Bollywood’s Plagiarism Exposed: Reshma’s Iconic “Ankhiyan Nu Rehn De” Stolen

Pakistani actor Adnan Siddiqui has expressed his anger over Bollywood’s T-Series for remixing the classic song “Akhiyaan Nu Rehn De,” originally sung by Pakistan’s legendary artist Reshma. The new version is part of the soundtrack for the upcoming movie Do Patti and hasn’t gone down well with fans who feel it disrespects the original.

Adnan didn’t hold back on his thoughts and shared his frustration on ‘X’ (formerly Twitter). He wrote, “Imitation can be flattering, but not when it means tearing apart a classic by a legend. Please show some respect for Reshma Jee and the legacy she left behind.” His words showed his deep concern for keeping Reshma’s work as it was meant to be, not turning it into just “another sordid rip-off.”

The criticism didn’t stop there. Social media users also voiced their disappointment, filling the comment section on YouTube with angry reactions. One person bluntly said, “Stop stealing Pakistani songs,” while another added, “Seriously!! They’ve ruined one of the best songs.” Another comment read, “Reshma Jee would have never imagined her song being portrayed this way.” The backlash reflects a strong sentiment towards respecting original Pakistani music.

Reshma, known for her deep and soulful voice, gave us many unforgettable songs like Dama Dam Mast Qalandar and Lambi Judai. “Akhiyaan Nu Rehn de,” written by Sehrai Gurdas Puri, is one of her beloved tracks, even covered by Lata Mangeshkar for Raj Kapoor’s 1973 film Bobby.

The new version, featuring Indian singer Shilpa Rao with Tanishk Bagchi’s composition and lyrics by Kausar Munir, may have added a modern touch, but it seems to have missed the mark for many.