In response to the controversy surrounding AR Rahman’s rendition of Bengali poet Nazrul Islam’s patriotic song “Karar Oi Louho Kopat” for the recently released biographical war film “Pippa,” the makers issued a public apology on Monday.
In an Instagram post, production house Roy Kapur Films clarified the intention behind the rendition and expressed regret if it had caused unintended distress. The statement affirmed that their interpretation was a sincere artistic endeavor undertaken with the necessary adaptation rights secured from the estate of the Late Mr. Kazi Nazrul Islam.
“We have deep respect for the original composition and for the Late Mr. Kazi Nazrul Islam, whose contribution to the musical, political, and social landscape of the Indian subcontinent is immeasurable,” the statement read.
The makers highlighted that the album was created as a tribute to those who dedicated their lives to the liberation of Bangladesh, respecting the sentiments of their struggle for freedom, peace, and justice. The process of creating the song followed the terms outlined in the license agreement for the lyrics, duly signed with the Late Mrs. Kalyani Kazi and witnessed by Mr. Anirban Kazi.
“While all art is inherently subjective, if our interpretation has hurt sentiments or caused unintended distress, we offer our sincere apologies,” the statement concluded.
“Pippa,” produced by Ronnie Screwvala under RSVP Movies and Siddharth Roy Kapur’s Roy Kapur Films, is directed by Raja Krishna Menon. The film features Ishaan, Mrunal Thakur, Priyanshu Painyuli, and Soni Razdan in pivotal roles. Based on Brigadier Balram Singh Mehta’s book “The Burning Chaffees,” the wartime saga pays tribute to the PT-76 amphibious war tank, known as “Pippa.” The film, streaming on Amazon Prime Video, narrates the patriotic journey of Captain Balram Mehta and the Indian Armed Forces in the liberation war.
As the controversy settles, the makers hope that the audience will appreciate their sincere efforts to pay homage to the cultural significance of the song while navigating the complexities of artistic interpretation and licensing agreements.
Sources By Agencies
