Priyadarshan Addresses Plagiarism Accusations in ‘Bhooth Bangla’
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Mumbai, April 6 (NationPress) Renowned filmmaker Priyadarshan has addressed the claims regarding the supposed appropriation of a phrase from the song ‘Bhuter Raja Dilo Bor’ in his forthcoming film ‘Bhooth Bangla’.
The track ‘Ram Ji Bhala Karein’ from ‘Bhooth Bangla’ incorporates the catchy hook from the song ‘Bhuter Raja Dilo Bor’, which is part of the critically acclaimed Bengali movie ‘Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne’, directed by the legendary Satyajit Ray.
During the trailer launch event for ‘Bhooth Bangla’ in the city, Priyadarshan responded to the accusations of plagiarism.
He stated, “I have immense respect for Satyajit Ray, as he is one of the greats from whom I learned the art of filmmaking. Secondly, the term in question is ‘Bhoot’. Now, if I were to ask, how many songs in Indian cinema include the word ‘Deewana’? Does that mean only the original user of the word holds the exclusive right to it? It’s merely a word. If someone uses two lines, it doesn’t mean others can’t use them, but the melody is unrelated to the song.”
“The lyricist crafted those lines, which is why we were confident that there was nothing inappropriate about it. Additionally, the context matters because the film is titled ‘Bhooth Bangla’, and there was a prior film named ‘Bhoot Bangla’. Naturally, such titles may recur. These elements are part of the creative process, and there’s no wrongdoing here. I hold Satyajit Ray in the highest regard, akin to a deity of Indian cinema,” he added.
Moreover, ‘Bhooth Bangla’ features a stellar cast including Akshay Kumar, Paresh Rawal, Tabu, Rajpal Yadav, Jisshu Sengupta, Asrani, and Mithila Palkar.
Produced by Balaji Motion Pictures, a branch of Balaji Telefilms Ltd, in collaboration with Cape of Good Films, ‘Bhooth Bangla’ is directed by Priyadarshan and produced by Akshay Kumar, Shobha Kapoor, and Ektaa R Kapoor. The film is set to release in theaters on April 16, 2026.