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Singer Nirmala Maghani serves Xulfi legal notice over 'Tu Jhoom'

Singer Nirmala Maghani serves Xulfi legal notice over 'Tu Jhoom'

"Xulfi’s work is not borrowed or without credit," says producer's team in response.
25 Jan, 2022

Folk singer Nirmala Maghani's legal counsel has served Coke Studio producer Zulfiqar J Khan — popularly known as Xulfi — a legal notice over the music composition of Coke Studio season 14’s hit 'Tu Jhoom'. Maghani claims the Coke Studio producer lifted the melody for the song from a vocal sample she sent to him before the song's release. Xulfi has denied this claim.

Coke Studio released the first song from season 14 on January 14. The track, 'Tu Jhoom', has been sung by Abida Parveen and Naseebo Lal. According to the credits given in the description of the song on YouTube, the music was arranged and produced by Xulfi and Abdullah Siddiqui. In an Express Tribune article published on January 18, Maghani said Xulfi had lifted the melody of the song from a sample she had sent him in June 2021, adding that she only wants recognition and due credit for her work. Xulfi had responded and denied Maghani's accusations of plagiarism.

In the legal notice sent on January 24, Maghani's lawyer Faraz Faheem Siddiqui states that the singer had approached Xulfi with the hope of being made part of Coke Studio 14 as "she had made many original compositions" which she shared with the producer so that "she can be part of the program and perform her work on Coke Studio".

"[M]y client on 14 June 2021 sent her compositions including the composition of the song 'Tu Mera Ranjha' to you [Xulfi] on your mobile number through WhatsApp Messenger which all were in the form of a voice note. Thereafter no further communication was made by you, however on 14 January 2022 when Coke Studio song 'Tu Jhoom' was released, my client was surprised to learn that 'Tu Jhoom' is made by copying notes and music composition of my client's song 'Tu Mera Ranjha' which was sent to you as voice note on WhatsApp for review," read the notice.

"Your act of copying the notes and composition of my client's song 'Tu Mera Ranjha' for the Coke Studio 14 performed by singer named Naseebo Lal and Abida Parveen without any legal right and permission from my client is a wilful and intentional infringement of right of my client and is a blatant violation of the copyright laws of Pakistan."

The notice asks Xulfi to "immediately cease and desist from using the composition" in 'Tu Jhoom' to avoid legal proceedings. Failure to do so will result in a suit for the recovery of Rs100 million, it added.

In response, Giraffe Pakistan, a production house co-founded by Xulfi that is handling this year's Coke Studio productions, acknowledged receiving the notice and issued a statement on it. "We have received a notice last evening and our legal team will respond to it through the correct channels in due course. As such, we are constrained to limit our responses in deference to the legal process initiated by Ms Maghani," read the statement.

"Xulfi and the team at Giraffe produces and collaborates in the spirit of inclusivity and the work with Coke Studio holds the same philosophy. Xulfi’s work is not borrowed or without credit, given that what he shares with the world is work that relies on the very essence of partnership and collaboration."

Maghani is an up and coming folk singer and music composer from Umerkot, Sindh. The rights to her songs are managed by Digital Entertainment World Pvt Limited.

Comments

haider shaikh Jan 25, 2022 04:14pm
Before you lose your "credit", you should give her "due credit."
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Mahesh Kumar Jan 25, 2022 04:29pm
Xulfi is role model in music industry. And if he loses this case he will still be role model for me keeping in view his contribution towards Pakistani music industry
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Nadim Jan 25, 2022 04:31pm
There is no case of copyright here. She is just trying to get into limelight.
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Irfan Jan 25, 2022 04:32pm
Why they cant sit and resolve issue together rather making news and destroy Pakistan image.
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DJ Ghafoora Jan 25, 2022 04:37pm
Bara singer bana phirta hai jo bacho se larta hai.
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Really Jan 25, 2022 04:45pm
She should get her rights, credit and monetary share. We expect this from Coke and Xulfi should acknowledge and apologize and let things move forward @ Xulfi you are such a talent, you have brought real innovation in season 14, The Tu Jhoom, specially the Kana Yari is the masterpiece under your production. Lets be generous and taste the success together.
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Jawad Jan 25, 2022 04:54pm
Time to cash in on Coke studios popularity. Gold digger
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Shahid Jan 25, 2022 05:10pm
Good luck to Nirmala in fight against these Giants.....
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Batool Jan 25, 2022 06:17pm
@Mahesh Kumar alprnczthough He is a big name but hopfully justice has to be served to the right person Hoping to se the supremacy of justice
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A Jan 25, 2022 06:58pm
That’s her right. Plagiarism must stop.
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Soniye tu auder te la Jan 25, 2022 07:01pm
Shame on Xulfi.
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Rehana Bounse Jan 25, 2022 07:15pm
@Nadim how do you know that
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zarmeena azeem Jan 25, 2022 07:45pm
@Nadim How do you know?
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Rana Talukdar Jan 25, 2022 08:05pm
Nirmala will either lose the case or will be forced to withdraw it. Comment section is live proof what kind of mindsets running this country from its birth.
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nk Jan 25, 2022 08:30pm
Throughout many in this nation survive on cheating. One reason and te biggest ill is that you learn this while in school as we always see our exams upto the professional exam is infested with copying.
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Alal Jan 25, 2022 08:31pm
Men take credit all the time. What a lowlife Zulfiqar is. If he really composed it, then send forensics of the WhatsApp messages sent before Maghani contacted you with blue tick messages that Zulfi claims he never receives. Yeah sure
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Mark Jan 25, 2022 09:00pm
There is clearly an intellectual propterty right issue here!
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KASH Jan 25, 2022 11:42pm
If only notices were served across the border too. Indians have plagiarized the most.
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Haider Jan 26, 2022 02:08am
Has it been established her work was used? Tu Jhoom is next level serenity and an awesome job done
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IMTIAZ FARUQUI Jan 26, 2022 04:22am
She could be right, it is possible. Investigate .
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Jawad Asif Jan 26, 2022 04:43am
More power to you Nirmala! Goodluck!
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Jamshed Hashwani Jan 26, 2022 06:38am
Xulfi is a good and honorable man. He will do the right thing.
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Hanna Jan 26, 2022 03:04pm
@Jawad your fav xulfi is the real gold digger and plagiarist here,now he'll have to face the music in court
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Hanna Jan 26, 2022 03:06pm
@Jamshed Hashwani don't worry court will make this honorable and honest man do the right thing
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Tadka Jan 27, 2022 08:57am
@Nadim song sent through WhatsApp Messenger which all were in the form of a voice note. Digital world has all the proofs dear
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Sane Mind1st Jan 28, 2022 12:44pm
Nirnala will not get anything for sure. No recongization, No monetary compensation, No credit, no nothing. Hint: She is from minority community.
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Aam aadami Jan 29, 2022 11:48am
Xulfi is biased ans cunning. 1. At least try to promote talent who are fron outside Punjab. 2. Stop taking credit of someone else's work.
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