A Pakistani singer has accused Indian music composer and singer Salim Merchant of stealing his composition that he recorded more than five years ago. Salim, in his defence, has said that it was a ‘mere coincidence’ that a portion of the tune of both the songs was similar.
Farhan Saeed, a former member of popular Pakistani band Jal, took to Twitter to write that Merchant had stolen his music. He wrote, “Someone just sent me@salim_merchant song HAREYA, which is a total copy of my song ROIYAAN. I wonder they have the audacity to call themselves artists when they steal someone’s work. Karna hi hai to pooch ke kuro aur ager poochna nahin hai to at least acha to kuro! (If you want to steal, then at least take permission. Or if you don’t want to ask then improve your own work).” Farhan ended his tweet with a hashtag #stopstealing.
Someone just sent me @salim_merchant song HAREYA, which is a total copy of my song ROIYAAN. I wonder they have the audacity to call themselves artists when they steal someone’s work. Karna hi hai to pooch ke kuro aur ager poochna nahin hai to at least acha to kuro!#stopstealing
— Farhan Saeed (@farhan_saeed) September 14, 2019
In response, Salim said that it was a mere coincidence that both the compositions were the same. He wrote, “Farhan I just heard your song. It’s a mere coincidence that the chorus of Haareya is like your song. To be honest I’ve never heard it before. It happens many a times when notes have a natural progression from each other. @Sulaiman & I have a track record of never plagiarising.”
Farhan I just heard your song. It’s a mere coincidence that the chorus of Haareya is like your song. To be honest I’ve never heard it before. It happens many a times when notes have a natural progression from each other. @Sulaiman & I have a track record of never plagiarising.
— salim merchant (@salim_merchant) September 14, 2019
However, Farhan was not convinced with Salim’s clarification and asked if the Indian singer choosing the same lyricist as used by him in 2014 for Roiyaan song was also a coincidence. The lyricist of both the songs is one Kumar.
Farhan wrote, “@salim_merchant if you say so! Another co incidence is we have the same lyricist! Anyway good luck !”
@salim_merchant if you say so! Another co incidence is we have the same lyricist! Anyway good luck !
— Farhan Saeed (@farhan_saeed) September 14, 2019
Salim replied, “Why don’t you check with him! If i had to copy, I would have done that way long back in my career. I really wish I had heard your song before I made mine. Would have surely made changes to our composition to make it sound different from yours. Anyway, Hope you understand..”
Why don’t you check with him!
If i had to copy, I would have done that way long back in my career. I really wish I had heard your song before I made mine. Would have surely made changes to our composition to make it sound different from yours. Anyway, Hope you understand..— salim merchant (@salim_merchant) September 14, 2019
Farhan had released his Roiyaan song in 2014, while Salim’s Hareya track has just been released.
Here’s Hareya track by Salim:
The original Roiyaan track by Farhan:
