LAHORE: Folk singer Nirmala Maghani’s legal counsel has served Coke Studio producer Zulfiqar J Khan, popularly known as Xulfi, a legal notice worth Rs100 million over a copyright violation relating to Coke Studio 14 song Tu Jhoom.
The notice, addressed to the musical show’s producer Xulfi, stated that Nirmala had sent compositions of Tu Mera Ranjha back in June 2021 in hope of being made part of Coke Studio 14 as “she had made many original compositions”.
The notice further said that thereafter no further communication was made by Xulfi, however, on January 14, 2022, when Coke Studio song Tu Jhoom was released the client was surprised to see the song was “made by copying notes and music composition” of Tu Mera Ranjha.
“Your act of copying the notes and composition of my client’s song ‘Tu Mera Ranjha’ for the Coke Studio 14 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 stated.
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 to the notice, GIRAFFE PAKISTAN, the company which Xulfi co-founded, and is also part of Coke Studio 14, released a statement to The Express Tribune.
“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,” the statement read.
“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,” it added.
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.
