Raja: Out with Pakistani singers!

In today's episode, Raja expressed his sadness at the music directors of today for giving opportunities to Pakistani singers, when upcoming Indian singers are just forced to stay on the reality show circuit.

What do the poeple on IF feel? IS RAJA RIGHT? Should Indian singers be given preferance over Pakistani singers?

Well music has no boundaries for sure but there is a reason I voted for the other option.
We give Pakistani singers so much respect and they are making money out of Bollywood. But is the vice versa true? Not at all. I remember in 2004 Sonu Nigam had a show in Karachi when minutes before the performance a bomb exploded outside the venue. Sonu Nigam was in a state of shock. He said that my entire family -- my parents, wife and sister could have been wiped out in one split second.
So my point is when Indian singers don't get the respect from other countries why should their singers be allowed to sing in our country when so much talent is there right in front of your eyes.

Originally posted by: brahmabul

Well music has no boundaries for sure but there is a reason I voted for the other option.
We give Pakistani singers so much respect and they are making money out of Bollywood. But is the vice versa true? Not at all. I remember in 2004 Sonu Nigam had a show in Karachi when minutes before the performance a bomb exploded outside the venue. Sonu Nigam was in a state of shock. He said that my entire family -- my parents, wife and sister could have been wiped out in one split second.
So my point is when Indian singers don't get the respect from other countries why should their singers be allowed to sing in our country when so much talent is there right in front of your eyes.

I agree. I also voted for the other option. I have no hard feelings against Pakistanis and it is not based on religion too as I am a Muslim myself. I am an Indian first and regard everybody the same as is the case with all of us. Frankly speaking I also consider that music has no boundaries but I cannot remain blind. There are several reasons why I would not prefer the Pakis given chance at the cost of Indian singers. One is because it makes Indian singers still waiting to get a chance though at the same time I also feel that reality show graduates like Toshi have proved that success is also possible for Indian singers. But the main reason for me not supporting Pakis is because even if I negate it but somehow politics is related to all other fields let it be sports, music, arts or anything else. I dont want to send more money in a country which is known for hatred towards our country and is not willing to end terrorism. The day Pakis stop supporting terrorism and ends all terrorism on their soil especially the India oriented terrorism towards the Eastern border than I will surely help them. I never see the willingness even amongst the normal public to end terrorism and I have been to various Paki forums and all of them are same. Once they stop terrorism I wont have any hard feelings at all. But till then stop all funds and I would not help them for sure. Let them realize what is bad and what they should do right so that India as well as other countries start helping them.

Brahmabul:

But dude, Bollywood DOES make money out of these singers. Let's start by giving credit where it's due.

Atif Aslam and his band made a song called Aadat which was loved by the audience (including Indians). Then the song was used in a film (Zeher). Now, when that song became a hit, who got the profits? The INDIAN music company, right? In fact, Atif is so popular that they even used him for the music video of Pehli Nazar Mein from Race.

Think of all the chartbuster songs that Pakistani singers have given: Mitwa (Kabhi alvida Na kehna), Laagi Tumse Mann Ki Lagan, Tujhe Dekh Dekh, Jiya Dhadak Dhadak, Naina Thag Lenge, Main Jahan Rahun, Teri Ore, Aadat, Woh Lamhe, Tere Bin, Pehli Nazar Mein, Tu Jane Na etc.

In sab gaanon ke profits Indian music companies aur movie companies ko mile, hai na?

Secondly, Pakistanis have nothing against Indian singers. Socho, why would Sonu Nigam do a concert there? The tickets must have sold that's why he did the concert. But yes, the attack was an unfortunate thing - but those few terrorists can't represent the whole of Pakistan, na?

Thirdly, some Pakistani singers are really good. Atif (who is popular but not a great singer imho) excluded, think of Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and Shafqat Amanat Ali Khan - they're very talented. Nobody can sing like these two - they're unique. And if a music director has made a song that suits these singers, then why not? Why should they give the song to someone else JUST because that someone else is Indian? If the great Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan saab was alive today, do you think it would have been right for Hindi filmmakers to exclude him?

I think that if we make nationality an issue then we are just making our pool of singers smaller. When Raja says things like this, it sounds as if he wants to kick some of the competition out. That's not fair - singers should be chosen for what value they can add to the song. Nationality is a non issue. Of course, reality TV singers should be given more opportunities - but not by taking away from Pakistani singers!

Last year in London there was a huge event called the 'Unforgettable tour' which was organised by the Bachchan family. It had many Indian stars (the Bachchans of course, Riteish Deshmukh, Priety Zinta, Shilpa Shetty) and I can tell you that half of the audience in the O2 arena (one of the biggest indoor arenas in the UK) was non-Indian. When they have given so much love (and money) to Bollywood, then why should they be shut out.

Surile singers ko chance milna chahiye - whether they are Indian or Pakistani or reality show contestants should all be non issues.

xobile, I think the outburst is more not for surile singer but for besura singers...no one has ever commented on not giving songs to RFAK or the likes....cos he is amazing and is vastly appreciated...but when it comes to Atif Aslam, he just has style but no sur, that time these upcoming singers feel that why do MD go out for such singers when there are plenty in their own country...

Desicrowd: as I said, we should discriminate against besura singers and not nationality. And you are saying ki people have nothing against RFAK, just against Atif coz he's besura. In that case were on the same page. :)

@xobile
Well at one point of time you seriously made me think that did I really vote for the right option. 😊

But I am in disagreement regarding a point made by you on Atif. No doubt Atif songs have been chartbusters and he is helping Indian music companies make money. But you also say that he is not that good a singer. So ultimately who is losing out...Music. I don't think its right to make money at the expense of music. Our country is full of talented people and if they really are surile singers then don't you think they will also make money for Indian companies which will not sacrifice good music also.

But yes other point that you mentioned about Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and Shafqat Ali Khan is absolutely correct. Uss maamle mein meri bolti band hain. he he he...
These two are massively talented people. And I think from our 6 judges only Shankar Mahadevan can match them. Shreya bhi chutki hain inke aage to. 😊

Ek to bhai tumne option bhi itne difficult rakhe the. Mere mann mein jo pehle thoughts aaye maine uss hisaab se vote kar diya. 😊

Originally posted by: xobile

Desicrowd: as I said, we should discriminate against besura singers and not nationality. And you are saying ki people have nothing against RFAK, just against Atif coz he's besura. In that case were on the same page. :)

i agree... Music has no Boundaries...and Music means sur taal... not Josh hehe...

Brahmabul, just to clear up your point of disagreement:

Aapne kaha ki Pakistani singers (esp Atif) are making money out of Bollywood. I was just trying to point out that Bollywood also makes money out of him. First bollywood used his composition and then he became so popular that they used his music video in Race to get publicity (and therefore more money). I'm not saying that he should be given more songs coz he's popular - Im jut saying that jitna ussne Bollywood se liya, utna hi ussne wapas bhi diya. And no other singer could have given bollywood movies that song (coz it was his composition) plus he has his fan base. But personally I would not prefer more songs from him.

We shouldn't discriminate against other Pakistani singers because of Atif.

Originally posted by: xobile

Brahmabul, just to clear up your point of disagreement:

Aapne kaha ki Pakistani singers (esp Atif) are making money out of Bollywood. I was just trying to point out that Bollywood also makes money out of him. First bollywood used his composition and then he became so popular that they used his music video in Race to get publicity (and therefore more money). I'm not saying that he should be given more songs coz he's popular - Im jut saying that jitna ussne Bollywood se liya, utna hi ussne wapas bhi diya. And no other singer could have given bollywood movies that song (coz it was his composition) plus he has his fan base. But personally I would not prefer more songs from him.

We shouldn't discriminate against other Pakistani singers because of Atif.

True man true.
I only hope yeh security vaala maamla khatam ho Pakistan mein so that even our singers can go and perform there. I know Sonu Nigam has a fan following there because he has done some shows in the past there. Infact he also sang the title song of a Pakistani Televison soap called 'Ana'.

But really yaar, practically socha jaaye to Pakistan mein jo haalat hain abhi, usko dekh kar lagta nahin ki hamare singer kabhi udhar perform karne jayege. I hope I am proved wrong.