Original singer of the motivational song Itni Shakti Hame Dena Daata, Pushpa Pagdhare is struggling to survive on a daily basis. Her song that went to become a cult, though have garnered millions of views on the digital platform, she is not paid royalty by any music label. This song was featured in the movie Ankush. If one searches on YouTube the top three results have garnered views 27 million, 9.5 million and 2.4 million. Also, its cover version sung by singer Vidhi Sharma has 74 million views.
So even if the singer is paid half a rupee of the revenue generated by the music labels, she can easily earn a sum of Rs 2 crore. As reported in Times Of India, the singer, who resides alone in Machimaar Colony of Mahim is compelled to ask for help from her relatives. She is paid a measly Rs. 3150 but it fails to arrive on time. Speaking about her financial status, she said, “I have a couple of relatives who help me as an when the need arises. I don’t even get proper royalty for my songs.”
She adds, “I am totally dependent on others and they come to my rescue and not the government, which does not pay attention to artistes like us who are living all alone and have no income and support.”
Despite her several requests to the state government since 1989 for a house, they have turned deaf ears to her appeals. She said, “In these decades I have travelled all round the state to raise funds for drought hit villages and other social endeavours and each time I have come back to Mumbai and tried meeting the minister about my file, the only answer I got was, ‘He is on a tour’ or ‘not available’. The government should understand the plight of many singers like me whom they need to look at and give them the respect that they need.” ALSO READ: Nupur Alankar Faces Financial Crunch; Renuka Shahane Posts Plea For Monetary Help: ‘Her Mother Needs Hospitalization’
Pushpa Pagdhare has crooned song penned by politician Raj Thackeray’s father Srikant Thackeray and more, but she has not received any royalty for the longest time. She adds, “I sang the song 'Aga pori sambhal daryala toofan aalay' with Mohammed Rafi, which was hugely popular. I was paid royalty for it till the time the HMV music label was active. The payments stopped after the label ran out of business. The honorarium I get from the cultural department of the state of Rs 3150 is also not paid on time. Atleast the royalties need to come so that I can take care of myself.”
Expressing that she likes to watch singing reality shows, but she is not in touch with the music fraternity. She says, “Today’s singers are paid very well, but in our times we took whatever was paid to us by the producers.” ALSO READ: TV Actor Ashiesh Roy HOSPITALISED, Down With Renal Dysfunction; Faces Severe FINANCIAL CRUNCH- EXCLUSIVE
Pushpa Pagdhare revealed she was paid Rs. 250 for Itni Shakti Hame Dena Daata, it was composed by Kuldeep Singh, she says, “The music composer, Kuldeep Singh, was new and got a break with the film, 'Ankush'. I got paid Rs 250 for it and I’ve been told that the same song is now the ringtone on most ministers’ and politicians’ phones. But not one of them pays heed to the needs of the singer who sang that song.”
On the end note, though she doesn’t want to have a fresh appeal filed in terms of her pending application, she needs financial help and a house to live in. ALSO READ: Sonal Vengurlekar Fans Come Ahead To Support Her During Financial Crunch After Her Make-up Man's Gesture Post Goes Viral
Image Source: YouTube/Parvez Ahmed/Screenshot