Composer of ‘Udd Ja Kaale Kaava’ Uttam Singh, criticises ‘Gadar 2’ creators for unauthorised use of the songs

Gadar: Ek Prem Katha’s music director, Uttam Singh, expressed his displeasure to Gadar 2 director, Anil Sharma, for using his songs, “Main Nikla Gaddi Leke” and “Udd Jaa Kaale Kaava,” without his permission.

Gadar 2, starring Sunny Deol and Ameesha Patel, is sweeping the nation and breaking box office records left and right. In addition to having the same lead actors as the 2001 film Gadar, the sequel also includes certain songs from the previous album that have been updated for the sequel. Although the two songs, Main Nikla Gaddi Leke and Udd Jaa Kaale Kaava, have garnered positive reviews from the public, the song’s original composer, Uttam Singh, has a beef with the directors of Gadar 2. The composer claimed in an interview with Amar Ujala that the Gadar 2 production crew did not show him the courtesy of alerting him that the songs he wrote would be featured in the follow-up.

Speaking about his career, Uttam Singh added: “ I started my career in 1962 and I am working even today. Even today, by God’s grace, my songs are a hit. The music of Waaris and Painter Babu are a hit even today. Dil Toh Pagal Hai was released 27 years ago, but people say that the songs are fresh even today. It feels like yesterday. In a career spanning 60 years, I have never called anyone for work…”

 

However, Anil Sharma, the director of Gadar 2 has maintained that he had informed Uttam Singh that Mithoon would be composing music for the sequel. Speaking to ETimes in June, Anil Sharam said, “He understood why I brought in Mithoon. After Gadar too, I made films and worked with other music directors. If you don’t work with the previous music director, it does not necessarily mean anything.

Explaining why he picked Mithoon for Gadar 2, he said, “Uttam Singh is a highly talented musician and it’s not that he wouldn’t have given me great music. It’s just that I needed a change to go with the times. Two of the songs from Gadar are in Gadar 2 untampered, barring improving their sound quality. Four new songs have come in, Arijit [Singh] has lent his voice and they have all come out beautifully.”

Gadar 2, which made its premiere on August 11, has behind Shah Rukh Khan’s “Pathaan” in terms of box office take. The movie made a record-breaking Rs 40 crore on its opening day, and it has since gone on to make Rs 420 crore at the domestic box office. Despite the movie’s underwhelming performance in foreign countries, it has nevertheless made more over Rs 500 crore worldwide. Meanwhile,Gadar 2 ended its second week in cinemas at over ₹ 419 crore.

Ameesha Patel reprises her role as Sakina in the movie alongside Sunny Deol, and Utkarsh Sharma and Manish Wadhwa also play important roles.