The Hindu : National : Pakistani song runs into trouble

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Aug 13, 2004

National

National

Pakistani song runs into trouble

By Luv Puri

JAMMU, AUG. 12. A popular Punjabi song by Pakistani singers has earned the wrath of religious leaders, for according to them, its lyrics are derogatory. The Punjabi song, which has become a hit here, particularly in the border areas of the State, has been in the middle of a heated controversy for a few days.

The song, sung by Akram Rahi and Naseebo, both Punjabi singers of Pakistan, has already recorded a sale of over one lakh cassettes. The objection taken by the religious leaders was the particular lyric in the song, which they term as an insult. The lyric in the song goes "Naseeb sade likhe rab ne kachi pencil nal (God has written our fate with a raw pencil)" and it was termed objectionable by some. The religious leaders say that nobody has the right to blame God for a person's misfortune and therefore the song should at once be banned.

Objections against the song have been part of the discourse of the religious heads after afternoon prayers for the last two weeks.

A religious head of Rajouri was the first to question the lyrics of the song and then the other religious leaders of Poonch also asked the people not to buy the cassette. A religious head after the afternoon prayers said, "We would not tolerate any insult to religion and for this reason any person who is true follower of religion should not buy the cassette nor hear it." Although nobody came out against the call of the religious leader, a curiosity was generated in the area and sales have recorded an increase in the last few days.

Gulshan Kumar, audio cassette shop-owner said, "The sales have only increased after the objections against the song and we are not being able to meet the demand. On not getting the original cassette, people are even buying recorded ones." Chowdhary Bashir said, "There is nothing objectionable in the lyrics as there is nothing disrespectful in the lyrics against God and unnecessary controversy was created. Let people decide for themselves."

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