Abrarul Haq says he is still taking legal action against Karan Johar, T-Series over 'Nach Punjaban'

Giving someone a line of credit in a YouTube video isn't enough to make up for taking their work. Abrarul Haq definitely feels this way, especially if it involves his song. The singer posted a video targeting Indian filmmaker Karan Johar and T-Series for "crediting" him after much controversy over film Jugjugg Jeeyo's official trailer that features Haq's song 'Nach Punjaban'.

On Saturday, the singer took to Twitter and shared a video clip of himself saying that he is adamant about taking legal action against the filmmaker for using his song. On May 28, Johar shared the first official song titled 'The Punjaabban Song' where the JugJugg Jeeyo cast, Varun Dhawan, Anil Kapoor, Kiara Advani and Neetu Singh, can be seen dancing to the popular chorus and hook of Haq's song from his 2002 album Nach Punjaban.

The video contained credits to the singers and lyricist behind the song and included Haq's name after Tanishk Bagchi. But that's not enough for Haq.

"A lot of fans have been asking me 'why haven't you gone to the court against Karan Johar and T-Series for stealing your song 'Nach Punjaban'. The answer is yes I'm going to the court don't worry. Merely saying that the credit has been given because the song is well written and would make their movie a hit. I never gave you the song, I never gave anybody the rights to my song. It belongs to me so I'll get it back and I'm coming to the court, see you there," he said in the video.

In his tweet he also tagged the record label T-Series and Moviebox who have not yet responded on Twitter. Both previously claimed the rights to Haq's song and issued statements in response to Haq's plagiarism claim.

On May 22, the 'Billo' singer had tweeted, "I have not sold my song 'Nach Punjaban' to any Indian movie and reserve the rights to go to court to claim damages. Producers like Karan Johar should not use copy songs. This is my 6th song being copied which will not be allowed at all."

In response to his claims record label Movie Box said on Twitter that the song had been officially licensed to be included in the film and that Johar and his production company have the legal rights to use the song in the upcoming movie. They also called the 53-year-old singer's tweet "defamatory" and "completely unacceptable".

Later Haq clarified in an additional tweet that his song hasn't been "licensed" to anyone either and if anyone tries to claim it, they must produce an agreement to back up their claims. In the tweet, Haq repeated his threat of taking legal action against the Johar and the production label.

'The Punjaabban Song' uses same tune and guitar hook of the 2002 original 'Nach Punjaban' as well as its chorus. However, some of the lyrics are different than Haq's song.

JugJugg Jeeyo is directed by Raj Mehta and is a joint production between Johar's Dharma Productions and Viacom18 Studios. Starring the crème de la crème of the Bollywood industry, the film is set to release in Indian cinemas on June 24 this year.