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7 Mindblowing Trains in India

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Ever wished for a king-sized bed instead of that sticky vinyl seat as you travelled to Shimla for your holiday? Or maybe a nice spa to relax in and work off that stress in your muscles? Offering these amenities and many more are these 7 amazing trains that guarantee you the journey of a lifetime!

With scenic tours across picturesque locales, top-of-the range facilities and world-class service, they take grandeur and opulence to a whole new level, redefine what luxury travel is! Here is a look at the 7 mindblowing trains in India.

1. Palace on Wheels

 True to its name, the Palace on Wheels is one of the oldest heritage tourist trains in India. Built with an imperial style and décor for the princes of Gujarat and Rajputana, this luxury train has all the magnificence of the erstwhile Maharajas!

 The 14 coaches are named after the princely states of Rajasthan and have every amenity you desire, from lavish restaurants to exotic meals to a souvenir shop called ‘The Bazaar’.

2. Maharaja’s Express

 Travelling over five different routes like the Heritage of India tour and the Treasures of India tour, the Maharajas Express has won the World Travel Award for three consecutive years!

The half a mile long wonder is ensconced with two beautiful themed restaurants, plush suites, a mini-library, a well-stocked bar and indoor games salon, all of these styled with the taste and elegance befitting a Maharaja!

3. Deccan Odyssey

Touring across some of the most prominent destinations in Maharashtra and Goa, the Deccan Odyssey boasts of rich cultural experiences tailored exclusively for tourists.

Nicknamed as the ‘Blue Limousine’, it comprises of 21 luxurious coaches named after a particular region of Maharashtra and recreates the ambiance of many a bygone era. 

4. The Golden Chariot

Taking one along the road less traveled, the Golden Chariot explores the off-beat destinations of South India in the most luxurious way imaginable.

Recently felicitated as the ‘Most Luxurious Train in Asia’, the Golden Chariot derives its name from the iconic Stone Chariot at Hampi and makes its way through the relaxed beaches, wildlife sanctuaries, palaces and backwaters of South India.

5. Fairy Queen

The oldest working steam locomotive in India, this quaint little train plying from Alwar to New Delhi was built in 1855 and takes just 38 passengers per journey!

This two day trip takes starts from Delhi, through the Sariska Tiger Reserve to Alwar and back, savoring Rajasthani culture all the way!

6. Royal Rajasthan on Wheels

 Royalty with a contemporary touch is what the Royal Rajasthan on Wheels is all about. Journeying through the sands of time, the train explores the majestic architecture of Udaipur, the wild beauty of Ranthambhore and the spiritualism at Varanasi.

7. Royal Orient Train

One of the most exotic trains of India, the Royal Orient Train meanders through the dunes of Rajasthan and Gujarat, from Udaipur to Chittorgarh to Ahmedabad, on an unforgettable journey, back to the times of the Rajas and Maharajas.

[The Alpha Bet]

7 Absurd Laws You Never Knew You Were Breaking

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Excepting the occasional traffic signal we flout or driving over the speed limit, which we routinely do, most of us are conscientious, law-abiding citizens. Or are we? Here is a list of some absurd laws, quite a few of which were drafted over a century ago, that are still in effect and which we have unknowingly broken on an almost regular basis!

1. Alcoholic Anecdotes

As a general rule we take 21 years as the age limit for drinking alcohol and alcoholic beverages but as a matter of fact, it differs from state to state in India. While the age limit is just 18 years in Goa or Sikkim, it is a whole 25 years in states like Chandigarh, Delhi and Maharashtra. In states like Gujarat, Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland, alcohol has been banned altogether!

2. In for a Rupee

The Indian Treasure Trove Act of 1878 states that no amount, be it as small as Rs. 10 or as great as a hoard of lost treasure, may be pocketed by the finder. On the contrary, if you don’t report it you could easily end up facing jail time. So the next time you see that Rs. 50 note lying on the road, remember it is NOT your lucky day!

3. Annoyers be Gone

The next time you think of pulling a practical joke on your friend in the middle of the road, think twice. There exists a law in our Constitution that says you could be fined or jailed or both for being an ‘annoyance’ to the public. The same applies for obscene acts though nobody is perfectly clear on what exactly this constitutes!

4. Treasonous Trysts

According to the Prevention of Seditious Meetings Act, 1911, it is illegal for more than 10 couples to dance simultaneously on the dance floor! Now we can see why this could have been passed a century ago as all sorts of sensitive information regarding the Freedom Movement was probably being exchanged during these informal gatherings but it would be the death knell for all the party people in today’s world!

5. Post It!

Did you know that all private courier companies are technically illegal? By the Indian Post Office Act of 1898, only the government of India is entitled to courier letters. There is a loophole though. Private services can get away by calling these letters ‘documents’. All of you’ll living overseas can relax now!

6. Watering Services

The next time you walk into a five-star hotel, have a glass of water and leave, don’t be embarrassed. It is well within your rights to do so. And if the snooty concierge looks askance at you, quote The Serais Act of 1867 to him which allows every Indian to avail of water and washroom services at absolutely any hotel!

7. Kite Chronicles

Growing up in India, there isn’t one of us who hasn’t flown kites at least once. Did you know that was illegal though? By the Indian Aircraft Act, 1934, you need a government permit to fly kites or balloons, which are termed as ‘aircrafts’! So what the heck, stop flying kites, go fly a plane!

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6 Technologies that will Revolutionize the Future

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The technology we know today is all set to become obsolete. Yes you heard it right! Think your LED desktop is top-of-the range? Well, what if there was a computer that you could operate without even touching the screen?  Or a printer to create your very own prototype? Here’s a look at the 6 newest technologies that will revolutionize our world in the near future!

1. Google Glass

Taking augmented reality to a whole new level is Google Glass, the next-gen glass that will allow you to click pictures, record videos, surf the internet or navigate using the GPS as you walk! With built-in features like the latest Android versions, High Definition cameras and lightning fast wi-fi, the glass renders your smartphones unnecessary!

2. Form 1

The world’s very first individual 3D printer is a big deal! Using this you could design, customize and prototype whatever you imagine. Want a bowl? Design it, program it, print it! In fact, even Daniel Craig’s Aston Martin from the James Bond movie was protoyped using Form 1!

3. Leap Motion

We’re all used to the idea of smartphones or touch screen desktops, but even that gets tedious after a while. Leap Motion made a breakthrough in this area when they developed a desktop that could be controlled without touching the screen, using only hands and fingers! So scroll through webpages, order a smoothie or upload posts on Facebook, at the touch (or should we say no touch?) of a button!

4. Flexible Batteries

At first glance this might probably seem boring. But is it? Imagine if the rigid, lithium batteries in your phone were replaced by wafer-thin, zinc ones! Batteries that bend according to the shape of the device, will totally eliminate the need for thick dimensions in mobile phones and laptops!

5. Biomimicry LED’s

Believe it or not, these LED’s are inspired by glow-worms! Mimicking the jagged outlines of a firefly’s body, the LED can project light upto 55%, making it almost twice as efficient as the regular LED’s we use today!

6. The Tesla Model X

The world’s first driverless car runs on electricity and goes up to 250 miles in a single charge! The sleek car has both, the comfort of an SUV and the suspension and driving experience of a sports car!

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6 Must-Have Gadgets for a Backpacker

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Given the geographical vagaries in India, there are a lot of options out there for all amateur and professional backpackers. Depending on where you hiking to, your gear will differ every time, however, these are 6 gadgets that every backpacker should always have, irrespective of whether you are trekking through the snow-capped Himalayas or the tropical Western Ghats!

1. UV Sterilizer

While hiking over rugged terrain, you cannot be too fussy about drinking from streams or rivers. However, the water might not always be good and to avoid risking diarrhea or some such affliction, it is a good idea to sterilize your water with a UV filter. A handy device, it uses UV rays to kill 99.99% of the germs in under a couple of minutes!

2. Solar Charger

We are all well acquainted with portable batteries for our smartphones. It is a good idea to keep a solar charger along with you too though. As the name so astutely suggests, it allows you to charge your phones and cameras whenever the sun is out. They’re also a better option over battery packs since the latter drain quite fast in cold climates.

3. SPOT Connect Satellite Communicator

This extremely useful gadget allows you to access the global satellite network and send messages or GPS co-ordinates from practically anywhere on the face of the earth. All you have to do is sync your smartphone and the SPOT Connect Communicator. Though you cannot make any calls, it is still of great use, especially during emergencies!

4. Nitecore Tiny Monster

Every backpacker worth his boots knows that a good, strong flashlight is one of the most important things that you need in the great outdoors. The Nitecore Tiny Monster belies its size by being one of the best searchlights out there. In addition, it also has 8 different brightness settings, so you can regulate battery usage as required.

5. Travel Watch

Though seemingly unnecessary at first glance, a good travel watch can be of way more help than just telling you the time. The Casio Pathfinder is one such with a barometer, altimeter, thermometer, compass, auto-setting automatic clock, tide graph, dive log and depth gauge included, not to mention solar powered!

6. Smartphone Camera Lenses

Say goodbye to hauling heavy camera equipment all along the way. With light-weight pocket-sized lenses available for your Android phones, click the perfect picture through just your cellphone! Available for Blackberrys, iPhones and Android smartphones, the lenses come in all sorts of formats like Fisheye, Telephoto, Wide Angle/Macro and Polarizer lenses.

[The Alpha Bet]

5 US TV-Show Rip-offs that Failed Miserably

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Bollywood has always received a lot of inspiration, for lack of a better word, from the West. Following in the footsteps of these Hollywood movie remakes are the Indian television show producers too! However, though some of them managed to recreate that magic on the Indian TV screens, some others were definite flops! Here is a look at five TV shows that mimicked US sitcoms and reality shows, but bombed in the Indian market.

1.  Kya Aap Paanchvi Pass se Tez Hain?

The Indian version of Are You Smarter than a Fifth Grader? was hosted by Shahrukh Khan wherein the contestants had to answer questions from the school textbooks of class 1 to 5. Occasional help from 5 smart kids was also allowed. However, the show did not become very popular with the Indian audience and tanked after just 37 episodes.

2. Kamzor Kadii Kaun

Hosted by former actress Neena Gupta, the show was a remake of The Weakest Link and received mixed reactions from the public. While some appreciated the tough-gal approach of the hostess, others found it to be rather rude. Whatever the reason, it was taken off air after a mere 26 episodes.

3. Is Jungle se Mujhe Bachao

This was a remake of the popular British reality show I’m a celebrity, Get Me Out of Here!, wherein a group of celebrities had to survive in a jungle camp with only the basic means of survival. There were also other challenges and tasks incorporated in the three-month competition. The show had only one season, comprising of 40 episodes.

4. Sach ka Saamna

Based on the concept of the Moment of Truth, Sach Ka Saamna was a question-answer based reality show where the contestants had to answer 21 questions. Participants progressed only if they answered truthfully and won money based on the number of questions answered. Hosted by Rajeev Khandelwal, the show experienced some flak for the personal nature of questions but nevertheless managed to pull through two seasons before it was stopped.

5. Hello Friends – FRIENDS

Possibly the least running rip-off ever, Hello Friends was a remake of the wildly popular US sitcom FRIENDS. Starring Simone Singh, Mandira Bedi, Aparna Banerjee, Maria Goretti, Cyrus Broacha, Nikhil Chinnappa and Anil Dambri the show aired in 1999, but was discontinued after just 26 episodes!

[The Alpha Bet]

5 Must-See Places in India, Better than their Foreign Counterparts!

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Ever wished you could just pack your bags and go off for a couple of weeks’ holiday, away from the maddening crowd? Walk along the cobbled streets of Rome, ski to your heart’s content in the Swiss Alps, enjoy the scenic beauty of the Scottish Isles or go for a moonlight ride in the gondolas of Venice! Well you can and right here in India too!

Here is a list of 6 amazing travel destinations that have been nicknamed for the foreign counterparts but are way better than them. All the fun of overseas, in a fraction of the cost!

1. Coorg: Scotland of India

Lush green hills rolling as far as the eye can see, beautiful coffee plantations stretching in a jade carpet for miles and an old-world charm pervading the air. This is Coorg, India’s very own Scotland. Renowned over the world for its coffee, rich in flora and fauna and steeped in history, this little town located in the Western Ghats of Karnataka is a traveler’s paradise.

2. Alappuzha: Venice of the East

Like its nick-namesake, Alappuzha in Kerala is a quaint town with a series of canals networking through it. Add to it a number of lakes dotting the countryside around, pristine backwaters and picturesque beaches and you have the perfect Venetian experience right here. It is quite a sight to watch the thatched boats winding their way through the watery maze!

3. Puducherry: Paris of the East

Puducherry has had a French connection since ages when the French colonizers first settled here. One need only look at the Mediterranean-styled houses or the pristine churches interspersed within the ethnic culture to see how strong the French influence still is! Take a walk down the seafront Promenade and you can almost fancy yourself walking along the French Riviera!

4. Madurai: Athens of the East

As the Greek Parthenon was to Athens, so is the Meenakshi Sundareshwar Temple to Madurai. Legend has it that the Parthenon was an architectural marvel that could be seen from anywhere in the city, which is true for the Meenakshi temple too and hence the nickname ‘Athens of the East’. The vibrant and energetic city that never sleeps is famous for its mesmerizing architecture and rich traditions.

5. Sikkim: Switzerland of India

Dwarfing, quite literally, the beauty of the Alps is the majesty of the Himalayas. With spectacular snow-capped mountains, ethereal lakes, exquisite cuisine and a serene atmosphere, Sikkim beats Switzerland as a tourist destination hands down. The diverse landscapes are all enchantingly beautiful, as is the hospitality of the people living here. In fact calling Switzerland ‘The Sikkim of the West’ would be far more appropriate than the other way round!

[The Alpha Bet]

5 Marvelous Airports of India

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The Indian aviation industry has grown by leaps and bounds over the past decade and ranks among the top 10 busiest industries in the world today. India has over 17 airports specially designed and built to support the immense flow of international travel that occurs today. An estimated 190 million passengers fly internationally every year to and from India!

Successfully catering to this ever increasing air traffic are these five spectacular airports that have all the splendor of international airports with an additional Indian touch.

1. The Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi

Spread over an area of 5106 acres, the Indira Gandhi International Airport is the busiest airport in the country in terms of passenger traffic. It has a current capacity of handling over 40 million passengers and aims to increase this to a 100 million by 2030! The airport clocked in at number 4 in 2010 in the Best Airport Award Category conferred by Airports Council International.

2. The Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, Mumbai

The second busiest airport in terms of passenger traffic, this iconic airport is India’s first and best vertical passenger terminal. Excellent operational efficiency of five terminals spread out over 2900 acres, elegant architecture and smooth, streamlined functioning contribute to it being able to handle over 780 aircraft movements per day!

3. The Chennai International Airport, Chennai

The fourth busiest airport in India, the airport handled almost 15 million passengers and 330 flight movements per day in 2015. The first airport to have the domestic and international termibnals located close to each other, it is expected to reach saturation by 2017-18.

4. The Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru

Named after Kempe Gowda, the founder of Bangalore, the 4000 acre landmark is the third busiest in the country. Considered the gateway to South India, it handles over 18 million passengers and 400 flights per day. Replacing the HAL Airport, the KIA aims to raise the handling capacity to 55 million passengers travelling to the Silicon Valley of India, by 2021!

5. The Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad

Spread over 5500 acres, the airport handles over 40 million passengers annually. The fifth busiest in India in terms of overall international traffic, it has been operational since 2008. Further expansion of the terminals is in the making and increased expansion of existing facilities such as hotels, offices and maintenance will take place.

[The Alpha Bet]

10 Budget Phones you can get in 2016

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Are you planning to buy a smartphone within a budget of Rs. 10,000 but don’t know what features to expect or which phone to buy? Look no further. Here is our handpicked compilation of 10 of the best pocket-friendly phones available in India. Most of these phones come with a minimum 13MP Primary Camera, 5” display and a decent battery life.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 3

Priced at Rs. 9,999, the 16GB version of Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 offers a 5.5” screen with 13MP Primary Camera, 5MP Secondary Camera and 3GB RAM.  Configured with Android OS, v5.0.2 (Lollipop), it offers a great performance and battery life.

Meizu M2 Note

Configured with Android OS, v5.0 (Lollipop), Meizu M2 Note offers amazing features like a 5.5” screen protected with a scratch/shock resistant Asahi Dragontrail Glass. It is loaded with a 13MP Primary Camera, 5MP Secondary Camera and 2GB RAM. This budget friendly is available for Rs. 9,999 in India.

Acer Liquid Z630s

Another great option for a budget buy is Acer Liquid Z630s priced at Rs. 9,999. Its specifications comprise of an Octa-core 1.3 GHz Cortex-A53 CPU, 3GB RAM and 32GB storage. This 5’5” screen phone with 8MP Primary and Secondary Camera is definitely worth buying.

Lenovo K3 Note

Lenovo K3 Note is one of the best pocket-friendly phones available in India. Priced at Rs.9,199, the phone has a powerful octa-core SoC, 5.5” screen, 13 MP Primary Camera and a 2GB RAM. If you’d want to watch movies on phone, this is the phone for you as the K3 Note features a very good display which is further aided by Dolby Atmos optimization.

Coolpad Note 3

Priced at just Rs. 8,999, the Coolpad Note 3 not only has a 5.5” screen coupled with a 13MP Primary Camera, and 3GB RAM, but also has one of the fastest and most accurate fingerprint scanners we have seen in the recent past in this price bracket. As a cherry on top, it also has a great battery life.

Xiaomi Mi 4i

A long battery life, 5” screen, 13MP Primary Camera and a 2GB RAM are just some of the features of this pocket-friendly phone priced at Rs. 11,999. The Xiaomi Mi 4i is an excellent choice for a smartphone under Rs. 15,000.

Micromax Canvas Pulse 4G

Loaded with an Octa-core processor, Micromax Canvas Pulse 4G offers a metal outer frame and a neat 5” display. Its specifications include a 3GB RAM, a 13MP Primary Camera and a 5MP Secondary Camera. It has a decent battery life and is available for just Rs. 9,999.

Coolpad Note 3 Lite

Launched in January 2016, Coolpad Note 3 Lite is undoubtedly one of the strongest contenders in this race of best budget phones. Priced at only Rs. 6,999, this smartphone offers a quad-core processor, a 5” display, 13MP Primary Camera along with a 3GB RAM. The phone also has a good battery life of an average run time of 8 hours.

Motorola Moto G (3rd gen)

One of the best phones in class optimization, Moto G (3^rd Gen) is configured with Android OS, v5.1.1 (Lollipop), upgradable to v6.0 (Marshmallow). Priced at Rs. 10,999 the phone offers a 5” screen, 13MP Primary Camera and water resistant capabilities.

LeEco Le 1S

An aesthetically appealing phone, LeEco Le 1s offers everything you might need and more from a budget performer — a Mediatek Helio X10 SoC, 3GB RAM, 32GB storage and a 5.5” 1080p display. To top it all, this amazing phone has a Full Metal Unibody with Fingerprint Scanning capabilities. It is available for Rs. 10,999 in India.  

[The Alpha Bet]

Top 10 Indian Female Musicians to look out for

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Women are setting up new standards in various fields that were dominated by men until now. This also includes the world of music. Women have now started establishing their own identity and prominence in not only Bollywood music but also in contemporary genres like jazz, blues, RnB and more. Here is a list of Top 10 Female Indian Musicians that every person should look out for:

Jonita Gandhi

This Indo-Canadian singer shot to fame when her YouTube covers of songs like ‘Someone like you’, ‘Pani Da Rang’, ‘Tujhko Jo Paaya’ and many more went viral. She has performed at concerts all over the world, and even sang with Sonu Nigam. This beautiful singer, who has also been appreciated by Amitabh Bachchan, has done playback for movies like ‘Chennai Express’ and ‘Highway’.

Mohini Dey

Our favourite on this list is the child prodigy, Mohini Dey, who has started playing at concerts from a very young age of 11. This bass guitarist has not only been featured on Coke Studio along with music composer and drummer Ranjit Barot but has also shared the stage with Zakir Hussain, Hariharan and AR Rahman.  

Monica Dogra

Just more than a pretty face, Monica Dogra is rock singer and actor. She formed the Mumbai-based band “Shaa’ir and Func” in 2005. She also made a guest appearance in the movie ‘Rock On!!’ and played the lead role in Kiran Rao’s ‘Dhobi Ghat’. Currently, she is engaged as a judge on the TV series ‘The Stage’.

Saba Azad

You may recognize her as Preity Sen from the Indian rom-com movie ‘Y-Films Mujhse Fraaandship Karoge’. But Saba Azad is also a singer who has sung the ‘Dhoom Anthem’ (Dhoom Series), ‘Calcutta Kiss’ (Detective Byomkesh Bakshi) and ‘Dekhe Meri Aankhon Mein Jo’ (Main Aur Charles) in her melodious voice. She is also the half of the band ‘Madboy/Mink’.  

Kanchan Daniel

This strong, kickass woman, who is an inspiration to many, began the Indian blues band ‘Kanchan Daniel and the Beards’ in 2012 and since then has gained immense popularity among her fans who have described her deep, husky voice as “violence that rips across the smooth serenade”. You need to listen to her songs to experience the powerful and crisp vocals she blesses the world with every time she sings.

Suman Sridhar

Suman Sridhar is a Mumbai-New Jersey based singer-songwriter who has been redefining Indie music in India since 2008. She has also been nominated for Best Female Playback Singer (Times of India Film Awards) and for Best Female Indie Artist (MTV Video Music Awards India). She has sung for Bollywood movies like ‘Bombay Velvet’, ‘Talaash’, ‘Shaitan’ and more.

Tritha Sinha

This Kolkata born beauty is a trained classical singer who lends her voice to many Bollywood songs and has formed the band ‘Tritha-electric’, an Indian psychedelic/fusion rock band. Tritha is known to leave her public speechless with her versatile and intense voice. She has performed in over 100 concerts around the world.

Samara Chopra

An out-of-the-box artist, Samara Chopra is not only a singer and a Television anchor, but also a trained yoga therapist. She has sung with bands like ‘The Ska Vengers’, ‘Bombay Basement’, ‘Bass Foundation’ and ‘Emperor Minge’.

Tipriti Kharbangar

Referred to as “the butterfly lady” by her partner, Tirpti Kharbangar sings along with a Blues band called ‘Soulmate’. Hailing from Shillong, she is considered as one of the finest female singers from India.

Vasuda Sharma

A fine blend of classical and contemporary, Vasuda Sharma is a singer to look out for. She has been touring all over India and has performed in renowned clubs in India like Hard rock cafe, Opus, Bluefrog, etc. She was also a former member of the band ‘Aasma’ but left it to study further at Berklee College of Music. 

[The Alpha Bet]

Celebrities Accused of Plagiarism

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Plagiarism is a serious offence in academics, movies, music, or in any such area where uninformed usage and modification of an individual’s or a group’s original work is involved. Despite many countries trying to establish strict laws against it, there are still a lot of people, including famous celebrities, who plagiarise and even make loads of money out of it. Here are some famous Indian music composers who have been accused of plagiarism time and again:

Anu Malik

Anu Malik is one of the most well-known music directors of the Bollywood industry, although not for all the right reasons. He has been accused of plagiarism from time to time for his various hits like “Kaho Na Kaho” (Murder) ripped from Amr Diab’s “Tamaly Maak”, “Raja Ko Rani Se” (Akele Hum Akele Tum) from Nino Rota’s The Godfather theme song “The Love Theme”, “Yeh Kaali Kaali Ankhen” (Baazigar) from Dean Martin’s “The man who plays the Mandolino” and The Cover Girls’ “Because of You”, and many more. The list is endless.

Pritam

Pritam is a famous name in the Bollywood circles for his award winning musical compositions. A renowned Indian music director and composer, Pritam has also been accused of plagiarism for almost every single one of his hits. Be it “Tu Hi Meri Shab Hai” (Gangster) which has been copied from “Sacral Nirvana” by Oliver Shanti & Friends, “Dhoom Machale” (Dhoom) from “Enta Ma Oltesh Leih” by Amr Diab and “Mario Takes a Walk” by Jesse Cook, or “Kya Mujhse Pyaar Hai” (Woh Lamhe) which has been copied from “Tak Bisakah” sung and written by the Indonesian band, Peterpan. A fun fact is that even Anu Malik has accused Pritam of stealing his songs!

RD Burman

No matter what generation you belong to, you have heard at least one of RD Burman’s songs and have also liked it. Also known as Pancham da, he was a famous Indian film score composer who composed music for over 331 movies. But one of his most famous songs “Mehbooba Mehbooba” from the classic movie Sholay is eerily similar to Demis Roussos’ “Say You Love Me”. We felt our heart break too.

Rajesh Roshan

Do you remember the song “Jab Koi Baat Bigad Jaye” from the movie Jurm? Well, apparently, it has been copied from “500 Hundred Miles” by Four Brothers. You can put the blame on Rakesh Roshan’s younger brother, Rajesh Roshan who is a music composer and director.

Salil Chowdhury

Yes, you read it right. Even the widely acclaimed and admired music director and composer, Salil Chowdhury (also called ‘Salilda’ by his fans) is on this list. He mainly composed for Bengali, Hindi and Malayalam films, but his song “Itna Na Mujhse Tu” (Chhaya) is extremely similar to Mozart’s “Symphony No.40 in G Molto Allegro”.

Bappi Lahiri

Famous for not just his music but also for his love for gold, Bappi Lahiri too has been accused of plagiarism for copying the song “Sochna Kya” (Ghayal) from Kaoma’s “Lambada”.  

Jatin Lalit

The famous Bollywood film composer duo, Jatin Pandit and Lalit Pandit, have written scores for some of the biggest hits of the industry like Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, DDLJ and Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham. But even they have been accused of plagiarism for their song “Ladki Kyon” (Hum Tum) which has been copied from Andy’s “Roya”.

Harris Jayaraj

A well known name in the Tamil film industry, Harris Jayaraj is music director and composer. He, too, has been accused of plagiarism for his songs “Mundhinam Paarthene” (Vaaranam Aayiram) ripped from George Michael’s Faith and “June Pona” (Unnale Unnale) copied from Blue’s All Rise.

Anmol Malik

This wasn’t quite as shocking. Anu Malik’s daughter Anmol Malik made her way to this list with her song “Lamhein” which is a complete rip off from Coldplay’s “Paradise”. Was it too much to expect originality from this young playback singer and song writer?