Case against 'Slumdog...' makers

Patna, March 16 (IANS) When Jamaal, the hero of Oscar-winning "Slumdog Millionaire", is asked who wrote the song "Darshan Do Ghanshyam Nath Mori" - he says Surdas and wins money for giving the right answer. Wrong, says the daughter of Hindi poet Gopal Singh Nepali who claims her father wrote the song and has filed a case against the makers of the film as well as Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi.

Savita Singh Nepali, who runs Gopal Singh Nepali Foundation here, Monday filed a case against the director and producer of "Slumdog Millionaire", author Vikas Swarup as well as chairman of the Oscar Awards committee and chairman of the Golden Globe awards committee.

The case was filed in the Chief Judicial Magistrate court in Patna.

She has alleged that the director and producer of the film deliberately misplaced the fact and suppressed the name of Gopal Singh Nepali with reference to the song used in the film. The poet, who died in 1963, had penned many lyrics for Hindi films during his two decade long association with the film industry.

Savita Singh has alleged that Gopal Singh Nepali was not given credit in the film.

"Darshan Do Ghanshyam Nath Mori Ankhiya Pyasi", that features in the movie, is from 1957 film "Narsi Bhagat".

Jamaal is given four options - Surdas, Tulsidas, Meerabai and Kabir - to answer the question during the show Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? He says Surdas, a 15th century blind poet, and is shown winning Rs.250,000 in the film.

Savita Singh termed it as "distortion of facts" and "sahitya ki chori" (theft of literature). "The boy gave a wrong answer to become a millionaire. The song was penned by Gopal Singh Nepali, this fact has been suppressed in the film," Singh told IANS.

She also said the "whole world, including India, has given its stamp of approval to the movie".

Asked why she had filed a case against Rahul Gandhi, she said the Congress party's election song "Jai ho" from the film was spreading the wrong message by emphasising on the title of the film "Slumdog...", which she said makes fun of people who live in slums.

"Rahul Gandhi was made a party in the case because he is a powerful general secretary of the Congress party, which has bought the copyright of the Oscar winning song 'Jai Ho' to use in its election campaign," her lawyer Shruti Singh told IANS.

"The wrong done by 'Slumdog Millionaire' is being propagated by the future prime minister," she said.

Others named in the case include British director Danny Boyle, the producer of the film and Vikas Swarup, author of the novel "Q and A" on which "Slumdog Millionaire" is based.

Shruti Singh said that the case was filed against them under sections 500, 504, 420, 384 and 120 (B) of the Indian Penal Code. The case was also filed under the Cinematography Act and Copyright Act.

Gopal Singh Nepali lived in Bettiah.

Savita Singh said she plans to approach the state high court soon.

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