Fact Check: Russian melody at BRICS summit NOT copied from Vishal Bhardwaj's 'Darling'
NewsMeter found that the claim is false as the track "Darling…” is inspired by the Russian Red Army choir, not the other way around.
By Md Mahfooz Alam Published on 23 Oct 2024 1:28 PM GMT
Claim: The Russian folk melody played during the BRICS summit dinner was copied from Vishal Bhardwaj’s composition "Darling Aankhon se Aankhein Chaar Karne Do."
Fact: The claim is false. The melody is the Russian folk song Kalinka. Bhardwaj's "Darling" is inspired by a rendition of Kalinka.
The 2024 BRICS Summit, taking place from October 22-24 in Kazan, Russia, marks the bloc's first gathering since expanding to include five new members: Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the UAE, Iran, and Ethiopia.
In this context, a video shared by the official BRICS news X handle shows world leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, enjoying a concert during the Heads of State dinner at the summit.
An X user shared this video claiming that the Russian melody played during the concert was copied from Indian filmmaker and musical composer Vishal Bhardwaj’s composition "Darling Aankhon se Aankhein Chaar Karne Do," featured in the 2011 Bollywood movie 7 Khoon Maaf, starring Priyanka Chopra Jonas. (Archive)
Fact Check
NewsMeter found that the claim is false as the track "Darling…” is inspired by the Russian Red Army choir, not the other way around.
We conducted a keyword search and found a Hindustan Times report from December 29, 2010, titled “7 Khoon Maaf track inspired from Russian melody?” In the report, a source associated with Bhardwaj confirmed that he drew inspiration for "Darling Aankhon Se Aankhein Chaar Karne Do" from the Russian Red Army Choir's rendition of the folk song Kalinka.
The source explained, "It’s also one of the most notable folk songs of Russia and fits perfectly for the scenes where Priyanka Chopra’s character, Susanna, marries a Russian named Vronsky, played by Aleksandr Dyachenko." Additionally, the report notes that the song is an adaptation, and Bhardwaj brought in four Russian singers to record it, further enhancing the authenticity of the Russian influence.
We also found a report by News18 published on October 23, which states that leaders from BRICS delegations were treated to a gala concert on Tuesday, October 22, as part of the cultural program at the high-level summit in Kazan, Russia.
The report states that the leaders enjoyed a performance of the iconic Russian folk song Kalinka, composed by Ivan Larionov in 1860. It also noted that the tune has become a global cultural symbol, appearing in various media, including video games like Tetris and Payday 2, where it adds a distinctly Russian flavour to the gameplay.
The report further mentioned that "Kalinka" has inspired adaptations across various genres, including the Bollywood song "Darling" from 7 Khoon Maaf.
About 7 Khoon Maaf
7 Khoon Maaf is a 2011 Bollywood film directed by Vishal Bhardwaj, based on Ruskin Bond's short story "Susanna's Seven Husbands." The story revolves around Susanna Anna-Marie Johannes, portrayed by Priyanka Chopra, who marries seven different men, each of whom meets a tragic fate.
The film's music, composed by Bhardwaj with lyrics by Gulzar, received critical acclaim. A highlight of the soundtrack is "Darling Aankhon Se Aankhein Chaar Karne Do," which draws inspiration from the Russian folk song "Kalinka." This fusion of diverse musical styles enriches the film's dark narrative and complex emotional landscape, reflecting the intricacies of Susanna's relationships and the film's overall tone.
