[VIDEO] Rapper accuses IPL of plagiarizing his song for use as anthem for 2020 edition

[MenInG]

IPL has been accused of plagiarism by a rapper named KR$NA after releasing the anthem for this year's edition. The thirteenth edition of the tournament is set to get underway on September 19 and will run till November 10. The entire competition is being played in UAE because of the alarming coronavirus situation in India.

The BCCI has overcome several hurdles to conduct this year's Indian Premier League. The tournament was originally scheduled to be held from March to May. However, the BCCI had to suspend the tournament indefinitely in the light of the coronavirus pandemic. But last month, the board finally finalised the venue and dates for the tournament.
And on Sunday, it also released the schedule for the tournament. Hours after the schedule was released, IPL's official Twitter handle posted the clip of this year's anthem, titled: 'Aayenge Hum Wapas.'

The anthem has been composed by Pranav Ajayrao Malpe. The song is inspired by the tough situations prevailing in the world right now and how everyone has worked together to make sure that Indian Premier League takes place this year amid the pandemic.

Here is the tweet posted by IPL:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The greater the setback &#55357;&#56887;<br><br>The stronger the comeback &#55357;&#56490;<br><br>We can sum it up in 3 words:<br>&#55356;&#56624;&#55356;&#56624;&#55356;&#56648;&#55356;&#56628;&#55356;&#56637;&#55356;&#56630;&#55356;&#56628; &#55356;&#56631;&#55356;&#56644;&#55356;&#56636; &#55356;&#56646;&#55356;&#56624;&#55356;&#56639;&#55356;&#56624;&#55356;&#56642; &#55356;&#57270;<br><br>Watch <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Dream11IPL?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Dream11IPL</a> starting Sept 19 on <a href="https://twitter.com/DisneyPlusHS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DisneyPlusHS</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/StarSportsIndia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@StarSportsIndia</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Hotstarusa?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Hotstarusa</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Dream11IPL?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Dream11IPL</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AayengeHumWapas?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AayengeHumWapas</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/StrongerTogether?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#StrongerTogether</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Anthem?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Anthem</a> <a href="https://t.co/e2Iro79Kv6">pic.twitter.com/e2Iro79Kv6</a></p>— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) <a href="https://twitter.com/IPL/status/1302626834878611457?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 6, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

and here is the Rapper's tweet

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Hey guys, <a href="https://twitter.com/IPL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@IPL</a> has plagiarised my song “Dekh Kaun Aaya Waapas” and created “Aayenge Hum Wapas” as this years anthem without credit or consent. I request my fellow artists and friends on twitter to RT this tweet for awareness, they can not get away with this. <a href="https://twitter.com/DisneyPlusHS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DisneyPlusHS</a> <a href="https://t.co/GDNFeyhXR5">https://t.co/GDNFeyhXR5</a></p>— KR$NA (@realkrsna) <a href="https://twitter.com/realkrsna/status/1302954473770291200?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 7, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[sweep_shot]

Wow! Big allegation.

He has to prove it though. Otherwise, he can get sued.

 

[MenInG]

A Delhi-based rapper has alleged that this year's Indian Premier League (IPL) anthem "Aayenge Hum Wapas" has been copied from his track, an allegation that has been dismissed by the composer of the recently released song. Rapper Krishna Kaul aka KRSNA claims the track has been lifted from his song "Dekh Kaun Aaya Waapas" but composer Pranav Ajayrao Malpe said it is his original work and he even has a certificate from Music Composers Association of India (MCAI).

KRSNA told PTI that his team, including the independent hip-hop label Kalamkaar, will take the legal route and approach Disney+Hotstar, which commissioned the song.

"Disney+Hotstar have left no option for us but to seek legal recourse and our label is going to fight this unfair and scandalous plagiarisation," KRSNA said.

Malpe said four MCAI panelists, including musician Leslee Lewis, independently assessed both the songs and did not find any similarity.

"MCAI is an institution of repute and the experts on the panel have a lot of experience. I feel we should respect the experts' views and put this debate to rest," Malpe told PTI.

The composer said the thought behind the track, released on September 6, was to express the struggle everyone was going through during the pandemic "and to give them hope of a comeback."

"Nagpur has a small but budding hip-hop and rap scene which I'm a part of. I'm proud that this track has been liked and that I've been able to put a spotlight on the Nagpur hip-hop scene," he added.

IPL 2020 will be held in the UAE from September 19 to November 10. In its assessment, the MCAI said other than being of the same genre, the two songs have no similarity melodically, harmonically or rhythmically.

"A genre or rap style however is not copyrightable and doesn't constitute plagiarisation. Hence the panel is of the opinion that there exists substantial difference between the compositions of both the tracks," the statement from MCAI read.

KRSNA, however, said MCAI has no legal standing in the matter and has shown a "shocking lack of understanding" of the genre.

"The MCAI statement is a serious attack on musicians and composers everywhere because their claim that a genre like hip hop cannot be differentiated means everyone is free to copy everybody else - hook, line and sinker," he claimed.

https://sports.ndtv.com/ipl-2020/ip...rism-allegations-2293990?pfrom=home-sshowcase

 

[globalcitizen]

Having seen both the videos, there is a similar rhythm to rap song. But it’s going to be very difficult to prove I guess. plagiarism should not be encouraged and punished , but might not hold in this case, whatever the truth

 

[Madplayer]

I can see why he thinks they have plagiarised by extracting from his song but it will be impossible for him to prove it.

However, he will get some publicity through this fiasco. That'll be some consolation for him at least.