Pakistan’s most awaited show, Coke Studio started off its 14th season with “Tu Jhoom.” Featuring our industry’s finest, Abida Perveen and Naseebo Lal, Tu Jhoom didn’t take long before making a place for itself in everyone’s playlists. Fans cannot stop singing along with it and we can’t blame them, it is truly a masterpiece. Tu Jhoom is orchestrated by the maestro Xulfi, produced by Abdullah Siddiqui and the soulful lyrics are penned by none other than Adnan Dhool.
Much to the chagrin of fans who couldn’t stop gushing over the song, it has already caught itself in a bit of controversy. Nirmala Maghani, a young singer and composer from Umerkot, claims that the song’s melody was lifted from her original song which she sent to Xulfi in June 2021 but was unable to get a response.
Speaking to The Express Tribune, Nirmala reiterated that her melody was copied. According to her, she is only looking for recognition and nothing else.
I have been calling Xulfi since I heard the song and after a day he finally responded by saying ‘I didn’t even download your audio file,’ which isn’t true because all my messages were received with blue ticks.
Nirmala Maghani told The Express Tribune
Backing up her claims, Yousaf Salauddin, a composer himself and according to The Express Tribune, Nirmala’s mentor, took to social media to hint at a possible court case. He states that Nirmala sent the composition to Xulfi in hopes to get considered for Coke Studio’s 14th season. According to him, “He (Xulfi) changed the words and sold it to coke studio as his own.”
It’s the same composition. Nirmala had sent this to me way before she had sent it to Xulfi and if you listen closely the Asthai (beginning) is exactly the same followed by minor tweaking of sur etc. In my opinion, this is not an original piece of work but I’ll let the court decide.
Yousaf Salauddin told The Express Tribune
Xulfi & Coke Studio Deny Copying Tu Jhoom
Coke Studio’s producer and the mastermind behind Tu Jhoom, Xulfi, has outright refused the claims made by Nirmala. According to an official statement by him, he stated “My work is not borrowed or without credit, given that what I share with the world is work that relies on the very essence of partnership and collaboration. I hope this to be evident in my entire body of work produced in my career.”
Coke Studio is Pakistan’s biggest cultural export and connector of hearts and souls; it has consistently brought people together for art, progression and positivity. And that power is very dear to me and one that I’ve absorbed heavily this season. I don’t take the fabric of Coke Studio lightly but rather wear it as a cloak of responsibility and pride.
Xulfi
“And indeed, I look forward to continue working with our brilliant artists, from all over the country; for they truly are the present and future of Pakistani music!” he added.
After Xulfi, Coke Studio also came forward to deny the accusation. An alleged WhatsApp screen recording sent to Tribune as “evidence”, supposedly shows that the seasoned producer is humming Tu Jhoom’s melody to Abdullah Siddiqui, the associate producer. It is also being claimed that Xulfi started working on the song in May of 2021 while, as claimed by Nirmala, she sent her demo in June.
Twitter Is Divided
As soon as the news broke out, it divided Twitter into two camps; those who are defending the young musician and lamenting the exploitation of our young, underprivileged artists, and others who believe Xulfi has produced an original melody.
Omar R Quraishi, the CEO of News PMC tweeted, “Aspiring Pakistani singer Nirmala Maghani (below) says that the song Tu Jhoom featuring Abida Perveen and Naseebo Lal released by Coke Studio is a copy of a song she had sent to Coke Studio producer Xulfi in June 2021 – the song has not been credited to her by Coke Studio”
Former Coke Studio producer and famed music producer, Rohail Hyatt stated, “A lack of understanding about raag based folk tunes usually ends up in controversy with someone claiming their idea has been copied. Songs in the same raag always sound similar. Even the melodies can be near identical. Lyrics matter.”
Rafay Mehmood, a journalist, and writer for The Express Tribune took to Twitter to state, “On Saturday afternoon I received an audio from a singer in Umerkot. She claimed Xulfi lifted the melody of ‘Tu Jhoom’ from a sample she had sent to him on WhatsApp. The two melodies were quite similar so I decided to speak to professionals and dig deeper”
“Tuesday evening, I received a screen recording from Coke Studio, ‘evidence’ suggesting Xulfi and co had been working on Tu Jhoom before Nirmala sent the composition. CS reps didn’t tell why the video wasn’t shared when allegations were made”
While some question why such a seasoned professional like Xulfi would copy someone else’s melody, that too, for Coke Studio. Why after all these years?
“My 2 cents on the matter. Xulfi has composed SO many songs since a decade or perhaps more. Why will he steal this time? Why does it always happen with PSL/CS since rockstar is kicked out of the picture?”
Decide For Yourself
Below are two recordings, one from Nirmala and the other one is Coke Studio Season 14th’s first song Tu Jhoom. Listen to both of them and tell us what you think.
Nirmala’s Sample
Tu Jhoom
Coke Studio Season 14: Tu Jhoom Steals The Show
Sources used in this article include The Express Tribune.
