'Don' runs into trouble over music rights

'Don' runs into trouble over music rights

Bollywood is in remake mode. So, there are plans to remake films like 'Umrao Jaan', 'Sholay', 'Guide' and 'Victoria No 203', but is everybody happy with remakes? Well some are not very happy. The music of Farhan Akhtar's remake of the Amitabh Bachchan starrer 'Don' is hitting unhappy notes with few people.

A silhouette of Shah Rukh Khan against the Petronas Towers in Malaysia - this is the first and the only poster image that's been revealed so far of director Farhan Akhtar's 'Don', a remake of the 1978 Amitabh Bachchan starrer. The film, scheduled for a Diwali release, is already stirring controversy.

The film's makers announced, that they would include two songs from the original film - 'Khaike paan banaraswala' and 'Yeh mera dil pyar ka diwana' - in the new version. The songs were recently re-recorded under the baton of composer-trio Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy. And although the producers have bought the remake rights of the original film, there is no clarity on whether they have obtained the rights to re-record Kalyanji-Anandji's hit tracks, that were written by the late lyricist Anjaan.

Kalyanji Shah's son, Viju Shah told CNBC-TV18, "They should have informed us that they are using the songs because ultimately the music rights lies with the music composer." But Director Farhan Akhtar's father, lyricist Javed Akhtar says, "I'm sure that all the rights and permissons have been taken from Sameer, Anjaan's son." Though Sameer has his own grouse. He explains, "It's like putting old wine in a new bottle and the least they can do is give us credit and the royalty for it."

Sameer, Viju Shah and Anandji are not exploring any legal options right now. They are adopting a wait and watch approach, to see how their songs take shape in the new avtaar.