Adnan Sami should be kicked out of India

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Few days back, music director Aadesh Shrivastava lambasted Adnan Sami in front of everybody at singer Richa Sharma's birthday party held at BJN Banquets, Mumbai.

He insulted him calling him a non-singer and claiming he had no right to be in the Indian music industry. While we thought that matter was closed that night itself, the whole thing is now taking a very serious turn what with Aadesh hell bent on kicking Adnan Sami out of India.

About the recent turn of events, Aadesh states, "I am the Vice President of the Cine Music Director's Association and a man of strong principles. Adnan has utter disrespect for Indian laws and regulations. If he wants to give music to Indian films he should respect the laws of our country. He has no right to work in India.

"People like him who come from Pakistan are ready to work here even at peanut rates because they get a global platform. But do you ever see them lauding our nation and its people for that who give them this opportunity at the first place? Do they buy any properties here? They send the entire money back to their country. Also, if he is so desperate to work in India then why doesn't he posses the required legal documents.

"Whenever someone tries to stop people like him to work here, we face oppositions and political pressures. I have gone to USA and worked there but I had to follow the laws of that country. My activities on any country's land depend on whether I have a work or business or tourist visa or permit. When we have such laws existing here and people like Adnan making a mockery out of it how can I remain quiet?"

About his next plan of action, Aadesh states, "I along with other music association members have started a crusade to inform each and every single filmmaker that a music composer or singer must be registered with their respective associations and if they are not then they won't be allowed in their projects."

Aadesh claims it to be nothing personal against Adnan and adds, "Why should we welcome Pakistani singers and musicians here? Does their nation give visas to our living legends like Lata Mangeshkar, Javed Akhtarsaab and Jagjit Singhji? So why ignore the phenomenal talent that already exists in our country and NRIs." -Sampurn

Actually just now there is a GA in IF. the poem there which won the first prize is what people like Adesh and all should read.... here is the link :

Music never had boundaries...and it never shall.... those who try compartmentalising it finally gets trapped in the compartment themselves

When you extend your support, you expect the same from the other side. I know that the people of Pakistan are having great respect for Indian artists, but that makes no difference. This is not a people issue, it is a Government issue.

I had once had a long convo with Sonu Nigam on this and he is also very bitter about this issue. He has so many fans accross the border but he was denied visa so many times and when finally he was granted on, he was threatened and ultimately a bomb went off.

Jagjit singh was never given Visa while Ghulam Ali walks in any time and performs here. Euphoria were denied visa for a show in Pakistan while Strings walk in here anytime and do a show.

Artists like Lata mangeshkar, Asha, Kishore, Rafi etc have millions of fans there but their albums cant release there. While you have Adnan sami, Fuzon, Hassan Jehangir ( a good 20 years ago) selling openly.

What this does is that it encourages Piracy of Music and Movies. All the Pirated Movies which flood Indian markets are coming from our neighbouring countries. Its because people there love our music and films but their Govt overlooks this fact and does not change policies.

How long can things be one sided ??? I have in the past requested a few of my friends from accross the border that they should make enough noise in their country so that it can make a difference.

We have singers, musicians, actors and now even Comedians from accross the border, who are here and making a living. I also love a number of them but I am also sad that our artists do not get the same opportunity.

(Please note that I am not being disrespectful to any one or any country, just sharing my views, please do not get offended and discuss in a calm manner)

Jade, I think we all would agree that it is not fault of the Pakistani artists and nor the people there as I have said it is a govt issue. But when you say 'over a period of time'.... what do you mean by that ?? how long, is it 1 year, 2 yr, 5 yr, 10 yr, 20 yr. This problem has been there for the last 50 years and it has been very prominent in the last 30 years. A few years (10 years) ago I was thinking now this problem will come to and end and 10 year on I am still thinking the same.

Years ago when I was in my early teens, an album called Hawa Hawa had released in India (Hassan Jehangir) and I was in love with that Album. I had bought album 3 times (cassette) as each one i heard so many times that they were ruined. It is from that time that I am awaiting the release of an Indian Album accross the border and I want to see the response our artists have there but I am still waiting.

More than a decade ago, there was an album called Sangam which had music by NFAK and lyrics by Javed Akhtar and even then the Indian company was denied releasing the Album in Pakistan.

Moreso, people like Abhijeet & Aadesh feel the pinch as they dont have much work and one of the reasons is that there is an influx of artists here and so now they have to share their pie. Its not like abhijeet is a bad singer, he is one of the best singers we have had and he still sings very well. So it is natural for them to feel bad about this and vent out their frustrations as they feel that this is one of the reasons. Probably this is not the only reason but this is something which stands out and is a ready punching bag for them, hence the hue and cry.

Just see the no of singers which are there in the market and they are enjoying both worlds, Indian movies and Indi Pop while we are not getting the same opportunity.

And its not just singers from Pakistan, I think even some artists from Britain like Hard Kaur, Bombay Rockers etc are equally responsible.

DO you remember the Nigaar Khan case ? a small time actress who was deported to Norway as she had no work permit. Recently I have heard that even SRK's manager was shunted back to UK due to work permit issues. And even Katrina Kaif is on the radar. If there are rules then they must be respected. If it was the USA, no one would have dared to work without a work permit and if the claim of these musicians is correct then it is not fair to them.

I have no problems with other artists trying to make a living here (although I am very strong in my views that it should be a two way thing) but then further if they are doing so without valid documents, then what is that ???