Sona Mohapatra, Ram Sampath’s version of Odisha folk song ‘Rangabati’ in legal trouble

The remix version of Odisha's popular Sambalpuri folk song, mixed by music composer Ram Sampath and sung by Sona Mohapatra, has run into legal trouble.

By: Express Web Desk

New Delhi | Updated: June 21, 2017 04:12 PM IST

4 min read

Sona Mohapatra, singer Sona Mohapatra, odiya song, Sona Mohapatra controversy, entertainment news

The remix version of Odisha’s popular Sambalpuri folk song, mixed by music composer Ram Sampath, has run into legal trouble. The original lyricist Mitrabhanu Gauntia and composer Prabhudatta Pradhan of the all-time hit and cult song have filed a defamation suit for Rs 1 cr against those involved in remaking the song.

Those named in the suit include Hindustan Coca Cola Beverages Pvt Ltd, Hindustan Coca Cola Holdings Pvt Ltd, Viacom 18 Media Pvt Ltd, singer Sona Mohapatra, musician Ram Sampath and co-singer Rituraj Mohanty.

According to OdishaSunTimes.com, “In his legal notice, Supreme Court lawyer Sagar Kumar Pradhan, representing legal firm P Sagar and Co, has said that the copyright of the song lies with Prabhudatta Pradhan and Mitrabhanu Gauntia and no permission had been sought from them for reproduction of the song.”

The remake of the song is in violation of the Copyright Act, the notice said. In view of this, the telecast of the song should be stopped immediately and the defendants must settle the defamation suit amounting to Rs 1 crore within 15 days, it added.

If they fail to comply with the notice, the complainants will take legal recourse against those made party to the case, the petitioner added in the notice.

“It has hurt the feelings of not just me and others involved with the song, but the people of the entire area. No one has the right to fiddle with folk traditions and culture,” said Jitendra Haripal, who shot into national and even international fame for his rendition of the song.

In the remake, ‘Rangabati’ is mixed with ‘Bande Utkal Janani’, an Odia patriotic song, sung by India’s Raw Star fame Rituraj Mohanty. While Sona and chorus take care of the Sambalpuri part of the song, the duo Tony Sebastian and Rajesh Radhakrishnan sing the Tamil rap.

Watch the song here:

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