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Asha Bhosle sings in court

Sandesh Prabhudesai in Panaji

It was a great feeling to hear Asha Bhosle and Suresh Wadkar sing in court.

The legal battle over a famous Konkani song of late 60s -- Chanyache rati (In a moonlit night) -- finally saw the judge actually getting the two to sing the song in the courtroom.

Ulhas Buyao, Goa's famous singer who is a litigant here, still pulls crowds when he sings Chanyache rati . The same song is sung once again by Asha and Wadkar in the album Daryachya Deger ( On the seashore) released by Shrushti Vision of Goa.

Claiming a copyright on the song, Buyao filed a case in June 1996 demanding an injunction on the sale and distribution of the cassette that includes the song. Rajendra Talak of Shrushti Vision, on the other hand, claims that Buyao had sold its copyrights to Gramophone India.

While Buyao claims that he had composed its music, Adv Uday Bhembre, the lyricist of the song and also a journalist, has submitted before the court that it was his music composition which Buyao sung during the Opinion Poll, which ultimately restrained the Centre from merging Goa into Maharashtra.

After listening to the arguments at various sittings for the last three years, V P Shetye, the district and sessions judge, finally agreed to listen to both the songs in the courtroom.

It would be a memorable day for the courtroom, which was full of members of the public and the lawyers. Buyao sang the version the 60s and Asha and Wadkar of the 90s. Perhaps it was the first time that real music has been heard here.

Talak played the cassette on a modern cassette player. but Buyao had to arrange for a gramophone, which is difficult to find, to play the LP record of the 60s. He apparently found one gathering dust in somebody's showcase.

After listening to Asha and Wadkar, who are also being made respondents in the case, as well as Buyao, the court is now expected to deliver its judgement by December 21.

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