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Plagiarism is a way of life for Rakesh Roshan and Rajesh Roshan

by Vikram Chandiramani | Fri, 11/04/2008 - 15:32 | in
Rakesh Roshan has lost a lawsuit to Ram Sampat, a music director who's music was lifted by Rakesh Roshan and Rajesh Roshan for 'Krazzy 4'. Rakesh Roshan has had to pay Rs.2 crores as damages to Sampat. This has come as no surprise to those in the know who have watched the Roshan brothers plagiarise films, songs and music from well known 'sources' all over the world for over two decades.

Rakesh Roshan's own films have often been rip-offs. His latest 'Krazzy 4' is heavily inspired from Michael Keaton starrer 'Dream Team' . 'Khudgarz' was loosely based on Jeffrey Archer's classic book 'Kane and Abel', also made into a film. 'Kishen Kanhaiya' was a remake of Ramesh Sippy's blockbuster 'Seeta aur Geeta'.

'Khoon Bhari Maang' was a copy of 'Return to Eden'. The theme song of 'Khoon Bhari Maang' - 'Main Teri Hoon Jaanam' was a blatant copy of the theme tune to the film, 'Chariots of Fire'. 'King Uncle' was a lousy copy of 'Annie'.

'Karan Arjun' was inspired from 'Madhumati', 'Karz' and several other Bollywood reincarnation sagas. 'Karobaar' was lifted from 'Indecent Proposal' while 'Koi Mil Gaya' was an indianized version of 'E T'.

Rakesh Roshan has never been known for being an original. Nor for creativity. In fact, it could easily be said that Roshan senior wouldn't know talent if it hit him on the head. The filmmaker made 'King Uncle' where he sidelined the powerhouse of talent, Shah Rukh Khan while giving prominence to a non-actor like Jackie Shroff, already on the way down even at that time. Rakesh Roshan couldn't recognise the talent in his own son, superstar Hrithik Roshan for many years. Hrithik Roshan has gone on record to say that during his teen years he would request the cinematographer of his father's film to can a few of his own shots without the knowledge of his father. It was many years before a hesitant Hrithik mustered up the courage to show some of this footage to his father and a few more years before 'Kaho Na Pyar Hai' was made.

Arguably, Rakesh Roshan's films have improved after Hrithik Roshan made his debut. 'Kaho Na Pyaar Hai' is his best film to date. Some attribute the toilet humor of Johnny Lever in this film to Roshan senior. Hrithik Roshan who once assisted his father on his films is believed to be the brain behind the films starring him and officially directed by his father.

The musician brother of Rakesh Roshan, who claimed that he had composed the music for 'Krazzy 4' till they lost the lawsuit, is no better. Rajesh Roshan is known for copying tunes and passing them off as his own. His 'Badan Judaa Hote' music from Rakesh Roshan's 'Koyla'is from 'Conquest Of Paradise' by Vangelis. The song 'En panchiyon' and the Instrumental theme for 'Koi Mil Gaya' (2003) was lifted from Kraftwerk's 'Trans-Europe Express'.

The song 'Pahli baar dil' from the film 'Bhagwan Dada', produced by Rakesh Roshan was a straight lift of the song 'Self Control'. Rajesh Roshan was credited as the film's music director!

Music for one of the most successful songs credited to Rajesh Roshan, 'Jab koi baat bigad jaaye' from 'Jurm' was copied from the song 'Here the whistle blow...a hundred miles' by Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs. 

A list of songs from films produced and/or directed by Rakesh Roshan which had plagiarised music is below. All these films credited Rajesh Roshan for the music. This list is not exhaustive. There are many other songs we've not listed.

'Dil na diya' from 'Krrish' (2006) was inspired from the Turkish Military march track 'Ceddin deden'.

'Idhar chala' from 'Koi Mil Gaya' (2003) was copied from a traditional/ folk South American tune called 'Suenos' .

'Mujhko chaand chaahiye' and 'Ek baat maan lo tum' from 'Khel' (1992) had music adapted from a song in the movie Blues Brothers. The song is 'Minnie the moocher' by Cab Calloway. 'Jai Maa Kali' from 'Karan Arjun' was ripped off from 'Its alright' by East 17. 'Chaand sitaare' from 'Kaho naa pyaar hai' had humming copied exactly from 'Voices' by Vangelis.

'Soot boot mein aaya Kanhaiya' from 'Kishen Kanhaiya (1990)' was inspired by the 50s New Orleans' song 'Iko Iko'.  'Yeh paisa bolta hai' from 'Kala Bazaar' (1989)] was lifted from Sabri Brothers' qawali, 'Paisa bolta hai'. Music for 'Saanson ki maala' from 'Koyla' (2001) was lifted from Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's track of the same name. Even the song was plagiarised.

'Aap ke deewane' the title track from 'Aap ke deewane' (1980) was copied from Steve Miller Band's 'Swingtown' (1978) 'Na Hai Zameen' from 'Khel' (1992) was ripped off from 'Sending all my love', by the band 'Linear' in 1990.

'Taare aasmaan ke' from 'King Uncle' (1993)'  was inspired from from the Kenyan track, 'Jambo bwana', by Them Mushrooms (1982).


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