The song titled ‘Itni Shakti Humse Dena Data’ is etched in our hearts till date. Many schools across the country have included this heartwarming song in their songbooks. The melodious voice in the song of the film Ankush is of Pushpa Pagdhare. The veteran singer, who has never been paid enough for her songs, is struggling every day even to get monthly honorarium from the state government. The amount of honorarium is Rs 3,150 and it never comes on time. But the situation could have been different, had Pushpa been paid half a rupee for every hit on her song, she could have earned Rs 2 crore. In the last 35 years, no music company paid him royalties for a cult song. 80-year-old Pushpa, a resident of Machimar Colony of Mahim, is forced to beg from her relatives.
Talking to ETimes about her financial situation, Pushpa shared that there are some relatives who help her when she is in need. The veteran singer said that she does not even get proper royalty for her songs and is completely dependent on others. He even alleged that the government does not pay attention to artists like him, who live alone and have no income.
In 1989, Pushpa had appealed to the state government for a house, but in the last 32 years, her file could not reach a government official. The singer said that she made several attempts to meet the minister in Mumbai, but only got replies like “not available” or “he is on tour”. Pushpa requested the government to understand the plight of singers like her.
Pushpa has sung songs written by Raj Thackeray’s father Shrikant Thackeray. She has also sung ‘Aga Puri Sambhal Daryaala Toofan Alay’ with Mohammed Rafi. The singer revealed that she was paid royalties until the HMV Music label became active, but the payments stopped when it went out of business.
Making a comparison Pushpa said that today singers are paid very well but with time they were also given whatever they were given. For the cult song, ‘Itni Shakti Humse Dena Data’, he was paid Rs 250. “I am told that the same song is now the ringtone on the phones of most ministers and politicians. But none of them pay attention to the needs of the singer who has sung that song.”
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