So KI (Kris Persad) won the Chutney Soca Monarch competition 2016 with Same Gyul Twice. But how many recognise that the entire melody is the same as the song, Jab Gori Ne, from the 2000 Bollywood movie Bulandi? That’s right, an exact copy. And this is just the latest example.
In 2012, KI won the International Chutney Soca competition with Single Forever. The hook for the melody was lifted from the song, Dekhta Hai Tu Kya, from the 2008 Bollywood movie, Krazzy 4.
In 2014, Ravi B won with, Bread, the entire melody of which was the same as, Chane Ke Khet Mein, from the 1994 movie, Anjaam.
I do not know if the Chutney Soca rules allow it, but it cannot be right for taxpayers’ money to be used to reward such what may be seen as outright plagiarism.
In the academic world, plagiarism is penalised by disgrace and ostracism. On the world stage, you cannot sing someone else’s melody and try to pass if off as your own without being ridiculed. But in T&T, it can get you superstar status and a cool million dollars!
Noel Kalicharan