Mumbai, April 6 Filmmaker Priyadarshan dismissed rumors on Monday that he borrowed lines from a song in "Bhooth Bangla" from a song in Satyajit Ray's 1969 film "Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne".
The main line of the film's "Ram Ji Bhala Karein" song features an expression similar to "Bhuter Raja Dilo Bor", a song in Ray's film.
Priyadarshan pointed out that repetition is not uncommon in the industry.
"I have huge respect for him because he's one of the masters from whom I learned cinema. The word you are telling is 'bhoot' -- 'yahan bhoot wahan bhoot'. There are hundreds of movies that have used the word ‘deewana’ in Indian cinema. Does that mean the first person who used the word ‘deewana’ has the right to use? So, it's only a word.. The tune has nothing to do with that song. It has nothing to do," he said.
Known for cult films such as “Hera Pheri”, “Bhool Bhulaiya”, “Hungama”, Priyadarshan said he considers Satyajit Ray as the god of Indian cinema.
“The lyricist has written those (words) and that is why we were so confident. There's nothing wrong in it because our film is 'Bhooth Bangla'. You should also understand there is a film called 'Bhoot Bangla' before, which is with Mehmood and R D Burman. So naturally that title is repeated now. These things get repeated. Of course, as I've already told you, I respect Satyajit Ray like God of Indian cinema,” he added.
The horror comedy also features Tabu, Wamiqa Gabbi, Paresh Rawal, Rajpal Yadav, Mithila Palkar and Rajesh Sharma.
Presented by Balaji Motion Pictures, a division of Balaji Telefilms Ltd, in association with Cape of Good Films, the film is produced by Akshay Kumar, Shobha Kapoor and Ektaa R Kapoor.
"Bhooth Bangla" is slated to release in theaters on April 17. The paid previews begin in theaters 9 pm onwards on April 16.