Why no opposition when Atif sung for Salman's TZH: Shamir Tandon on Rahat's row

Shamir Tandon, the music composer who has got Pakistan’s Rahat Ali Khan to sing for the new release Welcome To New York defends the use of his choice of singer.

He says, “If as a country, or even as an industry, we take a collective stance against working with artistes from across the border I’m happy to adhere to the same. I will be the first one to refrain.”

Shamir points out that the use of Pakistani voices is again rampant in Bollywood. “How is it that the same Pakistani singer’s Jag Ghoomiya, which was used in Sultan, skips this sentiment? Or for that matter Atif Aslam’s recently released Dil Diyan Gallan in Tiger Zinda Hai? Why were these songs not pulled up for using Pakistani voices?” 

Manoj Muntashir, who wrote the song Ishtehaar in Welcome To New York, says, “When my personal interests conflict with national interests, I will put the nation first. No writer, actor, thinker, singer, philosopher or filmmaker can be compared to a soldier who takes the flying bullets in his chest so that we can stay being a free country. Whether singers from the other side of the border should or should not sing for us is completely a legal and constitutional call. Whatever law of the land decides is my decision.”