Well, to everyone who had hurled 'decent' comments about my being in Singapore, and what I had written here is what I have to say:
First, I have never said that Abhijeet has said it in the correct manner. In fact I did write that he should have measured his words. My point was that what Abhijeet was saying was 100% true. He is calling a spade a spade.
Second, yes every music director has been inspired by western tunes. But Bappi Lahiri is a person who blatantly copied entire songs, note to note. His entire career has gone in copying tunes, including his memorable ones. And funnily, he filed a lawsuit against an American singer for plagiarism! Had he been sued, he would have gone bankrupt by now.
Third, please do not compare apples and organes i.e. RD Burman and Bappi Lahiri. How many of you think that any of Bappi Lahiri's original song(s) can come in top 50 of the best ever in Hindi film music?
Fourth, about foreign talent. I entirely agree that it is not a question of nationality, and music indeed has no boundaries. Having said that, my point was about half-cooked singers (I had mentioned that and named a few). I have no problem of Nusrat Fateh Ali or Ustad Ghulam Ali being given a chance. But I maintain that Abhijeet is right that when we have 24 carat gold in our own country, why do we have to run after 18 carat gold? If you guys think that Rahat Fateh Ali, Atif, or James are better singers I respect your sense of musical judgment and leave it at that.
Fifth, this is not to suggest that true talents are found only in India. Maybe my words were misunderstood. We have our share of 24 carat American diamond as well like Bappi Lahiri or Himesh (who incidentally, according to me, has emitted pure noise after 'Tere Naam'). I stress again, I am not agaisnt nationality, I am against besura singers.
Sixth, for those who think that Bappi Lahiri's comments "Jo Bappi Lahiri se panga liya woh industry mein tik nahin paya" is a decent one, I again respect your individual view, and would like to leave it at that. Next moment he talks about God's will. I am a bit confused about who is deciding Abhijeet's fate - God or he himself! Also, what he says about dubbing Abhijeet's songs by Divakar speak volumes of his (un)professionalism, and reaffirms what he has been doing all through his life - misusing IPRs.
Seventh, on the 'decent' remarks about my being in Singapore, I am wondering if the case of creative arts can be eqauted with economics. I am still thinking about it.
Eighth, come to think of it all, the channelwallahs have achieved what they had to - see, we are debating this spat, taking sides of what we would prefer to see, etc. I guess, the story in iteself had some kind of hidden agenda, that of garnering interest among viewers.