“We have issued a legal notice to the film production company for using our brand (Zandu) in the song. It is a case of copyright infringement,” said Mohan Goenka, director, Emami Limited.
The notice, dated September 17, served by the company’s counsel Ashok M. Saraogi to the film’s producers - Salman’s brother Arbaaz Khan, Arbaaz’s wife Malaika Arora Khan and Shree Ashtavinayak Cinevision Limited - and director Abhinav Kashyap, reads,
“In the song, the name Zandu balm has been used continuously at various places. By using the brand name in the song, you have not only violated the copyright of my clients, but you have also made an attempt to defame the reputation of my clients and the product manufactured by them.”
The notice demands the makers of Dabangg should remove the song from the film, or delete the name of their product from it.
Arbaaz denied receiving a notice from Emami. “I don’t want to comment until I get it. Also, my film was released long ago and the song has been playing for an equally long time. So, I think these people are looking for some sort of publicity,” he said.
Bollywood is surprised at the move of the company and is all out in support of the ‘Dabangg’ team. Said composer Shantanu Moitra, “Technically, the name of a popular brand can’t be used in a song without the company’s permission. But I don’t think the makers of Dabangg had an intention to malign the company’s name. What amazes me is that these things only happen when a song or a film goes on to become a big hit. It’s an era of sensationalism and such things can give great publicity in the short term
.”
