Pippa makers issue apology after AR Rahman’s version of Karar Oi Louho Kopat draws flak

The statement read, “In light of the current discourse surrounding the song ‘Kara,. Oi Louho Kayo!’ the producers, director and music composer of the film Pippa wish to clarify that our rendition of the song is a sincere artistic interpretation, embarked upon only after securing the necessary adaptation rights from the estate of the Late Mr. Kazi Nazrul Islam. We have deep respect for the original composition and for the Late Mr. Kazi Nazrul Islam, whose contribution to the musical, political and social landscape of the Indian subcontinent is immeasurable. This album was created as a tribute to the men and women who dedicated their lives to the liberation of Bangladesh and keeping in mind the sentiments of their struggle for freedom, peace and justice.”

It further read, “We approached the slaking of this song by faithfully following boils the letter and the spirit of the license agreement for the lyrics, as duly signed with Late Mrs. Kalyani Kazi and witnessed by Mr. Anirban Kazi. Our intent was to pay homage to the cultural significance of the song while adhering to the terms set forth in our agreement, which permitted us to use the lyrics with a new composition. We understand the emotional attachment that audiences may have to the original composition, and while all art is inherently subjective, if our interpretation has hurt sentiments or caused unintended distress, we offer our sincere apologies.”

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Shubhra Gupta of The Indian Express wrote in the film’s review, “A good war film takes you up close to the sights and smells of battle, to the point where you flinch when bullets hit bodies, and want the bloodshed to end just as much as the characters on screen do. Here, Ram’s being captured and tortured by a fellow (Inaamulhaq) meant to exude menace, is more caricature than anything else, despite Painyuli being the sort of actor you want to watch more of. Mrunal Thakur, as the sister who works on cracking codes in a top-secret organisation, comes off generic, and Soni Razdan is wasted.

Pippa has been due for release for a long time and finally hit the screens on November 10. The movie is directed by Raja Krishna Menon and is a war biographical film based on ‘The Burning Chaffees’, written by the real-life Brigadier Balram Singh Mehta.