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Indian Express
43 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Meet singer and former MP Muhammad Sadiq, whose song from the '80s is powering Ranveer Singh's Dhurandhar
When Punjabi folk singer Muhammad Sadiq recorded his song 'Na de dil pardesi nu' (Don't give your heart to a stranger) aka Jogi in the turbulent '80s of Punjab marked by significant insurgency, it was under a modest contract with HMV and sung with his singing partner Ranjit Kaur. Penned by popular Punjabi songwriter Babu Singh Mann and arranged by Charanjit Ahuja, the song quickly found a place in the village akhadas (live performances), at weddings and had trucks and tractors blaring it on their crackling cassette stereos – a litmus test for the popularity of any song. Algorithm-based music searches and Spotify chart toppers were yet to arrive. The song was revived and given a new lease of life in the 2000s by music producer Panjabi MC, who took the raw appeal of the song and its high-pitched and bright Punjabi tumbi riff and turned it into a club favourite in the British Asian underground space. The desis bonded over its beats and brassy tune often during 'daytimers' – afternoon club events, as there were night curfews from parents and a very confined nightlife. Two decades later, the song is back – this time with rapper Hanumankind and singer Jasmine Sandlas layering their voices with Sadiq and Kaur's rustic, unpolished voices in the upcoming Ranveer Singh-starrer action thriller, Dhurandhar. Singh's smouldering intensity and the numerous action sequences in the recently released first look have been paired with this age-old Punjabi ditty in a new avatar. The film will release in December. Sadiq, 78, is chuffed that the song is back in the spotlight. 'I lived and grew up in a village and my background is basic and traditional. Whatever I sung and whenever I made these songs, the idea was to appeal to the people from the village. The young in that generation were not so educated. Youngsters were like me and I made a song that they would like. The urban audience was never on my mind. But it was nice when it played in clubs in England. Now this film has done another version of it,' says Ludhiana-based Sadiq, who is also a former Member of Parliament and had won the Indian general election on a Congress ticket from Faridkot in 2019. The song, which Sadiq calls an example of 'Punjabi civility and culture' uses figures like Heer, Sassi and Sohni – tragic heroines popular in Punjabi folk tales – besides traditional Punjabi folk styles. This was one of Sadiq's most significant moments; he has sung it at almost every concert. 'I was in England last year. They are still playing it in the clubs,' he says. Earlier this year, Sadiq was the guest artiste in global popstar Dosanjh's Ludhiana concert, which was a part of his sold-out Dil-Luminati tour, where he was introduced as 'the real OG' of Punjabi music. The two also sung a couple of songs together, including Na de dil pardesi nu. Dosanjh honoured Sadiq with a shawl and tumbi – Sadiq's instrument – in a glass case, besides going on his knees and bowing to him on stage. 'That boy (Dosanjh) has shown the way to the younger generation and manifested what it is to respect senior artistes. It is because of him that the younger generation knows me and my music. He's achieved so much and yet he is still so down to earth. I wish Waheguru gives him more success,' says Sadiq. Born in Kup Kalan, a sleepy little village in Punjab's Malerkotla, Sadiq grew up in a Punjabi Muslim family from the Mirasi community, traditionally travelling musicians and keepers of the folklore in the subcontinent, who came from Rampur near Ludhiana. In the village noted for its literary tradition and writers like Surjit Rampuri, Gurcharan Rampuri, Joginder Singh and Surinder Rampuri, is where Sadiq's father, a military man, became a raagi in the Manji Sahab gurdwara – a significant religious site for the Sikhs – in the nearby Alamgir. So the first strains that Sadiq heard and imbibed were that of the gurbani (hymns from Guru Granth Sahib). 'Also, on my way to school, I often heard Mohammed Rafi being played in some shops and his voice mesmerised me,' says Sadiq, who would often perform at Bal Sabhas. He was 10 when he performed at an event where the PEPSU (Patiala and East Punjab States Union – a State that united eight princely states) Chief Minister Brish Bhan was the chief guest and gave him Rs 100 as a reward for singing Rafi's Jagwala mela yaaron from the 1949 album Lachhi (1949). 'My mother didn't sleep,' says Sadiq, with a laugh. He soon began learning Hindustani classical music from Ustad Baqir Hussain of the Patiala gharana. 'After learning for a few years, I realised that classical music was a niche form and heard by fewer people,' says Sadiq, who was also the eldest of six children and needed to work. He was about 16-17 when he joined the neighbouring natak mandali and would do small roles in Ramlila and other Punjabi plays. He would often croon the singing portions. In the '80s, when duets were the trend, he began singing with many musicians. His recording of Laung Gawacha with Surinder Kaur remains famous, even though it has been sung and remixed by a number of artistes. Others include Kurti malmal di and Sun ke lalkaara among others. He finally began singing with Kaur and toured with her for years. Even though '80s Punjab was riddled with violence and turbulence Sadiq and Kaur continued so that they could make a living. This is also the time when Amar Singh Chamkila was singing. 'The mahaul (atmosphere) was not conducive when we were singing. While I wasn't threatened the way he was, I was asked not to sing on the platforms which were given by the Congress party. There was also the 11 people at a wedding rule for a while. After Chamkila's death, the work just stopped. Families organising weddings stopped calling the artistes. But slowly things began improving,' says Sadiq, who says that he hasn't received any royalty for the song since HMV changed hands in 1986. While Punjabi folk has found a new lease of life in Hindi cinema, questions of credit and royalty remain unanswered. Dhurandhar producers also did not credit Sadiq or any of the members involved with the song before it was pointed out by Charanjit Singh's son on social media, where he tagged actor Ranveer Singh. There has been no payment, of course, since the songs were owned by labels earlier and artistes were not very well aware of their rights. 'Almost every other Hindi film either has a Punjabi tune or a glimpse of one. But the folk artistes are often left on the margins. I hope there is awareness and better credit,' says Sadiq.
New Indian Express
3 days ago
- Automotive
- New Indian Express
Odisha's first government chauffeur Sandhya drives a big change
BHUBANESWAR: In the corridors of Lok Seva Bhawan where policies are shaped and futures envisioned, a change is taking shape not in a boardroom, but behind the wheels. Mayurbhanj's Sandhya Rani Majhi has become the first woman driver to be appointed as an official government chauffeur in the state recently. Her inclusion into the male-dominated profession at the age of 44 has become a symbol of inclusion and proof that when women, especially those in traditionally invisible roles, are given opportunity and respect, they rise with resilience and pride. Majhi always wanted to take up a career in defence or navy. But after some failed attempts, she decided to pursue her passion for driving and make a career in it. However, in the absence of any scope, she started doing other parttime jobs. 'I got married in 2005. My husband Ram Ray Majhi, who is also a driver, always stood behind me as a pillar of support. He even bought a second-hand Nano car to help me learn driving,' she said. After working as a rental driver for over a decade, Majhi joined the HMV training centre at Chhatia in Jajpur in 2023 and even got an opportunity to join as a driver in Japan. But family obligations forced her to stay back. 'This was when I got an opportunity from H&UD and Transport secretary Usha Padhee to opt for the profession, and joined without giving a second thought. However, I wasn't aware that doing so, I would become the first official chauffeur in a government vehicle. It makes me happy. The job has not only helped me follow my passion but has also made me financially independent,' she said.
Scotsman
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Modern music marketing is a very strange business
Oasis, Oasis Gold: The Complete Studio Album Collection available on vinyl and CD At five past seven on Tuesday morning I got an email offering me Oasis, The Complete Studio Album Collection available on vinyl and CD. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The announcement read 'Released to celebrate the start of the epic Oasis Live '25 tour - Limited-Edition Oasis: Complete Studio Album Collection. Includes Definitely Maybe, (What's The Story) Morning Glory?, Be Here Now, Standing On The Shoulder Of Giants, Heathen Chemistry, Don't Believe The Truth, Dig Out Your Soul, and the iconic B-sides album The Masterplan.' There was a warning, though, that stock was very limited and no shop could order more than three units across the formats. Supply would also be on a first come first served basis. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad It won't be a surprise that I'm not checking my emails at that hour of the morning but I did check my emails later to see if there was anything that might affect the rest of my day. The vinyl in particular was expensive and clearly would only be bought by collectors rather than somebody just discovering Oasis and wanting to buy everything in one go. By eight minutes past eight I had replied, requesting two vinyl box sets and one CD box set but immediately got a reply saying the vinyl was sold out. Now it was obvious there would be plenty of this stock somewhere, as there is no way such a small amount of vinyl would be pressed up and sure enough it transpired that not only do Amazon have the very same vinyl box set on sale but they in fact have an exclusive gold vinyl version with both versions still being available to order. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad HMV did have the black vinyl version listed but when I checked that morning it was already showing as sold out. To be honest it is not the end of the world but this sort of thing is happening on a weekly basis with releases I care far more about. When there was a shortage of vinyl pressing plants there were times when stock was limited but now there is no reason for there not being enough stock for the artists, labels and shops. At the same time stock is being allocated not based on previous support for the artist or on the size of the shop, but simply on the basis that each retailer can have a handful. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Originally the plan behind these releases was to get people into high street shops but now they are also given to small indie online sellers, while even many shops sell what little they have online, long before the record is released. At Avalanche, where we only sell very limited releases in the shop the chances are the person waiting at our door on the morning of a release is a flipper who will immediately put what they bought online. The best system we have is when regular customers ask about a limited release we take their name and keep a copy for them, at least ensuring the stock we have goes to a genuine customer. Even now I have no idea what the thinking is behind all this as the numbers are normally too low to register on any charts and all it generates is disgruntled shops and disappointed fans.
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Martin Lewis says 'it's literally my job' as fans support him over 'weird' criticism
Martin Lewis has hit back at one social media commentator who took umbrage over his recent flurry of retail rights updates. The 52-year old has been warning that at least 30 big retailers are misleading shoppers over their statutory return rights. Some of these retailers include HMV, Home Bargains and The Range, all of which state that online orders must be returned within 14 days of receipt. However, customers have up to 28 days after receipt to return an item, by law. Under the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013, consumers always have 14 days from the day after receiving an item to notify the retailer of a return. Then they have another 14 days after that to send the item back for a refund (so a maximum of 28 days in total). READ MORE: State pensioners born before 1959 to get one-off payments after rule change READ MORE: UK households offered up to £300 in cost of living payments through July in DWP scheme Martin explained: "These rules aren't new. It is over a decade since they came into effect. And this isn't simply a store assistant not being briefed and misquoting rules in person. These rules are set in stone on their websites. "I suspect stores are just trying to publish their own internal returns policies, but those are always trumped by the law, and they have a duty to inform people of their accurate legal return rights. "It's beyond comprehension that some of the nation's big retailers and their lawyers or compliance officers haven't spotted that they're giving out crap information, especially as in some cases they're still doing it years after we first notified them. "The big problem with this is that it risks being a deterrent to people legitimately returning online orders, as if they check a shop's misleading websites, they'll wrongly think they're timed out and may not bother. However, on X, one user replied to one of his posts on the topic, saying: "The UK has more pressing problems than b****y returns." The finance guru wasted no time in responding to the tweet, writing: "Eh? Really this is what you criticise me for - trying to get retailers to live up to their legal rights. It is literally my job. "Are you going to criticise someone who works in a garage for 'Fixing bloody cars, the UK has more pressing problems than that car not working.' "Never mind the fact you could literally say that about almost everything in life. It doesn't stop small things mattering though, and actually fixing small things that p*** people off are one of the few things we can change" His fans were quick to show support, with one writing: "I can guarantee the vast majority of people in the UK are extremely grateful for all you do. Ignore these weirdos." Another added: "More of us than them appreciate you. Keep fighting the good fight for us with our continued thanks."
Scotsman
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Rod Stewart, Lorde and more Glastonbury artists get a 'bump' in album sales
Who benefitted from performing at Worthy Farm this year when it comes to sales figures? Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Many musicians who performed at Glastonbury 2025 are experiencing the 'Glastonbury Bump' to sales. Acts such as Rod Stewart and Beth Gibbons have seen their sales increase by over 100%, with many more experiencing 'the bump'. HMV has exclusively revealed some of those artists who have benefitted from performing at Worthy Farm this year, including one artist who sold out of stock at the Oxford Street store. Are you familiar with the Glastonbury Bump? Sometimes known as the 'Somerset Sales Spike', it is exactly as it sounds. Akin to managers who take over a football club , it's a period of renewed success for artists after stunning performances at Worthy Farm each year, eliciting more album sales by gracing the stages in Pilton. That bump continues in 2025, with HMV providing exclusive data this afternoon showing just who benefitted the most from performing at this year's event, with Phil Halliday, Managing Director at hmv and Fopp , stating that 'Glastonbury continues to prove year-on-year to be one of best showcases for artists new and old, as we see a sales boost across the board for the performers who take to the stage.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Data provided by HMV has shown who benefited from their appearances at Glastonbury 2025 in terms of renewed interest and - of course - album sales. | Getty Images/Canva After his 'legends set' performance at this year's show, Sir Rod Stewart's back catalogue saw a sales increase of 160% a mere 24 hours after his performance, which featured Rolling Stones legend Ronnie Wood . Alanis Morissette , another hallowed name from the annuls of music history, also saw sales of her celebrated album Jagged Little Pill increase by 95%, while Beth Gibbons , lead singer of electronic 90s band Portishead, saw sales of her solo material increase a glorious 600% following a stunning performance on the Park Stage. Who else benefitted from The Glastonbury Bump? Surprise act Lewis Capaldi and headliner Olivia Rodrigo continue their ascent to superstardom, both seeing significant album sales boosts after their impressive Glastonbury sets. Capaldi's main stage appearance led to a massive 159% increase in his album sales, while Rodrigo's festival-closing performance resulted in a sweet 35% uplift. Elsewhere, RAYE , the record-breaking Brit Awards winner, dazzled on the Pyramid Stage, with her classy performance driving a 225% rise in her album sales. Lorde surprised Glastonbury crowds with a performance of her newest album, Virgin, released that same day. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad This led to HMV's flagship Oxford Street store temporarily selling out of Lorde's entire discography. A host of talented up-and-coming artists also captivated new fans. Following her recent Best Rap Album win at the Grammys, Doechii's energetic and theatrical 45-minute set saw her catalogue sales jump by 152%. CMAT , fresh from opening Sam Fender's arena tour, impressed with her engaging performance, leading to a 163% uplift. Finally, English musician Self Esteem saw her catalogue sales rise by 85%. Did any acts you caught at Glastonbury Festival 2025 pique your interest and lead you to check out more of their work? Share your Glastonbury 2025 revelations and recommendations by leaving a comment down below.
