolen to be used in multiple Bollywood films starring the likes of Shah Rukh Khan and Preity Zinta. It’s been stolen by every other singer who sings on stage while earning. And of course, by many singers who produce full music videos. Some of these cover videos have received almost 200 million views on YouTube. The latter gives me ‘credit’ by mentioning ‘original song: Boohey Barian by Hadiqa Kiani,” she said.
She also said that how whenever she personally has covered anybody else’s original, she has always asked for permission or paid royalties to the artist. “I want to make it clear that I have nothing against this singer (Kanika Kapoor) and the other singers who have sang my songs. I’m just upset with the way that they seem to go about the process.”
The original song sung by Hadiqa is licensed to Unicorn Black Music, MovieBox Record Label, Reservoir Media and 7 music rights societies. Kapoor’s rendition ‘Buhe Baryian’ is licensed to India’s Saregama Music and 1 music rights society.
Hadiqa’s first Punjabi-language song was written by her mother Khawar Kiani for her Platinum-selling second album, Roshni, released in 1999.
The song description for the Indian rendition states, “Kanika Kapoor’s rendition of Buhe Bariyan is all about breaking barriers and uniting with one’s beloved. Its spectacular visuals explore a plethora of emotions in one’s heart as it takes us through a surreal musical romantic journey.
