2 days ago
Adnan Sami Criticizes Bollywood’s Shift Toward Music Remixes
Adnan Sami thinks Bollywood is making too many remixes of old songs.
He said there used to be many more new songs than remixes.
Now, he believes the balance has reversed.
Music companies say listeners want these remixes.
Sami disagrees and says people accept them because they are not being offered enough fresh music.
He also said companies are afraid to try unusual ideas.
He compared this to movies that rely on remakes, sequels and spin-offs.
Sami believes music labels, rather than composers, should be held responsible for forcing this trend.
He praised Zee Music for encouraging him to try less familiar musical ideas.
Adnan Sami said the balance between original songs and remixes has shifted from 80:20 to 20:80.
He argued that music labels blame audiences for remixes while failing to provide enough original music.
Sami said corporate caution has also encouraged remakes, sequels, prequels and spin-offs in cinema.
He compared the trend with film franchises including Batman, Joker, The Godfather and Star Wars.
Sami said music directors should not be blamed because labels often pressure them to produce remixes.
- Who
- Composer-singer Adnan Sami discussed the growing use of Bollywood remixes and criticized music labels and corporate decision-making.
- What
- Sami argued that the industry is replacing too much original music with remixes and pressuring music directors to make them.
- Where
- The discussion concerned Bollywood’s music and film industries.
- When
- He made the remarks on the Game Changers podcast and also discussed related views in a recent interview with SCREEN.
- Why
- Sami said music companies are afraid to experiment and wrongly claim that audiences are demanding more remixes.
Sami’s View
Industry Justification
Why remixes are made
Sami’s View
Adnan Sami said labels pressure composers to make remixes and use audience demand as an excuse.
Industry Justification
Music labels are described as arguing that remixes are produced because listeners want them.
Audience preference
Sami’s View
Sami argued that listeners are accepting remixes because they are not being offered enough original songs.
Industry Justification
The industry’s stated position is that the popularity of remixes reflects what audiences prefer.
Corporate risk-taking
Sami’s View
Sami said companies are scared to experiment, producing remixes and relying on familiar film formulas.
Industry Justification
The article presents the industry’s reliance on familiar material as a convenient, safer approach, without attributing a direct defense to a specific company.
Key facts
- Speaker
- Adnan Sami
- Remix ratio cited
- Sami said the balance has shifted from 80% originals and 20% remixes to 20% originals and 80% remixes.
- Main criticism
- Sami blamed music labels and corporate risk aversion rather than music directors or listeners.
- Audience argument
- Music labels reportedly justify remixes by saying they reflect audience demand.
- Film comparison
- Sami cited remakes, sequels, prequels and spin-offs as examples of caution in cinema.
- Label praised
- Sami said Zee Music encouraged him to pursue less conventional musical directions.
Quotes
Adnan Sami
Composer-singer discussing corporate risk aversion in music and cinema
“If you ask someone, Why are you feeding him sookhe chawal (dry rice)?,’ he’d reply, ‘That’s what he wants. See how much he’s savouring it.’ But he’s savouring it as you didn’t serve him khichdi or biryani”
indianexpress.com
“I can give you in writing that no music director ever dreamed as a child that he would grow up and work on remixes. So, don’t blame them. Blame those who make them do it by force”
indianexpress.com






