Sona, original singer spar over remixing iconic Odisha folk song

A controversy over a popular folk song that has been brewing on the shores of Odisha may now catapult into a national-level copyright issue. Though Coke Studio – MTV’s Rangabati, a remake of the timeless Sambalpuri (a language spoken in western Odisha) song, which was rendered on the music show by singer Sona Mohapatra, composer Ram Sampath and reality show winner Rituraj Mohanty, stole hearts of people worldwide, back home in Odisha, it drew major flak.
Lyricist Mitrabhanu Gauntia and music director Prabhudutta Pradhan, who hold the copyright of the original song, have sent a legal notice to the show’s promoters, demanding `1 crore in compensation for copyright infringement, and are threatening to move court. It was reported that Sagar Pradhan, a Supreme Court advocate who served the notice on behalf of the copyright holders, said that the show’s team and the remix’s singers and composer were asked to enter into an agreement with his clients by paying the compensation by July 18, or face legal action.
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It’s a song for farmers, not for a studio: Original’s singer
The original song was composed in the 1970s and was rendered by Sambalpuri singers Jitendra Haripal and Krishna Patel. Though the remake’s video was set to touch 14 lakh hits at the time of going to press, Jitendra told us, “The sanctity of the song is lost. There are several glitches in the pronunciation. It’s a song meant for farmers and workers of western Odisha and is not to be sung in a studio with western equipment. Most likely, I would have refused to sing the song in such an ambience. However, I will not accuse anyone and leave its fate in the hands of God.”
It’s a folk song, open for re-interpretation by artistes: Sona
Sona Mohaptra defended singing the song, and said, “We are grateful for the immense love we are getting from the youth in Odisha and across the nation for our reinvention of the folk classic Rangabati. There is a small section that has taken offence for presenting an old folk classic in a modern format, and unfortunately, such factions get more attention than positive feedback. I’d rather celebrate the love. There was no intention to harm any Sambalpuri or any other sentiments. It was, in fact, quite the opposite, but such things are par for the course. Our intentions were honourable. We have irrefutable proof that the song is a folk song and therefore, in the public domain and open for re-interpretation by other artistes.”
She added, “As a build-up to the video’s release, I had even shared so many articles about the folk artistes, music and textiles of Sambalpur.” Rituraj said, “I’ve grown up listening to the song and we wanted to pay a tribute to our land.”
It is not a ‘folk song’, we took permission to use it: Filmmaker Nila Madhab Panda
However, Nila Madhab Panda, director and fellow Odia, disagrees. He told us, “It is properly composed song and not a ‘folk song’ on which a whole society or community can lay claim. Certain people have intellectual rights over it. The song has been the identity of the community for 40 years. You just can’t degrade that. These people have no objection over the song being used, but at least have the courtesy to seek their permission.” Nila has also used the song in his upcoming film Kaun Kitne Paani Mein, but says that he sought permission from the artistes first. “As an Odia, you owe it to the state, but I’m appalled at the brazenness of the remix’s creators.”
The remix is mired in other controversies too. It uses the word ‘ranga’ instead of ‘rangabati’ several times. While ‘ranga’ in colloquial language means an effeminate guy, ‘rangabati’ is used to describe a beautiful girl. And it also has portions of Utkal Bande Janani, the state anthem, which some Odia politicians and locals have objected to.
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Watch: Rangabati - Ram Sampath, Sona Mohapatra & Rituraj Mohanty - Coke Studio@MTV Season 4