When you look for the name of the song ‘ITNI Shakti Hame Dena Daata’ on YouTube, only three top results produce videos that have 27 million, 9.5 million and 2.4 million hits.
It was a combined count of almost 39 million hits for the song from the ‘Ankush’ movie featuring Pushpa Pagdhare’s voice.
There is also a cover version sung by an artist named Vidhi Sharma, who has 74 million hits.
But it’s another story.
If the Pushpa singer is paid only half the rupee for each punch on the song of the cult, taking into account only three top songs on YouTube will give him the number of princes approaching 2 crore rupees.
But the reality is, today, Pushpa Pagdhare struggles to even get its honorarium from the state government every month.
It’s very little Rs 3150 and never arrived on time.
Not one music company paid him one royalty rupee for songs that have followed the cult for the past 35 years.
The 80-year-old singer lived alone in the Machimaar colony from Mahim.
He was forced to ask for relatives to help him.
Talking about his financial assistance, he said, “I have some relatives who helped me as when the need arises.
I don’t even get the right royalty for my songs.
I really depend on others and they come to save me and not The government, who does not pay attention to artists like us who live alone and have no income and support.
”
The singer appealed to the state government to ask for the way home in 1989, but the file has not yet reached government officials in 32 years.
He said, “In decades – these decades I have traveled around the country to raise funds for reduced villages and other social efforts and every time I return to Mumbai and try to meet the minister about my file, the only answer I get it, ‘he’s on tour’ or ‘not available’.
The government must understand the fate of many singers like me they need to see and give them the respect they need.
”
Pushpa Pagdhare has sang songs written by Raj Thackeray Srikant Thackeray’s father and have more songs for his credit but he has not paid royalties for these songs in a very long time.
He said, “I sang the song ‘Aga Pori Sambhal Daryala Toofan Aalay with Mohammed Rafi, which is very popular.
I paid royalties for it until the HMV music label is active.
Payment stops after label running out of business.
The honorarium I get from the Ministry of Culture RS 3150 is also not paid on time.
At least royalties must come so I can take care of myself.
”
Veteran singer likes to watch the reality show on TV.
He also revealed that he had not really been related to the music community.
He said, “Today’s singer is paid very well, but at times we take whatever is paid to us by the manufacturers.”
When asked about how much he paid ‘Itni Shakti Hame Dena Daata’, Pagdhare replied, “Composer of music, Kuldeep Singh, new and got a break with the film, ‘Ankush’.
I paid Rs 250 for it and I have been told that the same song Now is a ringtone on most ministerial cellphones and politicians.
But none of them pay attention to the needs of singers who sing the song.
”
Pushpa Pagdhare did not want to appeal fresh about the delayed application with the government.
He signed by saying that he still needed financial assistance and a decent house to live in.
