Priyadarshan Responds To Allegations Of Copying Song From Satyajit Ray's Film In Bhooth Bangla

Priyadarshan responded to claims that his upcoming movie, Bhooth Bangla, may have incorporated a line from Satyajit Ray's movie. According to the allegations, the hook line of the song Bhuter Raja Dilo Bor from the National Award-winning Bengali film Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne was used in the movie's song, Ram Ji Bhala Karein. The filmmaker responded to these accusations of plagiarism while attending the Bhooth Bangla trailer launch on Monday.

Priyadarshan noted that in the industry, repetition is not unusual. "Huge respect I have to him (Satyajit Ray), he is one of the masters from whom I learnt cinema. Second, the word you are saying is Bhoot. Now, if I ask you, in how many songs the word 'deewana' used in Indian cinema? That means that only the first person who used the word ‘deewana’ has the right to use it. It’s only a word. We can’t use, if somebody uses two lines; everybody can use, but the tune has nothing to do with the song," he said. 

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Priyadarshan clarified that the lines were written by the lyricist and the team was confident there was nothing objectionable, as they were rooted in the film's context. He also noted that the title draws from an earlier film, leading to such repetitions, and expressed deep respect for Satyajit Ray, calling him the 'God of Indian cinema'.

"The lyricist has written those lines, and that is why we were so confident there is nothing wrong in it, and there’s a context to it because the film is Bhooth Bangla, and you should also understand there is a previous film called Bhoot Bangla as well. Naturally, that title is repeated now. So these things get repeated, there is nothing. I respect Satyajit Ray like the God of Indian cinema."

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Bhooth Bangla Release Date

Akshay Kumar-led horror comedy Bhooth Bangla also stars Tabu, Wamiqa Gabbi, Paresh Rawal, Rajpal Yadav, Mithila Palkar, and Rajesh Sharma. Produced by Akshay Kumar, Shobha Kapoor, and Ektaa R Kapoor, the movie is backed by Balaji Motion Pictures, a branch of Balaji Telefilms Ltd, in collaboration with Cape of Good Films.

Bhooth Bangla is scheduled to open in theatres on April 17 with paid previews from April 16, starting at 9 PM.