Singer and songwriter Omer Nadeem has levied allegations against Indian singer Sonu Nigam, accusing him of plagiarizing Nadeem’s song ‘Aye Khuda.’
In a December 4 Instagram post, Nadeem urged Nigam to acknowledge the original track, expressing disappointment in the alleged imitation. Despite being a Sonu Nigam fan, Nadeem asserted that the song ‘Sun Zara’ by label T-series copied the entire melody, incorporating minor changes in tempo and the addition of drums for a more lively vibe.
The music video for ‘Sun Zara,’ released on December 2, 2023, has already amassed 1.9 million views, while Nadeem’s original song has 537,000 views on YouTube. Speaking to Images, Nadeem emphasized the irreversible nature of a released song but suggested that a little credit would demonstrate love and respect for the original.
Reflecting on the impact of ‘Aye Khuda,’ released in 2009 and dominating UK charts, Nadeem highlighted its resonance with fans on both sides of the border. Despite the significant following on his Facebook page, the credits for ‘Sun Zara’ make no mention of Omer Nadeem or his record label, causing discontent among fans.
Expressing their discontent on social media, fans accused Sonu Nigam of stealing music. Actor Armeena Khan questioned Nigam’s actions, while others shared nostalgic memories of the original song. Nadeem revealed overwhelming support on social media but stated that the makers of ‘Sun Zara’ have not reached out to him.
Images attempted to contact Sonu Nigam and DJ Sheziwood, responsible for the music, but received no response. This incident adds to a list of accusations against Indian entities for plagiarizing Pakistani songs, with examples like Abrarul Haq’s ‘Nach Punjaban’ and Hadiqa Kiani’s ‘Boohey Barian.’ The lack of legal recourse in such cases has been highlighted, as rights are often owned by record companies that sell them to entities like T-series.
